Sweden’s government approved two offshore wind farms on July 16, while rejecting 11 other proposed projects, signaling a selective approach to offshore wind power expansion in the Baltic Sea amid national security concerns.
The Fyrskeppet wind farm in the southern Bothnian Sea and the Vidar project in northern Skagerrak could generate up to 19 terawatt hours of electricity annually, according to Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari, Energy Minister Ebba Busch and Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson, who announced the decision in an op-ed in Swedish daily Expressen. The government also approved a large onshore wind farm at Markbygden near Pitea.
The 11 rejected applications for offshore wind power in the Gulf of Bothnia, the Bothnian Sea and in Vasterhavet off western Sweden were deemed to have an unacceptable impact on Swedish defence capabilities, according to Reuters. Sweden, which joined NATO in 2024, has increasingly cited defense concerns when evaluating offshore wind projects in strategically sensitive areas.
A Shift in Wind Permitting Policy
The approvals mark a turning point in how Sweden manages offshore wind development. The government said it will replace its current “open door” application process for offshore wind with an auction system, under which the state would first identify suitable areas before developers bid for construction rights. This change aims to balance renewable energy expansion with national security interests.
Sweden has set an ambitious target for 100% renewable electricity production by 2040, according to the Swedish government’s official energy website. The country was aiming for at least 50 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2030, according to Ember Energy. Offshore wind is critical to these goals; the Swedish Wind Energy Association has previously stated it expects 41 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2050.
The selective approval of just two farms while rejecting 11 others reflects the tension between Sweden’s renewable energy ambitions and its strategic positioning in the Baltic region. When the government rejected 13 offshore wind farms in November 2024, it cited concerns that the projects could interfere with early-warning systems for missile threats. The latest decision continues this pattern of careful scrutiny.
Sources
- Reuters — Reported the approval of two offshore wind farms and rejection of 11 others, citing defense concerns and the government’s shift to an auction system.
- Sweden.se — Confirmed Sweden’s target of 100% renewable electricity by 2040.
- Ember Energy — Stated Sweden was aiming for at least 50 GW of renewable capacity by 2030.
- Green Power Sweden — Cited the Swedish Wind Energy Association’s expectation of 41 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050.
