Swedish power group Vattenfall has announced plans to invest SKr 8 billion ($1.09 billion) to develop a giant windfarm in the Baltic. The farm, which would be northern Europe’s largest, is expected to comprise of up to 150 turbines in the Kriegers Flack area of the Baltic off the Swedish coast with a capacity of up to 640 MW.
Vattenfall is hoping to be granted the concession to build the wind farm next year with construction due to begin in 2009 and complete in 2010. The farm is expected to generate more than 2 TWh per year.
“This will provide a significant contribution to our other electricity generation capacity and to the development of wind power technology,” said Hans won Uthmann, head of Vattenfall’s Nordic operations.
Vattenfall has bought Sweden Offshore from German companies WPD offshore and Wind projekt Ingenieur und Projektentwicklung, and has also acquired Östersjöns Vindkrafts from Fred Olsen. These two acquisitions, which together are worth around SEK 100 million ($14 million), will make it possible for Vattenfall to build the farm.
