5.5GW Offshore Swedish Wind Farm Granted Natura 2000 Permit

The County Administrative Board of Gotland has awarded a Natura 2000 permit for an ambitious offshore wind farm project in the Swedish Economic Zone, poised to significantly impact renewable energy production.

Named Aurora, the project envisions the installation of up to 370 wind turbines, each potentially reaching a towering height of 370 meters. This initiative is spearheaded by OX2, a Stockholm-based company, in collaboration with Ingka, the principal retailer of IKEA.

The developers of Aurora have projected that, once fully operational, the wind farm could generate up to 24 TWh annually. This output is enough to meet the energy needs of approximately 5 million households and could cut CO2 emissions by around 14 million tonnes each year.

Emelie Zakrisson, OX2’s head of development of offshore wind in Sweden, emphasized the significant impact of the project: “Aurora is a wind farm that can really make a real difference and act as a motor in the net zero transition in the southern parts of Sweden. The large-scale production from Aurora would facilitate more local electricity production to be developed as well as hydrogen production to help decarbonise industry and heavy transports.”

The granting of the Natura 2000 permit, aimed at protecting critical habitats and species as outlined in the EU's Habitats and Birds Directives, marks a crucial step in the project's progression. It's one of many approvals the project requires to proceed.

Following this milestone, OX2 and Ingka are looking towards the next phase, which involves seeking endorsement from Gotland authorities for the government's approval under Sweden's exclusive economic zone act. With governmental green light, Aurora's construction could kick off by 2028, with the expectation of generating its first power before the turn of the decade.