Hexicon’s Swedish floating offshore wind project secures key permit

With the permit in place, final approval for the project now rests with the Swedish government.

Freja Offshore – a joint venture between Hexicon and Mainstream Renewable Power – applied to develop the Mareld floating offshore windfarm, located approximately 40 km off the coast of Lysekil on Sweden’s west coast, in April 2023.

In June 2024, the County Administrative Board recommended the Swedish government approve the project, and now it has also granted the Natura 2000 permit. 

A Natura 2000 permit is an environmental assessment required for projects that may affect protected natural areas within the EU’s Natura 2000 network, which aims to preserve biodiversity.

Freja Offshore chairman Marcus Thor said, “The Natura 2000 permit is an important milestone for Mareld and confirms our commitment to developing a sustainable offshore windfarm that respects the environment.”

Fully developed, Mareld has the potential to deliver up to 12 TWh annually to the Swedish grid. This additional electricity production is eagerly anticipated throughout Western Sweden, where the electricity demand is expected to double by 2030.

“We are now carefully reviewing the additional conditions that come with the permit and hope that the Swedish government will come back with a final approval in the near future,” said Mr Thor.