The County Administrative Board of Gotland has granted a Natura 2000 permit for OX2 and Ingka Investments’ offshore wind farm, Aurora, that the companies are developing outside Sweden’s Gotland and Öland islands.
Natura 2000 permit permissions means the County Administrative Board agrees with other authorities that the wind farm can be realized without harming protected species.
The project is located approximately 22 km south of Gotland and 30 km east of Öland in the Baltic Sea and is estimated to produce up to 24 TWh if the entire area is constructed. Construction could start by 2028 and production beginning by 2030, pending final governmental approval.
“Aurora is a wind farm that can really make a real difference and act as a motor in the net zero transition in the southern parts of Sweden,” says OX2’s Emelie Zakrisson.
“Export cables from the farm are planned to go to the mainland but also directly to Gotland. The large-scale production from Aurora would facilitate more local electricity production to be developed as well as hydrogen production to help decarbonize industry and heavy transports.”
Ingka Investments is the investment arm of IKEA retailer, Ingka Group.