Sweden’s military has raised alarms over the impact of offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea on national and allied defense capabilities. On November 4, the government blocked the construction of 13 wind farms, followed by another project near Gotland on November 21, citing serious defense implications.
In a recent statement, the Swedish Armed Forces emphasized that all proposed wind farm projects in the Baltic pose unacceptable risks. “The towers and rotating blades of wind turbines emit radar echoes and generate other forms of interference,” the military noted, highlighting concerns about the proximity of these projects to the strategically significant Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
Defense Minister Pal Jonson pointed out that wind farms could significantly hinder the detection of incoming cruise missiles, potentially reducing warning time by half to just 60 seconds. The Armed Forces stated, “We currently see no technical solutions or legal prerequisites for a coexistence of our defense interests and wind power in the Baltic Sea.”
The heightened security environment following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to a reassessment of risks to Sweden’s defense capabilities. With Sweden and Finland now NATO members, all Baltic states except Russia belong to the alliance, increasing the urgency of these concerns.
Despite these defense considerations, the Swedish government remains committed to expanding wind power, anticipating that electricity consumption will double by 2045. Officials have indicated that alternative locations off Sweden’s southwestern and northeastern coasts are more suitable for offshore wind projects, ensuring that both energy goals and defense needs are met.
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