The year 2022 was full of events that are permanently changing the conditions for the offshore wind industry. We asked industry leaders and key policy-makers for their assessment of what has been achieved in the past year and what the forecasts are for 2023. In today’s interview of the „Baltic Sea Offshore Wind – 2022 Summary & 2023 Outlook” series, we present the opinion of Daniel Badman, CEO of the Swedish Wind Energy Association.
2022 Summary
From my perspective the most important development for the offshore wind industry in 2022 is the great interest to invest in offshore in Sweden. There are seven offshore projects waiting for permits tin the Swedish economic zone, and even more in the territorial waters. Totally 14 GW at an investment value of around 40 Million Euros. In addition, more than 111 GW projects are at earlier stages in the Swedish permitting processes.
Our main achievements in 2022 are that it is clear in the Swedish debate that electrification is here to stay. Industrial investments in sectors such as iron, steel, chemicals, battery production, cars, e-fuels etc drive the demand for more renewable electricity production. It is really promising that interest for offshore has materialized in Sweden as electrification is at high speed in Sweden
2023 Outlook
An important challenge for offshore wind development in 2023 will be to secure that projects waiting for permits get the necessary permits. The Swedish system differs from most other countries– as we today have a fully market-based approach without auctioning. This means that the permitting processes are complex and several different authorities and permits are needed, for the electricity production, grid connection, etc. This needs to be streamlined and simplified in Sweden.
In 2023 we will focus in particular on permitting processes and grid connection. RePower EU will be an important driver to improve and speed-up the Swedish conditions on the market.
