Green Power Sweden has urged the government to factor in defence interests earlier in the permitting process to accelerate renewable energy development, arguing that earlier assessments could bring greater predictability for developers and shorten approval timelines.
In its response to the government consultation on Early Notification of Appropriate Use of Land and Water, the industry association said that balancing renewable energy projects against defence priorities at an earlier stage would help streamline planning and reduce uncertainty.
Green Power Sweden welcomed the government’s ambition to simplify environmental permitting through the ongoing Environmental Permit Inquiry but cautioned that the current proposal for early area-use notifications “would have limited value for the industry” unless accompanied by stronger coordination and planning tools.
“We call for a holistic approach and a comprehensive strategy that ensures coordinated implementation of proposals from the EU and at national level for more efficient permitting processes,” the organisation said in its submission. It also highlighted the need for strengthened land and sea energy planning instruments to support the energy transition.
Ina Müller Engelbrektson, industry lawyer at Green Power Sweden, said that specific changes to the proposal could help provide the long-term stability investors require. “If the proposals are to be implemented, we urge the government to introduce time limits for government decisions on area use decisions and to extend the validity of such decisions to at least ten years,” she said. “This would provide investors with increased long-term security and predictability.”
The association added that assessing renewable projects in relation to defence interests—both military and civilian—without extensive documentation could give developers earlier clarity on feasibility. Such an approach, it said, would improve project planning and support Sweden’s broader goal of accelerating electrification and renewable energy deployment.
