Sweden’s renewable energy industry has welcomed government proposals to allow residents living near wind farms to share in their revenues, describing the move as a key step toward improving local participation and reducing resistance to new projects.
The Ministry of Climate and Enterprise has published a memorandum outlining the proposed revenue-sharing scheme, which will remain open for consultation until Dec. 18. Under the plan, residents living within a distance of up to eight turbine heights from a wind farm would be eligible to receive a share of its annual income.
Trade association Green Power Sweden said the government’s submission of “concrete proposals” for the mechanism marks an important development for the sector. “We are very pleased that the government is now submitting concrete proposals for one of the incentives that has long been requested,” said Ina Müller Engelbrektson, a lawyer for the group. “It is in everyone’s interest that a clear and transparent model for revenue sharing can be introduced as soon as possible.”
Green Power Sweden said the lack of clarity around local compensation schemes has contributed to a high rate of municipal vetoes on wind projects. Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 12, 2025, 26 of 29 proposed wind farms were blocked by municipalities, the group noted.
Industry representatives say that a structured revenue-sharing framework could help strengthen trust between developers and local communities, while also supporting Sweden’s broader renewable energy goals.
The government is seeking public feedback on the proposal before finalising the scheme, which it says aims to ensure fairer distribution of the economic benefits of wind energy development.
