Decision comes after military concludes projects would complicate defending Nato’s newest member against attack

Summary

Sweden vetoed 13 of 14 planned offshore windfarms in the Baltic Sea, citing defense risks. These projects would hinder Sweden’s defense by disrupting radar, sensor systems, and submarine detection, important for NATO’s newest member given nearby Russian threats.

Only the Poseidon project on Sweden’s west coast was approved, with 81 turbines set to generate 5.5 terawatt hours yearly.

NATO and Swedish leaders prioritized security over expanding renewable energy, highlighting Russian threats to undersea infrastructure: “We know Russia has advanced various forms of hybrid warfare beneath the sea to disrupt the European economy through internet cables, pipelines, and other vital connections. Our entire underwater economic network is at risk.”

  • iii@mander.xyzEnglish
    25·
    9 days ago

    If the windfarm is in a place that experiences very little wind

    • Skua@kbin.earth
      7·
      9 days ago

      I’m pretty sure they are only talking about windfarms that would otherwise actually be built

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      61·
      9 days ago

      …that’s quite pedantic, tbh. I’d say it’s rather implicit that a wind farm wouldn’t be planned for an area that doesn’t experience strong winds consistently.

      • iii@mander.xyzEnglish
        1·
        9 days ago

        it’s rather implicit that a wind farm wouldn’t be planned for an area that doesn’t experience strong winds consistently.

        I’ve worked in that field. You’d be surprised.