Ikea owner bags key green light for massive Swedish offshore wind farm
Developer OX2 and investment unit of Ingka win permit from Halland region for 1.7GW Galatea-Galene project in Kattegatt Strait
Nordic developer OX2 has received a key regional permit for the Galatea-Galene wind farm off Sweden’s west coast, leaving the green light for the 1.7GW project now largely just awaiting the approval of a final permit by the central government in Stockholm.
The county administrative board of the Halland region decided the huge project in the Kattegatt Strait developed jointly with the investment arm of Ikea owner Ingka Group can get built in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone.
The country’s armed forces have already declared they don’t have any objections to the northern part of the wind farm, while a dialogue continues for the southern part, OX2 said. A green light by the Swedish navy is key for a final central government permit.
“We look forward to realise Galatea-Galene together with OX2,” said Frederik de Jong, head of renewable energy investments at Ingka Investments.
“With a speedy permit process the wind farm could be producing electricity before 2030.”
“This is an important step to increase the generation of renewable energy in southern Sweden and to reduce the cost of electricity,” said Emelie Zakrisson, head of project development for offshore wind power Sweden at OX2.
“The wind farm will furthermore contribute to the green transition and to secure a competitive industry in the region.”
Galatea is located at 25km off Falkenberg, and Galene at the same distance off Varberg – both towns south of Gothenburg. The twin projects could produce some 6-7TWh of green power each year, and are close to key Swedish industrial sites.