The Swedish government has given Vattenfall permission to lay out underwater cables for offshore wind power at Krieger’s Flak in the southern Baltic Sea, a step in the expansion of offshore wind power.
The work must be completed within a 10-year period, according to the permit.
Vattenfall has said it intends to make the final investment decision on the 640MW project in 2025.
Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari said: “Sweden needs all the fossil-free electricity production we can get to cope with climate change.
“This permit is important so that the work on building the wind farm at Krieger’s Flak can begin.”
The cables must be placed in the sea on the so-called continental shelf within Sweden’s maritime territory and economic zone.
The consent is combined with a number of conditions that regulate how the construction works are to be carried out and that are needed to protect the environment against damage and to ensure safety.
For the Kriegers Flak wind farm there are already several permits that are also required to be able to build and operate the park, including the government’s permit according to the Swedish Economic Zone Act as well as the Land and Environment Court’s permit according to the Environmental Code for works in water and Natura 2000 permit within the territory.
Pourmokhtari added: “Offshore wind power has great potential to increase electricity production in Sweden in the coming years.
“That is why we are working intensively, so that we can give notice as soon as possible about the other permit tests for offshore wind farms that are currently being prepared in the Government Office.”