Government denies approval for offshore wind farms in Baltic Sea due to defense concerns

Last week, the government announced that all 13 planned offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea will not receive approval. This decision stems from concerns that the wind turbines could hinder the defense’s ability to detect and respond to potential attacks from foreign adversaries. Former Defense Minister Mikael Odenberg described the decision as “nearly catastrophic, bordering on self-destructive,” criticizing it as a failure in energy policy that could have significant defense implications. He emphasized that southern Sweden relies heavily on the electricity these wind farms would provide, equating the decision to placing a “dead hand” over an entire industry in the region.

The military argues that the proximity of the wind farms would negatively affect radar systems and signal intelligence capabilities from aircraft. Defense spokesperson Mikael Oscarsson commented, “If this means halving the time to detect a cruise missile, it would be irresponsible not to heed these warnings, especially as any nation can face war.”

Odenberg suggests that the government should explore technical or compensatory solutions to address these defense concerns rather than abandoning the wind farm projects. He mentioned that there are designs that could integrate sensor technology, potentially allowing for dual-use of these facilities. However, Oscarsson remains skeptical about these alternatives, stating that equipping the wind farms with sensors could turn them into military targets, cautioning, “We cannot obstruct visibility towards Kaliningrad.”

Odenberg, currently leading the Swedish energy agency, maintains that he has no financial ties to the energy sector.