Swedish renewable energy developer Eolus and Norwegian energy company Hydro Rein have submitted a permit application for the proposed Garpenberg wind farm in central Sweden, moving the project into a formal environmental review process.
The application, filed with the Land and Environment Court in Nacka, seeks approval to assess whether the wind farm can be developed in line with Sweden’s environmental legislation. The review will involve several phases, including input from public agencies, additional studies, and eventual municipal consent.
Garpenberg wind farm is planned to be located between the municipalities of Avesta and Hedemora. Following public consultation, the development area has been revised to reduce its impact on local recreational land. The site now covers slightly more than eight square kilometres and could host up to 17 turbines, each with a maximum height of 300 metres. Earlier plans included 21 turbines across more than nine square kilometres.
“We want to be clear that this is not an attempt to speed up any decision on the part of the municipalities,” said Julia Lundkvist, project manager for the joint venture Fornybar by Eolus Hydro Rein. “The application is a prerequisite for being able to proceed with the environmental assessment, in parallel with Hedemora municipality completing its planning work.”
The project is expected to have an annual electricity generation of approximately 410 gigawatt-hours (GWh) and is scheduled to begin operations in 2032.
The permit application marks a key step in clarifying the viability of the project under current environmental conditions, though final approval remains subject to local planning and regulatory reviews.
