OX2 wins Halland County nod for 1.7-GW wind farm off Sweden

January 30 (Renewables Now) - Renewables developer OX2 AB (STO:OX2) has received approval from Sweden’s Halland County authorities for its up to 1.7-GW Galatea-Galene offshore wind complex and will await final clearance by the Swedish government.

The zero-subsidy project has been given the green light by The County Administrative Board of Halland under the law on Sweden’s economic zone. Provided that the government issues a positive decision, OX2 could launch construction in 2026, the developer said on Monday.

Galatea-Galene is planned to be installed in the Swedish economic zone offshore Falkenberg and Varberg cities. The proposal covers two sub-areas -- Galatea, which is located about 25 km (15.5 miles) off the city of Falkenberg, and Galene about 25 km off Varberg, and calls for the installation of up to 101 wind turbines up to 340 metres (1,115 ft) high. Once in operation, the wind farm complex is expected to generate about 6 TWh-7 TWh per year.

The northern section of the project, of Varberg, has already been approved by the Swedish Armed Forces, while dialogue is in progress for the southern area off Falkenberg. OX2 is separately seeking a Natura 2000 permit for the offshore project.

Galatea-Galene is part of a 9-GW offshore project portfolio in Sweden in which OX2 is selling a 49% stake to the investment arm of Ingka Group. The other two projects in the portfolio – the 5.5-GW Aurora off Gotland and Oland islands and the 1.8-GW Triton off Skane county – are also undergoing permitting.