The Swedish government canceled 13 offshore wind projects with a total capacity of nearly 32 GW and decided to close an entire area of the Baltic Sea for offshore wind energy generation, arguing that these projects would have "unacceptable consequences for Sweden's military defense."  716363

This decision is a severe blow to investor confidence, as private investments of up to 47 billion euros could be lost. The affected offshore wind developers include OX2, Eolus, Ørsted, RWE, Freja Offshore, Deep Wind Offshore and Statkraft.   

The wind farms that did not receive the necessary permits include Arkona, Aurora, Baltic Offshore Beta, Baltic North Offshore Delta, Cirro, Hinchar, Erik Segersäll, Neptune, Pleion, Ski Blades, Skåne Offshore Wind Farm, South Victoria, and Triton. 

According to WindEurope, these projects combined could have doubled Sweden’s current electricity generation capacity, and their cancellation threatens the country’s industrial competitiveness and its broader energy security goals. 

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson stated that after reviewing the army's documentation, "in the serious political security situation Sweden is now in, with war in our immediate area, the defense interest must weigh heavily in judgments like this." 

For her part, the Minister of Climate and Environment, Romina Pourmokhtari, noted that "wind energy projects often pose complex conflicts of interest and therefore require careful consideration. The government has taken note of the views of authorities, organizations, and expert individuals on these cases. However, in the current cases, the defense interest weighs most heavily." 

"Once again, Sweden is at the bottom of the ranking for offshore wind energy. The Swedish government has been unhelpful in this area for many years, but a total ban on offshore wind development in large parts of the Baltic Sea is unheard of. This makes no sense, especially when all the other countries in the Baltic Sea area want to build more offshore wind energy and are making good progress in that regard," says Giles Dickson, CEO of WindEurope. 

Dickson adds that "European governments must not be swayed by Russian intimidation and interference in energy policies. Offshore wind energy means more energy security and less reliance on Russian energy imports. Russia wants the EU's successful transition to local and cheap renewable energy to fail. But let’s be clear: offshore wind energy can happily coexist with military activity." 

Offshore Wind Energy in Sweden 

Despite its extensive coastline in the Baltic and Kattegat, Sweden's offshore wind energy development has been stagnant, with only 0.2 GW installed compared to Denmark's 2.6 GW. As of 2024, over 100 GW of offshore wind projects were at various stages of development, especially in the south, where demand for renewable electricity is high and continues to grow. 

Military Obstacles 

For years, the Swedish military has blocked offshore wind projects for security reasons, and the government has not resolved this conflict. In contrast, the other seven countries in the Baltic region have adopted a collaborative approach, establishing dialogues between the wind industry and the military to develop t solutions. In Poland, offshore wind even s military surveillance operations by incorporating radar systems into wind farms. 

WindEurope is currently working with NATO and the European Defence Agency on the "Symbiosis" project, which seeks solutions for renewable energy projects and defense activities to coexist in Europe’s maritime spaces. 

Issues with the “Open-Door” System 

According to WindEurope, Sweden uses an "open-door" system for developing offshore wind farms, where developers initiate projects without prior coordination with the military, shipping sector, or environmental authorities. This has created conflicts and overlapping applications for the same marine spaces. Giles Dickson, CEO of WindEurope, points out that this Swedish system is "cumbersome" and that the lack of governmental and financial undermines investment security in the country. Investors may now find Sweden less attractive for offshore wind development, especially as neighboring countries offer more reliable policies. 

In contrast, most EU countries employ a "centralized approach" where the government selects and plans optimal sites, minimizing conflicts and facilitating grid connections. These sites are then auctioned to developers to complete the project.