Swedish renewable energy developer Eolus has applied for authorisation for a 1GW offshore wind project, Blekinge Offshore, located 11km from the coast in the Blekinge region of Sweden.
Ownership of the Blekinge project is shared between Eolus and the local company that initiated it, Vingkraft.
An application for an environmental permit has been filed with the Land and Environment Court in Växjö.
A request to conduct seabed investigations and lay underwater cables has been sent to the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise.
The proposed Blekinge wind farm, situated within the Karlshamn and Sölvesborg municipalities, will comprise 70 wind turbines and produce 4.3TWh of renewable electricity annually.
Eolus CEO Per Witalisson stated: “The technical conditions are incredibly good with shallow waters and proximity to the power grid, which allows us to build with existing technology.
“This makes Blekinge Offshore an optimal project for those who want more electricity production and lower electricity prices in southern Sweden.”
The applications will undergo a consultation process with relevant stakeholders before a permit decision is reached.
Strategically positioned 11km from the mainland and 5km east of Hanö, Blekinge Offshore is in an area designated for energy production by Blekinge's coastal municipalities.
The project will significantly contribute to the electricity self-sufficiency of southern Sweden and the Blekinge region and offer competitive pricing.
The Swedish Government declined a previous application for a wind farm in the same area in 2016 due to concerns from the Swedish Armed Forces that it would infringe on a marine training area. The spacing between turbines was also deemed insufficient.
Since 2021, a revamped project has been developed, reducing the project area by 40%, reducing the number of turbines by 90% and increasing the distance between them to 2km.
Blekinge Offshore CEO and project initiator Anders Nilsson stated: “We are now submitting a completely revised application to build Blekinge Offshore. The project is important for the future of the region, and we can build it without compromising the living creatures and valuable environments in the sea.”
In December 2023, Eolus submitted an application for the Najaderna offshore wind project in Sweden. Najaderna comprises 67 wind turbines with bottom-fixed foundations, capable of generating 4–5TWh of clean energy each year.
