Sweden halts 13 offshore wind projects near Russian enclave over security concerns

According to a study by the armed forces, these projects could have disrupted Swedish defense sensors in the Baltic Sea, as tensions with Russia increase in the region.

Sweden, which officially joined NATO in April, canceled 13 wind farm projects along its coasts in the Baltic Sea on Monday, November 4, because of their impact on its defense capabilities. Construction permits for these offshore wind farms have not been granted because “they would have had an unacceptable impact” on the defense of this Scandinavian country, explained the Minister of the Environment, Romina Pourmokhtari, at a press conference.

This decision comes after a study carried out by the armed forces, made public on Friday, which shows that these projects could significantly disrupt Swedish defense sensors in the Baltic, a stone's throw from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. The rotating towers and blades of wind turbines emit radar echoes and produce a number of other interferences, particularly underwater, affecting for example the ability to detect potential submarines.

Defense Minister Pal Jonson added that the relative proximity of the Russian enclave “highly militarized” had been “a central element” in the decision taken by the government.

In view of “the serious security situation that Sweden is currently experiencing, defense interests must weigh more heavily in the balance”underlined the Minister of Defense during the press conference. If they had been maintained, the 13 offshore wind farms would have delayed the detection of a missile, ballistic or cruise attack.

“It is problematic that the government is categorically closing an entire area of ​​potential electricity production”reacted Svensk vindkraft, industrial association of wind power in Sweden. According to the Minister of Defense, areas off the southwest coast of Sweden and the Bay of Bothnia are better suited to offshore wind projects. A total of 24 offshore projects are on the government's table Swedish, including the thirteen who were refused.