The most important explanation is that the current government has decided not to fund the power cables out at sea, "one of the fundamental prerequisites for investing in the project is a reasonable connection point to an expanded grid at sea", writes Vattenfall.
If the conditions change, i.e. if the state provides funding for connecting the offshore wind power, Vattenfall is ready to reconsider.
Nuclear power does not affect
Another important aspect when Vattenfall and other electricity producers make their investment decisions is that the increased demand, which everyone is talking about, actually materializes.
It is important for this project and all expansion in Sweden that we can keep pace with industry. Thus, that we have an increased supply in pace with industry, says Helene Biström, Vattenfall's manager for the wind power area.
Otherwise, there is a risk that too much electricity and too little demand will push down the electricity price.
But on that point, she thinks nothing has changed. That the government is on its way to give huge subsidies to the construction of new nuclear power does not affect the decision to pause Kriegers Flak, according to her. Nor does the fact that the electricity price is currently at unusually low levels.
"Some caution"
Vattenfall has several other major offshore wind power projects. They are later in development and continue as planned for now.
We continue to develop them, but naturally with some caution. We don't want to spend large sums of money before we know we can move forward with an investment, says Helene Biström.
Wind farm builder OX2 has a permitted offshore project underway, Galene off the coast of Halland. But there, the plans are on hold. The calculation has not included any state subsidy for cable laying at sea, the company tells TT.
Helene Biström points out that other countries often cover the connection costs.
A third of a reactor
The Swedish part of Kriegers Flak, where Germany and Denmark already have wind power production underway on their parts in the same area, is located about three miles south of Trelleborg and is, according to Vattenfall, "Sweden's most mature offshore wind power project".
The wind farm with 35-50 wind turbines received government approval in 2022 and could produce approximately 2.7 TWh of electricity per year, which can be compared to approximately eight TWh for a nuclear reactor.
