The County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland County has advised the Swedish government to approve part of the Västvind offshore wind project, set to be developed by Eolus in waters west of Gothenburg.
The assessment focused on the section within Sweden’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), recommending partial approval. The decision underscores the requirement for increased electricity production in western Sweden. However, a significant portion of the proposed area was excluded due to shipping safety distances. Larger areas might be approved if shipping regulations are altered, though the Board is not responsible for these adjustments.
The segment of the project in Swedish territorial waters is under review by the Land and Environment Court. The Swedish government will make the final decision on the construction of the Västvind offshore wind farm.
“We anticipate that authorities and policymakers will find solutions for coexistence between electricity generation and shipping. It’s up to the government to require cooperation between the shipping sector and other stakeholders,” stated Ylva Sörqvist Hultgren, Eolus project manager for Västvind.
Västvind has been in the permitting process since 2023, following Eolus’s applications to the government and the Land and Environment Court, as the site covers both territorial waters and the EEZ.
The project plans include up to 50 turbines with an installed capacity of approximately 1 GW and an expected annual generation of 4-4.5 TWh. The offshore wind farm is proposed near Öckerö and Kungälv in Västra Götaland County, west of Gothenburg, with construction aimed to begin by 2027 and commissioning by the decade’s end, pending permits.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz