Orsted has been granted a permit for the 1500MW Skåne offshore wind farm in Sweden.
The County Administrative Board in Skåne has granted The Danish developer a permit for the construction and operation of the the project in connection with a Natura 2000 area south of Skåne.
The offshore wind farm is planned for 22km south of Ystad and Trelleborg in Skåne, in Sweden’s economic zone.
The expected annual production of about 7TWh. This corresponds to half of Skåne’s electricity use today, Orsted said.
The County Administrative Board has previously recommended the government to grant permission for the wind farm.
The wind farm is planned to be in operation in 2029.
Sweden manager at Orsted, Sebastian Hald Buhl said: “This is a very important and positive message from the county board, now there is nothing to prevent the government from giving its approval for the Skåne Offshore Wind Farm.
“If we get a quick decision this year, the site can deliver cheaper locally produced and reliable electricity as early as 2029 and contribute to meeting Sweden’s rapidly increasing electricity needs.”
Skåne Havsvindpark is located in the vicinity of the Natura 2000 area of Southwest Skåne’s ocean waters, which was established to protect natural interests.
The County Administrative Board in Skåne, which had the government’s task of preparing Orsted’s application to build an offshore wind farm in the sea in Sweden’s economic zone, announced in December 2022 that it believes the offshore wind farm can get permission.
One condition was a positive outcome of the Natura 2000 trial, which the county administrative board has now confirmed.
Project director for Orsted’s offshore wind farms in Sweden, Jesper Kühn Olesen said: “The decision shows that it is possible to combine high natural values with fossil-free electricity production at sea.
“Over several years, we have carried out a long series of studies of the potential impact of the wind farm.
“The work has now been reviewed by the county administration and around 30 authorities, municipalities and interest organisations and we are happy that they draw the same conclusion as us.”
Orsted is developing six offshore wind farms in Sweden.
In addition to Skåne Offshore Wind Park and Gotland Offshore Wind Park, the energy company announced that four more offshore developments are planned in western, southern and central Sweden where there is a great need for increased electricity production.