Natura 2000 permit for Vattenfall step towards more fossil-free electricity

Vattenfall has secured a key environmental consent from the Swedish government for its 640MW Swedish Kriegers Flak project in the Baltic Sea, 30 km south of the Swedish coast.

This is adjacent to its 605MW German Kriegers Flak project, which has been operational since 2015, and the 605MW Danish Kriegers Flak project, which is due to be online by the end of this year.

The Swedish Kriegers Flak is in the planning phase and is to become operational around 2027-2028. It required a Natura 2000 permit to show it was taking appropriate measures to protect the environment.

“The decision shows that it is possible to find ways for environmental considerations and wind power to coexist in the Nordvästra Skånes Utsjövatten Natura 2000 area,” says Johnny Ståhlberg, Vattenfall project manager.

In recent years, parts of the Kriegers Flak wind farm area have been classified as a Natura 2000 site. To minimise impact, the turbines will therefore be placed at a sufficient distance from sensitive habitat types.

As part of the Natura 2000 evaluation, Vattenfall has conducted thorough environmental studies in the area covering reef, bird, fish and porpoise nature types. This is to enable finding alternatives, taking appropriate protective measures and using methods to facilitate coexistence between wind power and environmental considerations.

Original Source: https://ocean-energyresources.com/2021/04/27/natura-2000-permit-for-vattenfall-step-towards-more-fossil-free-electricity/