Statkraft has submitted a planning application for the 2,100 MW Baltic Offshore Delta North wind farm, located in Sweden's economic zone, approximately 100 km east of Stockholm and 55 km east of Sandhamn island. The project will feature up to 105 bottom-fixed turbines, positioned far out at sea to ensure “low to no visibility from land,” according to the company.
The proposed site is part of an area identified by Swedish authorities as suitable for offshore wind development in the latest revision of the Marine Spatial Plans. Statkraft noted that the zone is seen as less likely to conflict with other ocean users, enabling coexistence.
With water depths ranging from 40 to 80 meters, the area is considered the only location in the Baltic Sea north of Gotland suitable for large-scale bottom-fixed offshore wind. The project may also be connected to hydrogen or e-fuel technologies to support grid stability and manage the intermittent nature of offshore wind power.
Delta North is expected to produce around 8 TWh of electricity annually, which corresponds to 40% of Stockholm County's current electricity consumption. Statkraft stated that the project would help meet the region's growing energy demand, particularly in the transportation sector, and support Sweden's transition to a low-carbon economy.
“There are three aspects that make the proposed Delta North wind farm unique,” said Jakob Norström, Statkraft's senior vice president and country manager for Sweden. “Firstly, it would lead to a proportionally vast increase in the electricity production in the Stockholm region to meet the high energy demand from consumers and industry alike. Secondly, the project has been developed to be of as little interference as possible to Stockholm's famed archipelago, and we remain confident that the project has low to no visibility from land. Thirdly, the wind farm benefits from the more cost-effective and mature technology of bottom-fixed turbine foundations. Neither of these aspects are unique by themselves, but the combination of all three in one project is.”
The application to build and operate the Delta North offshore wind farm has been submitted to the Ministry of Climate and Economic Affairs. The government will evaluate the application and consult with several agencies before making a final decision.
