At Ørsted, we’re committed to continuously reducing our impacts related to water withdrawal, consumption, and discharge – particularly in regions where water is scarce.
Global water systems and clean freshwater supplies are under increasing pressure from human consumption, pollution, and the consequences of climate change. At Ørsted, we want to develop renewable energy that helps nature thrive, ensuring that energy production doesn’t deplete or pollute our global water systems.
In 2023, more than 99% of our water came from the sea, mainly for cooling at our Danish CHP stations. We reuse seawater in a closed system, minimising environmental impact. At one of our stations, seawater is used as process water to reduce groundwater usage.
We continued our efforts to protect water resources through the following key actions:
Initiatives to reduce our freshwater withdrawals:
Initiatives to strengthen water management governance:
We’re dedicated to safeguarding future water resources, especially in the development of P2X assets. Prioritising responsible water usage, we conduct water scenario analyses to anticipate future challenges such as water stress and drought due to climate change.
Additionally, we aim to establish science-based targets, guided by the Science Based Targets Network's forthcoming freshwater methodology. Here, we’ll map potential water impacts in our supply chain, reinforcing our proactive approach to protect water resources.
Accountability lies with our Chief Operating Officer. Our QHSE Committee ensures that implementation is carried out by individual business units.
These efforts contribute towards the following Sustainable Development Goals:
