The Swedish government has rejected 13 applications for the construction of offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea south of the Sea of Åland, citing defence interests.

The rejected projects are Arkona, Aurora, Baltic Offshore Beta, Baltic Offshore Delta North, Cirrus, Erik Segersäll, Neptune, Pleione, the Skåne offshore wind park, Ski Blades, Southern Victoria, Swell and Triton.

Due to their impact on national defence interests, the projects cannot be permitted regardless of fossil-free electricity production and proposed precautionary measures.

As a result of the decision, Hexicon's joint venture company Freja Offshore will now cease development of its Cirrus and Dyning offshore wind projects along the Swedish coast.

Freja Offshore is also involved in the Mareld wind farm project, planned off the west coast of Sweden.

This project received a positive recommendation from the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland County in June 2024 and is currently under consideration by the Swedish government.

Sweden Defence Minister Pål Jonson stated: “Based on the Armed Forces' documentation, the government makes the assessment that it would lead to unacceptable consequences for Sweden's military defence to build the projects in question.

“In the serious security policy situation Sweden now finds itself in, with war in our immediate area, the defence interest must weigh heavily when judgments like this are made.”

In October 2024, Swedish nuclear firm Blykalla partnered ABB to develop an electric SMR pilot plant in Oskarshamn, 340 km south of Stockholm.

The partnership will develop a pioneering electric testing facility for Blykalla’s SEALER-E lead-cooled fast reactor prototype, with ABB providing expertise in automation, electrification and digitalisation.

The test reactor will operate entirely on electricity, using an electrical wire to pass current through liquid lead, heating it to the required temperature.