The government has made a decision on 14 wind farms. Only one – Poseidon off Stenungsund – gets the green light. The rest are rejected due to the current security policy situation.
The wind farms are located in an area from Åland in the north to Öresund in the south.
I think most people understand that today's message is a tough decision, says Energy and Business Minister Ebba Busch (KD).
The government's decision comes after a fresh analysis from the Defense Forces. In brief, the assessment is that offshore wind power will disrupt the ability to defend Sweden.
It would have unacceptable consequences for Sweden's military defense to build these specific projects in the Baltic Sea area, says Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M).
The only responsible thing is not to build wind power in the Baltic Sea area.
Challenging Military Geography
The Defense Forces pointed out that the wind turbines risk obstructing the view for their surveillance systems. A major problem is that wind turbines affect sensors used by the Defense Forces. The problems exist both underwater and above the water surface.
In other NATO countries, wind power is expanding rapidly, and wind power companies and defense forces are cooperating. A common solution is to install radar or sonar systems in wind farms, as compensation for the disruptions. This is done, for example, in Poland.
But it's not a solution for Sweden, according to the Defense Minister.
It's not possible to compensate for the military geography as it is right now, says Jonson, pointing to Kaliningrad and Russia.
Should companies then give up their attempts to build wind power in the Baltic Sea area?
We're cleaning up an incredibly messy system. Wind power companies haven't known where it's worth investing time in a project, says Ebba Busch.
The Defense Forces stand firm that wind turbines in the Baltic Sea would pose unacceptable risks to Sweden's defense. The agency does not want to comment on Poland's assessment.
"It's important to remember that we have different conditions and capabilities, where the geographical aspect weighs heavily," writes the Defense Forces in a comment.
Green Light
The Poseidon wind farm, which now gets the green light, is located on the west coast in electricity area 3. It is expected to be able to produce 5.5 TWh per year.
Ten more applications to build offshore wind power are on the government's table.
In December, an investigation will present proposals for a completely new model to get wind power construction off the ground at sea.
13 applications to build offshore wind power are rejected, including the Skåne offshore wind farm south of Ystad and the Aurora project between Öland and Gotland.
The Poseidon wind farm off Stenungsund gets the green light from the government. The park, with up to 81 wind turbines, is expected to deliver up to 5.5 TWh per year.
In May 2023, two wind farms got the green light – Kattegatt Syd off Falkenberg and Galene off Varberg. They comprise around 100 wind turbines that can produce 6.5 TWh per year.
Ten more projects are waiting for a decision.
Source: The Government
