Swedish developer OX2 has been awarded a Natura 2000 permit for the 1.5GW Triton offshore wind farm that it co-owns with the Ikea-owner Ingka Group.
The award was granted because permitting authorities judged that the wind farm would not impact areas or species protected by the EU's Natura 2000 scheme.
Natura 2000 is a European Commission-backed network of protected ecological zones home to endangered, vulnerable, rare or otherwise unique habitats and species based on various scientific criteria.
Sweden is home to 434 species protected under EU law, and the country hosts numerous Natura 2000 zones including a large maritime area off its southern Baltic coast.
The awarding of the Natura 2000 permit now means the project — which is planned for an area of the Swedish Baltic Sea 23km offshore of Skåne country in southern Sweden — has cleared necessary ecological rules ahead of construction start.
OX2 aims for all its projects to be “nature positive” by 2030.
“For Triton that means, among other things, improving the living conditions for cod. We are also investigating ways to protect the shoreline from erosion,” Emelie Zakrisson, head of development of offshore wind in Sweden at OX2, said.
Triton has an estimated construction time of three years and could produce first power before 2030, according to OX2.
The offshore wind farm is among OX2's 9GW offshore wind development portfolio in Swedish waters, which Ikea owner Ingka Investments bought a 49% stake in last year.
.png)
.png)
