Eolus seeks approval to establish the offshore wind farm Skidbladner, with an annual output of 11.7 TWh, equating to half the electricity consumption of Stockholm County.
Eolus Seeks Permit for Offshore Wind Farm
Eolus has submitted an application to the Swedish government to develop the Skidbladner offshore wind farm, located more than 20 kilometers north of Gotska Sandön.
The project aims to install up to 147 floating wind turbines, capable of producing 11.7 TWh of electricity annually. This output matches half the current electricity consumption of Stockholm County or over ten times Gotland’s yearly electricity needs.
Goals and Technical Specifications
The rising demand for new sources of electrical production in Sweden is driving companies to heavily invest in renewable energy.
The Skidbladner wind farm will span approximately 1,400 square kilometers and will feature a maximum of 147 wind turbines with a height of up to 360 meters, mounted on floating foundations anchored to the seabed. The project is expected to be operational by 2033.
Impact on Energy Supply
This initiative aims to bolster Sweden’s electrical supply. The planned installed capacity of 2.2 GW and the annual production of 11.7 TWh represent a significant portion of the energy required to meet the country’s growing needs.
Lars Thomsson, the coordinator of Energy Island Gotland, noted that this project fits into the plan to achieve a fully renewable energy system for Gotland by 2040.
Strategic Positioning of Eolus
Floating wind turbines offer considerable advantages, including the ability to place them further from shore, where wind conditions are more favorable.
Eolus, a pioneer in wind energy development since the 1990s, aims to be among the first to implement floating wind projects in the Baltic Sea.
Eolus also has several other offshore wind projects planned in Swedish waters, including the Skidbladner and Herkules parks, located within the Swedish economic zone off Gotland. Together, these projects could provide Sweden with a total installed capacity of 4.6 GW and an annual electricity production of approximately 25 TWh, thereby enhancing the country’s energy security.