Vattenfall

Around 20,000 people, across five main markets (Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, the UK), deliver electricity and heat to households and businesses, powering possibility, and promising to end reliance on fossil fuels – this is Vattenfall, one of the world’s most exciting energy businesses, steeped in renewables.

For more than a century Vattenfall has been inventing and innovating to provide power in a more effective and efficient way – the yellow and blue of Vattenfall is recognised as a symbol of progress.

This progress has been notable over the past two decades. The company – owned by the Swedish state – has been transitioning from a base of fossil fuel generating assets to become more sustainable for moral, mandate, and monetary reasons. Today, wind energy is where Vattenfall is celebrated as a clean, green, reliable provider. The company generates and sells 4.4 GW of wind energy from 1200 wind turbines across its key markets. This, says the company, will grow as the sustainable acceleration of progress continues.

“It is Vattenfall’s ambition to remain a leader in the energy transition by developing, constructing, and operating on and offshore wind farms, large-scale solar PV, onshore wind farms and co-located battery storage. At year-end 2022, Vattenfall had 2.2 GW of renewable capacity under construction and 5.3 GW in mature-stage development. We aim to further strengthen our project pipeline by greenfield development and by bidding on, or acquiring attractive projects across all our renewable energy technologies.”

GERMANY

In September 2023, Vattenfall was awarded the right to develop a wind power project in the German North Sea. The area labelled N-6.6 is alongside a site already owned by Vattenfall, N-7.2, and when complete the two projects are expected to generate enough fossil free electricity for more than 1.7 million German households.

85 km off the northeast coast of the German island of Borkum, close to the Dutch border, the positioning of N-6.6 and N-7.2 is perfect for a modern wind farm project and the pair will achieve an expected 1.610 GW. Vattenfall acquired the project in 2017 when it was known as ‘Atlantis I’ but re-entered the project in 2022 labelling N-7.2 as Nordlicht I and N-6.6 as Nordlicht II. Already present in Germany through the DanTysk and Sandbank windfarms, the involvement of Vattenfall will come as welcome news of German consumers who are keen on increased renewable generating capacity for their market which remains dominated by coal, oil, and natural gas. Coal is set to be phased out by 2038 and 20 GW is hoped to come from offshore wind by 2030.

“These projects are milestones on the path to enable fossil freedom,” says Head of BA Wind at Vattenfall, Helene Biström.

“They will lead to a permanent reduction in Germany’s dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, offshore wind energy can make an important contribution to the conversion to a more climate-friendly production in some key industries. Within the framework of partnerships, we want to support that conversion.”

Nordlicht I is set for commissioning in 2027 with Nordlicht II the following year. Faced with a raft of challenges including unexploded ordinance, animal and plant welfare, noise pollution, and common hurdles around weather and environment, Vattenfall is busy building a supply chain of the very best to mitigate risks and deliver the best projects possible.

VELINGA

In its home market, Vattenfall is moving forward aggressively as Sweden looks to advance its ambition of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 59% by 2030. The government target of a net-zero economy by 2045 is within reach in Sweden, and Vattenfall is a key player.

In 2026, the company will commission its latest onshore windfarm in the town of Tidaholm in the country’s south. Velinga was officially announced in October and will be home to 12 turbines with output of 67 MW and annual production of 173 GWh.

This is the third in a series of projects in the area for Vattenfall after construction at the 140 MW Bruzaholm windfarm was started and the 67.2 MW Grönhult windfarm was inaugurated. Two battery storage system projects are also under construction at windfarm sites Höge väg and Hjuleberg, both of which generate around 36 MW annually.

“We are proud and happy to be able to start the construction of another wind farm in southern Sweden,” says head of onshore wind development Sweden at Vattenfall, Daniel Gustafsson. “We would like to thank landowners, municipalities, suppliers and other partners for good cooperation.”

Construction is set to begin before the close of the year with AF Gruppen subsidiary Kanonaden Entreprenad contracted to build the windfarm.

ICONIC PARTNERSHIPS

Known through the energy industry as a pioneer, Vattenfall’s status is matched in the automotive industry by compatriot Volvo. The Swedish automaker is equally regarded for its ambition and innovation, and the pair together make quite the advertisement for forward-thinking Sweden.

Volvo has developed science-based targets to achieve net-zero by 2040. The company aims for 35% of total sales to be electric by the end of the decade, a net-zero value chain by 2040, and customers with zero emission fleets by 2050. “The transition to fossil-free and sustainable transport, mobility and infrastructure solutions is at the heart of everything we do at Volvo Group. This is where we can make the greatest impact as a company,” the company says.

In May 2023, Vattenfall and Volvo announced a partnership that would see Volvo take 50% of the electricity produced at the Bruzaholm wind farm for a 10-year period. Expected to be commissioned in the third quarter of 2025, the agreement with Volvo will come into immediate effect, and both companies are excited about the prospect.

“This partnership marks an additional step in continuously reducing the environmental impact from our own industrial activities,” said, President and CEO of Volvo Group, Martin Lundstedt. “The agreement signals our commitment to prioritize low-carbon investments, source renewable energy, and take climate action across everything we do.”

Anna Borg, President and CEO at Vattenfall, added: “The industry’s energy transition is taking place here and now – the key to success is collaboration, no one can tackle the challenge completely on their own. Today’s agreement is an example of how Volvo Group has chosen to be at the forefront of its electrification and climate work. We are pleased to be able to support them on their journey.

“By expanding fossil-free energy sources, collaborating to electrify processes that are currently based on fossil fuels, using our fossil-free electricity and developing charging infrastructure, we can contribute to the phasing out of fossil fuels in the entire transport sector.”

21 turbines will stand 240 meters tall and cover 13 km². 140 MW output and 460 GWh annual production will contribute to a standout Swedish partnership that will hopefully pave the way for others in the future.

For Vattenfall, there is not a secondary goal or ambition. Changing the energy mix, globally, for the better is the priority. And doing so with big partners who can further the message is only a positive thing. Excitement builds as the company edges closer to ambitious targets with each completed project.

“We are striving towards making our upstream and downstream production chains fossil free, so all Vattenfall’s customers (whether electricity or heat) can use fossil free energy.”