Swedish parties 'double-deal' on wind power, blocking local projects

Political parties in Sweden are engaging in a "double game" regarding wind power, publicly supporting its national expansion while simultaneously hindering it through local opposition, according to an opinion piece in Dagens Nyheter. Filip Johnsson, a professor of energy systems, argues that this inconsistency jeopardizes Sweden's climate transition and electrification goals.

Sweden possesses excellent conditions for renewable energy, including a nearly carbon-free electricity system and abundant land suitable for onshore wind power. However, the pace of development is alarmingly slow. To meet long-term energy scenarios by 2035, Sweden needs to approve approximately 257 wind turbines annually. In contrast, between 2020 and 2025, an average of only 104 were approved per year, with a record low of just 12 approved last year. This drastic reduction in approvals could lead to soaring electricity prices and stalled electrification efforts.

Johnsson points out that while the government aims to incentivize municipalities to approve more wind power projects, local "vetoes" against wind power have increased significantly. He cites a recent study of 48 municipal decisions, which found that 70% of projects were approved when located in areas designated for wind power in the municipality's master plan. However, approval rates dropped sharply to 11% when projects were proposed in areas not pre-designated for wind power. The author concludes that achieving the necessary wind power expansion requires genuine cooperation between national and municipal levels, with political parties taking more responsibility for facilitating, rather than blocking, these crucial projects.