'Disappointed' Ikea group slams Swedish government over offshore wind cull
Parent of furniture giant questions decision to reject projects on military grounds
Ingka Group – the parent company of furniture giant Ikea – has slammed a decision by the Swedish government to refuse permission for a swathe of offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea.
Ingka Investments was planning to help fund development of more than 10GW of offshore wind led by Swedish developer OX2, but the Aurora, Triton, Pleione and Neptunus projects were all rejected by ministers yesterday on grounds that they would interfere with military interests.
The Ikea owner has in recent years emerged as a major backer of renewables in its home market and globally, and said: “We are disappointed with yesterday's decision that the Swedish government will not allow offshore wind park developments in the Baltic Sea which is very suitable for building offshore wind with high and steady winds and shallow seabeds.
“Sweden will now miss out on access to fast and large-scale renewable energy production.”
Ingka questioned claims by Swedish defence minister Pål Jonson that offshore wind development in a large area of the Baltic could damage national security, given tensions in the area and the proximity of the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, and could even reduce ability to defend a missile attack.
“We are convinced that it is possible to take advantage of Sweden's unique conditions and at the same time having a constructive cooperation with the armed forces and other interests,” Ingka said.
The Swedish wind industry association has demanded a meeting with the government to “better understand” the reasons for the refusal, which it claims imperils potential investments of SKr550bn ($51.4bn).
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