Statkraft has confirmed that it is to invest NOK5.2 billion in the construction of two wind farms in Sweden.
The Norwegian utility says that work will begin immediately on the Björkhöjden and Ögonfägnaden wind farms, which together will generate on average 1090 GWh per year.
The two projects will help to consolidate the company’s wind power operations in Norway and Sweden. Statkraft also owns wind farms in the UK, where it has just formally opened its first offshore wind farm.
The two new wind farms will be built in Jämtland and Västernorrland counties, northeast of Östersund in mid/northern Sweden. Björkhöjden wind farm will have an installed capacity of 270 MW and will start operations in two stages in 2014 and 2015. Ögonfägnaden wind farm with its 99 MW will be completed as early as 2014.
A total of 123 wind turbines will be erected, each with an output of 3 MW. Construction will be carried out by a joint venture company owned 60-40 by Statkraft and Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA).
“These projects in partnership with SCA will strengthen Statkraft in its work to establish a solid platform for profitable and cost-efficient wind power production in Norway and Sweden.
“Wind power is environmentally sound and a significant contribution to the transition to a future low-carbon society,” said Statkraft President and CEO Christian Rynning-Tønnesen.
On 27 September Statkraft and its partner Statoil formally opened the Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm, located off the coast of north Norfolk.
Sheringham Shoal comprises 88 turbines and has a total installed capacity of 317 MW.
Commissioning of Sheringham Shoal has helped the UK to reach the milestone of more than 2.5 GW of installed offshore wind power capacity. The UK now accounts for more than 60 per cent of offshore wind capacity in the EU, according to trade body RenewableUK.
