The Swedish Government has announced that 13 submitted applications to build offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea, south of the Sea of Åland, have been rejected.
The projects turned down are Arkona, Aurora, Baltic Offshore Beta, Baltic Offshore Delta North, Cirrus, Swell, Erik Segersäll, Neptune, Pleione, Ski blades, Skåne Offshore Wind Park, Southern Victoria and Triton.
The government said, despite the addition of fossil-free electricity production and proposed precautionary measures, the schemes cannot be permitted due to the impact the establishments would have on the interests of the defence.
Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari said: “The testing of wind power often raises complex conflicts of interest and therefore requires careful consideration.
“The government has taken note of views from expert authorities, organizations and individuals in these cases. In these current cases, however, the defence interest has weighed the most.”
Defence Minister Pål Jonson added: “Based on the Armed Forces’ documentation, the government makes the assessment that it would lead to unacceptable consequences for Sweden’s military defense to build the projects in question.
“In the serious security policy situation Sweden now finds itself in, with war in our immediate area, the defense interest must weigh heavily when judgments like this are made.
As a result of the decision, Hexicon’s joint venture company, Freja Offshore, is to terminate work developing its Cirrus and Dyning projects in Sweden.
Hexicon has been operating Freja Offshore together with Mainstream Renewable Power, a company within the Aker Group, since 2021, with the aim of developing offshore wind farms off the coast of Sweden.
Freja is also developing the Mareld wind farm, which is planned off the west coast of Sweden.
In June this year, the project received a recommendation from the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland County and is currently being processed by the Swedish government.