‘Unique challenges’: huge Arctic offshore wind farm plan to pump 7% of Sweden's power
Wind farm would be the furthest north of any in Sweden and have to contend with potential icing of turbines among other challenges
Building a huge 3GW offshore wind farm in Sweden's Arctic north will face "unique challenges" but the project could meet 7% of the country's electricity needs, said developer Skyborn Renewables as it revealed the plan.
The Polargrund wind farm would be based 35km off the coast at the northernmost point of the Gulf of Bothnia, which separates Sweden and Finland, Skyborn said in a statement today.
Skyborn wants to build up to 120 wind turbines with a maximum height of 350 metres for the project.
The wind farm could generate up to 10TWh fossil-free electricity when completed, it said, enough to power over 7% of Sweden's current electricity consumption.
As well as pumping electricity into the grid, the developer is also investigating using power generated to produce green hydrogen.
The power will also be “vital for meeting the surging demand” from Sweden’s northernmost county of Norrbotten, an Arctic region that Skyborn said has expanding industries transitioning to clean energy.
“Some projections forecast an unprecedented 800% increase in the region's power needs,” it said.
“Polargrund Offshore is a key project for realizing the business sector's expansive development plans in Norrbotten and enabling Sweden’s move towards net-zero emissions,” said Niclas Broman, CEO of Skyborn Sweden.
“As the developer of Sweden's northernmost offshore wind farm, we are committed to overcoming the unique challenges of constructing such a large-scale project in an arctic environment.”
Challenges of building wind farms in Arctic environments include ice forming on the turbines and sea ice limiting access to projects.
Skyborn’s Swedish portfolio now encompasses four offshore wind farms with a combined potential annual output of approximately 40TWh.
Skyborn is owned by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), currently the subject of a $12.5bn takeover by finance giant BlackRock.
The developer started life as the offshore business of Germany’s Wpd and has interests in a range of key offshore wind markets in Europe – notably Finland and Sweden.
If the government gives approval, OX2 and the other developer – Ikea parent Ingka Group – plan to have the first phase of the project operational by 2030.
(Copyright)