The Swedish government has decided to grant permission to the 1400MW Poseidon offshore wind farm in southern Skagerrak outside Stenungsund on the west coast.
Poseidon, being developed by Vattenfall and Zephyr Vind, will be able to deliver up to 5.5 TWh per year within electricity price range 3, Stockholm said.
Poseidon could become the first wind farm in Sweden to be built with floating turbines, opening up the possibility to develop additional offshore wind farms at greater ocean depths than has previously been possible.
The floating hardware will also have less impact on the environment and nature than fixed installations, Stockholm said.
Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari said: “In order to create the conditions for increased fossil-free electricity production, the government today gives permission to the sea-based wind farm Poseidon in southern Skagerrak outside Stenungssund.
“Poseidon will be able to deliver up to 5.5 TWh per year within electricity price range 3, which I know is much anticipated by the business community in western Sweden.”
The decision is accompanied by special conditions for sufficient consideration to be given to several important aspects of society; including requirements for obstacle marking, restrictions to take into account marine mammals, benthic communities, bats and birds.
The project must also take into account commercial fishing, emergency and rescue plans as well as measures for security, recycling and decommissioning of the park.
The government decision is also combined with requirements for cooperation and consultation with above all the Swedish Maritime Administration, the Swedish Transport Agency, the Swedish Armed Forces and organizations for professional fishing.
In the final design, consultation must take place with the Swedish Armed Forces, according to the terms of the permit.
Before construction, further decisions are required, including permission to lay underwater cables within the park and permission to connect the wind farm to the mainland’s main grid for the distribution of electricity.
According to the permit, the wind farm must be completed within 10 years, i.e. no later than 2034.
Through the addition of the wind farm, electricity production increases in connection with electricity price area 3, where the need for more fossil-free electricity is very great.
Together with the already approved wind farms Galene and Kattegatt Syd, the addition could be 12TWh per year.
Since there is a deficit of electricity production in the electricity areas SE3 and SE4, the addition of electricity production by these wind farms with low marginal costs gives the opportunity to contribute electricity at competitive prices, the government said.
The parks will also during certain periods of the year be able to contribute to reducing the need to transfer electricity from the north to the south of Sweden.
They will thus contribute to strengthening Sweden’s competitiveness, above all in electricity area SE3, which has long been requested by business and industry in Western Sweden, it added.