Only three wind power projects comprising 12 turbines received final permits in Sweden in 2025, according to industry organisation Green Power Sweden.
The three projects together can produce around 0.25TWh of electricity annually, Green Power Sweden said.
Onshore wind power needs to grow by around 5.4TWh annually for Sweden to reach the Swedish Energy Agency’s scenarios by 2035, the organisation added.
Fourteen projects were stopped by the municipal veto or by the Armed Forces and one project was rejected by the review authority.
“In order to meet our climate goals, secure jobs and Sweden’s security, the expansion of renewable energy needs to proceed much faster,” said Nils Grunditz, chief executive of Green Power Sweden.
“Without new wind power, both Swedish competitiveness and energy supply will deteriorate, in addition to the climate benefits being lost.”
“The government needs to get the promised incentives for wind power in place so that more municipalities say yes and contribute to electrification,” said Ina Müller Engelbrektson, industry lawyer and permit manager at Green Power Sweden.
“With the high levels of non-permits in 2025, Sweden risks being left without new wind power projects when electrification takes off.”
No new offshore wind power permit decisions were made in 2025 by either courts or the government, although many cases remain awaiting a decision.
“It is clear that offshore wind power is not currently prioritized, either in permitting or regulatory development,” said Lina Kinning, vice president and head of offshore wind power at Green Power Sweden.
“This adds uncertainty and further increased risk to a market that is already at a standstill.”