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The areas in the Gulf of Bothnia, the Baltic Sea and the North Sea could be used to generate 20-30 TWh of electricity each year. In the longer term, areas are required for an additional 90 TWh of production.
Minister of Climate and Environment Annika Strandhäll and Minister of Energy and Digital Development Khashayar Farmanbar said at a press conference on 15 February 2022 that offshore wind areas were “an important step in securing fossil-free energy and promoting Sweden’s green industrial revolution.”
Ministers said the designation of offshore wind areas would facilitate project decisions. They said it would contribute to the sustainable development of the sea.
The Swedish Energy Agency has been given the responsibility to implement the plans and to formally identify the areas. It will complete its work in March 2023, after which the Swedish Maritime Administration will address the potential consequences of developing offshore wind farms in the areas identified by the Swedish Energy Agency. This will be done in December 2024.
As recently pointed out by OWJA study conducted by the consulting company Thema on behalf of Svensk Vindenergi and five member companies – OX2, RWE Renewables, Svea Vind Offshore, Wpd Offshore and Ørsted – indicates that Swedish electricity demand will increase by 50% by 2030 and can amount to 370 terawatt hours ( TWh) in 2050, which is almost three times as much electricity used today (140 TWh).
Sweden is today a net exporter of electricity, with sufficient production to cover national power demand and exports to neighboring countries, but as the power system changes, and when demand increases, it can change, Thema believes.
Its analysis also shows that with sufficient investments in offshore wind, there will be a smaller imbalance between supply and demand in southern Sweden, where demand is greatest, which leads to a reduced need for upgrades to the network.
The consulting company also highlights the benefits that can come from the development of hybrid offshore wind power projects.
As also recently emphasized by OWJSwedes in the southernmost region of their country use much more electricity than the region generates.
Offshore wind could provide a solution, according to Aegir Insights, even though the S4 electricity bid area in southern Sweden accounts for 18% of electricity use in the whole country, it generates only about 4% of the total electricity produced in the country. This creates an ‘energy deficit’ that makes southern Sweden dependent on electricity imports from nearby regions and countries.
“The region is already ‘set’ on the option of wind power,” says Aegir Insights. “If it is to supply its own energy needs in the future, it would make sense to look in the direction of wind power, including offshore wind.”