Sweden advances offshore wind power plans – new news
The Swedish government intends to commission the country’s transmission system operator Svenska Kraftnat to expand the grid to areas within Sweden’s waters to support the development of offshore wind farms.
The government plans to change Svenska Kraftnat’s instructions so that the TSO is appointed with the job of expanding the transmission network to sea areas where there are conditions for connecting several projects and where such an expansion promotes Sweden’s goals for renewable electricity production.
Svenska Kraftnat will also begin preparations for the expansion of the network at sea.
The change in Svenska Kraftnat’s instructions on network expansion will take effect on 1 January next year, the government said.
Under the terms of the amendment, the TSO will provide information on whether there is a need to develop new guidelines and instructions for offshore wind developers.
Svenska Kraftnat will also, where possible, describe and clarify conditions for developers regarding, for example, schedules and geographical areas for the expansion of transmission networks.
It will also clarify the conditions for projects that have already submitted network connection applications for connection.
The task of the TSO is to report its results to the government by 15 June 2022.
Minister of the Environment and Climate Per Bolund (pictured) said: “We have a rapid expansion of renewable electricity in Sweden and to meet the climate challenges we must accelerate the expansion further.
“Offshore wind power has an enormous potential to produce Swedish renewable electricity that replaces coal and oil around Europe.”