Developers respond to Sweden’s bombshell offshore wind decision

The projects that were rejected included the Skåne, Triton Aurora 2, Southern Victoria (S Midsjöbanken), Baltic Offshore Beta, Cirrus, Dyning/Freya 3, Arkona, Pleione, Neptune, Erik Segersäll, Baltic Offshore Delta North and Skidbladner offshore windfarms. One project, the Poseidon offshore windfarm in southern Skagerrak outside Stenungsund on the west coast of Sweden was approved. It is noteworthy because it will be the first windfarm in Sweden to be built using floating wind turbines, if it goes ahead.

Svensk Vindenergi said the decision to reject so many projects raises questions about how Sweden will solve climate change issues and said it would adversely affect Swedish competitiveness. It said the decision has consequences for electrification, and for whether Sweden can now meet national energy and climate goals. “It also sends negative signals to Swedish industry,” said Svensk Vindenergi. It noted there are a number of projects underway in NATO countries that already have offshore windfarms to address the technical issues they raise for radar operated by the military.

Eolus, one of the companies affected, was developing the 1.20-GW Arkona offshore wind project and the 1.0-GW Skidbladner project. Eolus chief executive Per Witalisson said the decision is “surprising and very unfortunate.” He also noted that NATO countries building offshore windfarms are working on technical solutions. “We are convinced it would have been possible to realise projects like this through co-operation between the Swedish Armed Forces and windpower developers,” he said.

OX2 head of offshore wind Sweden Emelie Zakrisson noted that although the government’s decision “does indeed take place in a new geopolitical situation,” it seemed to ignore “society’s need to work together” to address climate change.

“Today’s decision affects not only developers but also investors and in the long run industry in southern Sweden, because the Baltic offers some of the most cost-effective places in Swedish waters to build offshore windfarms,” she concluded.

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