Freja Offshore has obtained a key permit for its planned 2500MW Mareld offshore wind farm off the coast of Bohuslän, Sweden. The County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland has granted a Natura 2000 permit, a crucial step in the project's development.
The Mareld wind farm is a joint venture between Hexicon and Mainstream Renewable Power. Located about 40km west of Lysekil in Sweden's economic zone, the project is expected to have the capacity to generate up to 12TWh of electricity annually, enough to power approximately two million households.
Marcus Thor, Chairman of Freja Offshore, welcomed the permit, stating, “The Natura 2000 permit is welcome news and confirms our commitment to creating a sustainable wind farm that respects sensitive natural values. We are now working carefully to review the additional conditions that the permit entails for us.”
The Natura 2000 network is a system of protected areas across the EU aimed at preserving biodiversity. The Bratten sea area, adjacent to the site of the Mareld project, is home to a unique ecosystem of significant importance for marine species and habitats. The permit demonstrates that the wind farm can be developed without compromising the region's conservation values, indicating that offshore wind power can coexist with protected environments.
Thor further emphasized the importance of the project, saying, “Mareld, which will be one of Sweden's largest offshore wind farms, is a crucial piece of the puzzle to meet west Sweden's growing electricity needs. Now we look forward to receiving a positive message from the government about the remaining permit applications in order to be able to deliver electricity on time when the need is realized.”
The Natura 2000 permit is one of three necessary for the development of the wind farm. The next step for Freja Offshore is to secure approval for the remaining two permits, which are required under the Act on Sweden's Economic Zone (SEZ) and the Continental Shelf Act (KSL). These permits have already been recommended by the County Administrative Board and SGU, respectively.
