Some weeks ago, Ilmatar’s Head of Permitting in Sweden, Robert Wedmo, held a lunch seminar for the members of the Tidö parties in the Committee for Economic Affairs and a group of political secretaries in the Swedish Parliament. The Tidö parties are the four parties that formed the right-wing coalition government in Sweden after the 2022 elections: the Moderate Party, the Liberals, the Christian Democrats, and the Sweden Democrats.
The most critical issue for us at Ilmatar is the grid connection for our solar PV parks under development. To meet future electrification in the Nordic region, we need all the electricity that can be added to the power system. In Sweden, the scale of our solar energy projects is threatened by Svenska Kraftnät’s referral to solar farms being connected to the regional grid. To achieve technology neutrality in the development of fossil-free energy production, large-scale solar farms should be allowed to connect to the national grid. The Tidö parties showed a genuine interest in reviewing this to promote technological neutrality.
Authorization and BESS
The agenda also covered other challenges and opportunities following the development of large-scale solar energy production in Sweden. Questions were raised about authorization procedures and how they differ between Sweden and Finland. Processing times can be extended in Sweden, but only in some places. In regions where the authorities dare to see opportunities instead of risks, procedures are smooth, and cooperation flows well.
Other issues concerned battery storage, BESS, as a stabilization and support function for the electricity grid. Ilmatar is planning battery storage in connection with practically all solar parks under development.
As we all know, lunch is always too short, and there was barely enough time for all the questions. Still, it was an important meeting and another step towards faster development of renewable Nordic energy to keep our lamps alight, our houses warm, and our industries running.
