Ilmatar is to build a 550MW solar cell project in Sweden
A subsidiary of the Finnish energy company and independent power producer Ilmatar Energy plans to build a 550MW solar plant in Sweden.
Ilmatar Solar collaborates with the consulting company Vinnergi for the project in southeastern Östergötland, where a land lease agreement has already been signed with the land owner.
The installation will rank among the largest solar installations in Europe. The Spanish company Iberdrola last month ordered the continent’s largest solar energy project in Spain, which has a capacity of 590MW.
The team behind the facility in Sweden received a positive initial assessment from the country’s transmission system manager, Svenska Kraftnät, while permit and power grid issues are ongoing, according to Martin Ansell-Schultz, business developer at Vinnergi.
He said that Ilmatar will be responsible for the entire life cycle of the project – from construction to electricity sales for many years to come.
Ilmatar Solar CEO Christian Gustafsson said: “Sustainable development is the common denominator throughout the entire process – from agreement to planning and to the construction of the solar parks. As a sustainable, long-term partner, Vinnergi is perfect for us.”
Ilmatar Solar has several ongoing solar installations in Sweden, including a 450MW project in western Halland.
Research published earlier this year by the Swedish Energy Agency predicts that Sweden’s solar energy will triple over the next two years.
Other recent developments in the country’s solar industry have seen renewable energy developer RES announce a partnership with Alight to develop up to 300MW of projects over the coming years.