Swedish TSO unveils plans for offshore transmission network

In February 2022, the Swedish Government published plans to develop offshore windfarms in three areas – the Gulf of Bothnia, Baltic and North Sea – that could be used to generate 20-30 TWh of electricity every year. In the longer term, areas for another 90 TWh of generation are required.

This first phase of development of grid connections for offshore wind will provide transmission capacity for up to 40 TWh of electricity generation per year. This corresponds to about a quarter of Sweden’s annual electricity production today.

Svenska kraftnät said building the grid connections would require an investment of Skr30-42Bn (US$2.9-4.1Bn) and would enable the development of offshore windfarms with sufficient capacity to provide electricity to around 8M homes.

“To meet society’s increased need for electricity, large-scale investment in electricity production is required,” said Svenska kraftnät.

“As part of this, the government has commissioned Svenska kraftnät to prepare for the expansion of the transmission network within Swedish maritime territory.”

Svenska kraftnät head of power systems Daniel Gustafsson said, “In a first call for proposals, we have presented plans for the expansion of the transmission network. The first connection point will be completed by 2029, the last in 2035.”

The six connection points are located off the southern coast of Skåne and the coast of Halland, in the southeastern Baltic, northern North Sea, southern Bothnian Sea and Gulf of Bothnia.