Freja Offshore has secured a key permit for its proposed 2500MW Mareld offshore wind farm in Sweden.
The County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland has granted a Natura 2000 permit for the project, which is planned off the coast of Bohuslän.
Freja Offshore is a joint venture between Hexicon and Mainstream Renewable Power.
The Mareld offshore wind farm is planned about 40km west of Lysekil, in the Swedish economic zone.
Mareld will have the potential to deliver up to 12TWh annually, which is equivalent to the electricity supply for approximately two million households.
Chairman of the board of Freja Offshore Marcus Thor said: “The Natura 2000 permit is welcome news and confirms our commitment to creating a sustainable wind farm that respects sensitive natural values.
“We are now working carefully to review the additional conditions that the permit entails for us.”
Natura 2000 is a network of protected areas across the EU built with the aim of achieving the Convention’s biodiversity objectives.
The Bratten sea area, which adjoins the area where Mareld has been granted a permit, has a unique ecosystem of great importance for marine species and habitats.
The permit shows that the project can be carried out taking into account the area’s high conservation values and that offshore wind power can coexist with protected environments.
Thor added: “Mareld, which will be one of Sweden’s largest offshore wind farms, is a crucial piece of the puzzle to meet west Sweden’s growing electricity needs.
“Now we look forward to receiving a positive message from the government about the remaining permit applications in order to be able to deliver electricity on time when the need is realised.”
A Natura 2000 permit is one of three permits required to build the park.
The next step is to get the government’s approval for the two remaining permits, according to the Act on Sweden’s Economic Zone (SEZ) and the Continental Shelf Act (KSL), which have already been recommended by the County Administrative Board and SGU respectively.