Eolus Investigates Direct Connection of Västvind Wind Farm to Gothenburg’s Local Power Grid
Following a request from Eolus, Göteborg Energi Nät is now exploring the possibility of connecting the Västvind wind farm directly to Gothenburg’s local power grid at the Gothenburg harbor. The park, located off Öckerö, is being developed by Eolus and is planned to have a capacity of up to 1,000 MW, providing a significant and much-needed addition of renewable electricity to the region.
“We stand before an enormous challenge with a great need for both capacity and electricity in Gothenburg in the coming years. Connecting a wind farm that, in terms of electricity production, corresponds to the entire current electricity usage in Gothenburg, directly to our local power grid is a fantastic opportunity. Currently, only 11% of the electricity used in Gothenburg is produced locally. We are pleased that Eolus has chosen to submit a preliminary application to us, and we will now investigate the possibilities for a connection,” says Lars Edström, CEO of Göteborg Energi Elnät, and continues
“If the wind farm can be connected to Gothenburg’s local power grid, it could lead to a faster and smoother process. Ensuring timely resolution of the electricity needs is crucial to secure the thousands of jobs created by the transition”.
“A new offshore wind farm is part of an industrial initiative on Hisingen in Gothenburg, and if we can connect the electricity directly to the heart of the industrial cluster, it’s undoubtedly a significant advantage”, says Per Witalisson, CEO of Eolus.
“Access to electricity is crucial for industrial competitiveness and the well-being of the Gothenburg region. The possibility of Hisingen being flooded with green electricity would be a true blessing”, says Johan Trouvé, CEO of The West Sweden Chamber of Commerce.
For the regional and local economy, supplying electricity via Hisingen would create significant opportunities. There are concrete requests for additional power and electricity from industries in Gothenburg, including efforts to replace fossil fuels in processes and investments in sectors like automotive and chemicals. Eolus and Volvo Cars have signed a letter of intent for Västvind to supply electricity to the new battery factory on Hisingen. Additionally, Port of Gothenburg has become a minority shareholder in the wind farm.
“As a port, we see challenges in managing electricity supply in our area, but also significant opportunities. Ports play a key role in the green transition, and we anticipate increasing electricity demand in the coming years,” says Viktor Allgurén, Chief Innovation Officer at Port of Gothenburg.
“At Eolus, we always strive for our projects to contribute as much local and regional benefit as possible. If we build Västvind and can connect the power cable on Hisingen, it will create better conditions for supplying electricity to residents and businesses on Öckerö and in Kungälv, says Anna Lundsgård, Head of Offshore at Eolus.
About Västvind Wind Farm
The Västvind wind farm is located in the municipalities of Kungälv and Öckerö, as well as within the Swedish exclusive economic zone. The wind farm is expected to have an installed capacity of up to 1,000 MW and the potential to generate 4–4.5 TWh of renewable electricity annually. The permit application, along with the associated environmental impact assessment, was submitted to the Environmental Court and the government in July 2023. Ongoing dialogues aim to enable coexistence with other interests, such as commercial fishing and shipping activities. Construction is planned to begin in 2027, with completion by 2029. Eolus owns 95% of the project, and Port of Gothenburg owns 5%.
Read more about the project at eolus.com/vastvind
For more information please contact:
Cecilia Erdalen, Press Manager, Göteborg Energi, 0704 – 66 04 28, cecilia.erdalen@goteborgenergi.se
Anna Lundsgård, Head of Offshore, Eolus, 0730 – 62 65 26, anna.lundsgard@eolusvind.com
Stefan Gustavsson, Public Affairs Manager, Eolus, 0734 – 28 21 34, stefan.gustavsson@eolusvind.com
ABOUT EOLUS
Eolus is a leading developer of innovative and customized renewable energy solutions. We offer attractive and sustainable investments in the Nordics, the Baltics, Poland and the USA. From development of green field projects to construction and operation of renewable energy assets, we are part of the entire value chain. For over three decades we have worked for a future where everyone can lead a fulfilling, yet sustainable life. Today, our project portfolio includes more than 28 GW wind, solar and energy storage projects. Eolus – shaping the future of renewable energy.
Eolus’s Class B share is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. www.eolus.com
