‘Sweden’s basic industries have long invested in wind energy’

How is Sweden doing in the international expansion of wind energy and other renewable electricity production?

– Right now we are being left behind by neighbouring countries such as Denmark and Germany, but with our great wind locations, especially at sea, we have all the means to make up the gap. However, we must not kid ourselves that we have all the time in the world. Those investors ready right now to invest heavily in Swedish wind energy will go to other countries if the political risk and the lengthy permit processes make us unattractive. It is not just in Sweden that there is a demand from basic industries for hydrogen gas and electrification; in the end, this is about a sustainable transition and international competiveness.

The mining company LKAB recently became a member of the industry organisation Swedish Wind Energy Association. Is the wind energy industry on its way to becoming one of Sweden’s basic industries?

– Sweden’s electricity-intensive basic industries have long invested in wind energy. What is happening now is that the demand for cheap, sustainable electricity will increase exponentially as electrification and hydrogen gas gradually replace fossil fuels and production methods. Even though LKAB is a flagship in the transition, many more regard wind energy expansion as a prerequisite for both a sustainable transition and industrial competitiveness. Our head office is in the steel-intensive region of Gävleborg. Even in this region, industry’s hydrogen gas and electrification plans assume massive investment in local wind energy.

What are the most important obstacles to wind energy expansion and how can we remove them?

– For a long time now we have had problems with extremely long permit processes. Moreover, they do not sufficiently comply with the rule of law. Good political solutions have been proposed, such as taking into account the climate benefit of wind energy as part of the environmental testing, clarifying the municipalities’ comprehensive planning in relation to national objectives and in doing so making this clear in the permit process and creating an immediate local benefit by letting the revenue from the property tax on wind energy go to the municipalities. It is about industry, the rest of the economy and households needing a sustainable transition, so there should be great political will to quickly remove the obstacles.

Mattias Wärn was interviewed by Olle Schubert, CEO of New Republic. ‘Three Quick Questions…’ is a series of interviews conducted by New Republic.