‘Offshore wind power offers great potential’

Sweden wants to increase its sustainability ambitions through more fossil-free transport and fossil-free heating. How do you view the Government’s and the Moderate Party’s ambitions in this area?

For the first time in a very long time, Sweden has a government that prioritises energy issues, with a focus on fossil-free electricity production and shorter and more predictable permit processes, which facilitate the transition of transport and industry.

Different types of energy are discussed in the public debate. How do you see the role of wind power in the energy system and the potential for offshore wind power to develop as our electricity needs increase?

All fossil-free electricity production is needed if we are to successfully transition. Wind power plays an important role, and offshore wind power offers great potential. It is good that the Moderate Party decided at its conference last autumn to improve the conditions for wind power.

You are currently one of the City of Stockholm’s opposition vice mayors. What are the city’s prospects of delivering on its energy supply in terms of increased electrification?

Stockholmers want to make the transition, and it is the role of politics to enable it. However, I am concerned that with the Social Democrats in charge, not enough is being done to increase electricity production and nor are the necessary investments being made in, for example, charging infrastructure.

Christofer Fjellner, Opposition Vice Mayor and Group Leader of the Moderate Party in the City of Stockholm, was interviewed by Peter Carpelan, Senior Consultant at New Republic. ‘Three Quick Questions…’ is a series of interviews conducted by New Republic.