ON-shore Wind Farm Goliath to Be Built in Sweden
by Matthew McDermott, Brooklyn, NY on 06.25.08
photo by Ben Leto Ben Leto
BIG CORRECTION FOR A BIG PROJECT
Ah, the difference a word makes... Huge apology on this one dear readers: Apparently my eyes and brain glazed over when I saw 3-3.5 GW and wind together and missed the fact that this project will be an on-shore wind farm and not offshore as I originally stated. Not an insignificant distinction and one I should've obviously caught. Mea culpa, Mea maxima culpa.
Sweden to build 3-3.5 GW new wind power capacity
Yesterday we reported that the US took some first steps in catching up with the Europeans in developing offshore wind capacity, with Bluewater Wind finding a buyer for a portion of its planned wind project off the Delaware coast. At 600 MW the project is certainly substantial, but isn’t even in the same league as what could be in store for Sweden.
Renewable Energy World gives us the scoop on the latest in largest-biggest-firsts in the wind energy world. Wind turbine manufacturer Enercon and Markbygden Vind AB have announced plans to develop 3 to 3.5 GW of wind capacity in north Sweden.
OK, so it won’t be one single farm, but a series of interconnected farms covering a total of 450 square kilometers (173 square miles), but the entirety of it currently dwarfs other offshore wind plans. The project is expected to generate 8-10 Terawatt-hours of electricity annually. Construction is scheduled to begin this autumn and completed by 2020.
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A bit surprised to see that level of effort in that particular area of Sweden. But, maybe things have changed since the 80's when I used to chase the wind (and suffer from the lack thereof, I was heavily into windsurfing) up there from May to September every year. The winter months might be better but ice build up could make this a bit difficult from October to April. Oh well, hopefully this is well researched and not only a "regional support" project.
Interesting that Enercon wind turbines will be used, because not too long ago the Enercon stance was: "Fish don't need electricity"
My surprise was just: the article on REW says clearly the parks will be ON-shore not of-shore.