A great way to work. Anders Bäccman, Communications and Public Affairs Manager at Deep Wind Offshore, appreciates the working methods within C2B2. “I like the broad approach, with collaboration across boundaries,” he says. Deep Wind Offshore is one of the stakeholders following C2B2.
Offshore wind farms are still a relatively rare sight for those venturing into Swedish territorial waters. However, much is happening, and one of the companies aiming high is Deep Wind Offshore, which is also one of the stakeholders involved with C2B2.
– This whole issue of coexistence and a holistic perspective on the sea is extremely important, says Anders Bäccman, Communications and Public Affairs Manager at Deep Wind Offshore in Sweden.
Deep Wind Offshore takes a broad perspective on its operations.
– We aim to develop, own, and operate offshore wind farms, says Anders Bäccman.
So far, the company has no electricity production in operation, but it has several projects in various stages of auction and permitting processes in multiple countries. Besides Sweden, they have ongoing projects in Norway, South Korea, Estonia, and Chile.
Earnings in the 2030’s
Once a project has received construction permits and an investment decision has been made, it takes about five to ten years before production begins.
– We expect to deliver electricity and generate revenue in the early 2030s.
A long time to have investments tied up? Yes, says Anders Bäccman, but there is a stable, primarily Norwegian, ownership consortium in the background.
– An energy company, a power grid company, and a shipping company. Plus, a British energy company with a green focus.
Any plans to go public?
– No, not at the moment. But we will bring in investors for our projects.
Deep Wind Offshore was among the companies affected when the Swedish government, citing defense interests, rejected applications for 13 planned wind farms in the Baltic Sea. Their planned wind farm in the area – Erik Segersäll – was initially projected to have a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts, and once fully developed, the 880-square-kilometer facility would have generated 19.5 terawatt-hours, equivalent to about 4 percent of Sweden’s total consumption.
A setback, according to Anders Bäccman, but the company had anticipated challenges.
– We in this industry are a kind of pioneers, and for various reasons, progress is relatively slow. As of now, only Lillgrund and a few other offshore wind farms are operational.
Another setback for the industry is the Kriegers Flak project east of Zealand, expected to deliver 2.7 terawatt-hours of energy. It stalled last autumn when the government decided that Vattenfall would have to handle the grid connections themselves.
Investing in the Bay of Gävle
For Deep Wind Offshore, the disappointment with Erik Segersäll means they are now focusing their efforts on the 480-square-kilometer Olof Skötkonung project in Gävlebukten, which they have been working on for several years. This project includes 70 turbines with an impressive vertical reach.
– The maximum height we are applying for is 370 meters, slightly higher than the Eiffel Tower. Offshore, the wind is strong and steady, and at higher altitudes, it is even stronger, giving the turbines access to immense wind resources. This is a significant advantage, especially in terms of land use efficiency,” says Anders Bäccman.
The estimated energy production from Olof Skötkonung is around 5.5 terawatt-hours.
Regarding the debate on which energy sources Sweden should invest in – nuclear power or renewables – Anders Bäccman believes this is a non-issue. Everything is needed.
– Going forward, Sweden will need significantly more energy production than today. Offshore wind power has the advantage of being able to produce large amounts of electricity in regions where it is truly needed. In addition to that, we have nuclear and hydropower for balancing. Personally, I have always viewed nuclear power, when managed properly, as a good thing. But renewables have many advantages.
He notes that wind farms can be built faster than nuclear power plants. Wind power technology is also advancing rapidly, and today, solutions exist that enable balancing effects within the electricity system.
Energy storage solutions with batteries or hydrogen? According to Anders Bäccman, this development is moving forward quickly.
No contributions from the state
One common critique of wind power is that it is taxpayer-funded, something Anders Bäccman dismisses.
– We receive no state subsidies,” he says.
Since 2010, there have been no government subsidies available for Swedish wind power companies.
The electricity certificate system remains in place until 2035, benefiting wind power and other renewable energy sources. However, after expansion progressed faster than expected, Parliament decided that no facilities commissioned after December 1, 2021, would receive certificates. That means no financial support from that system for Deep Wind Offshore either.
– No, we have to generate our own profits.
Deep Wind Offshore is one of the companies involved as stakeholders in C2B2. Although, according to Anders Bäccman, they are not directly affected by the research program, their engagement remains important. Questions surrounding how different actors can coexist in Swedish maritime areas and conduct business without depleting the sea are of great interest to the company.
– We see our involvement in C2B2 as a way to engage in interesting dialogues with many different stakeholders. We are also highly interested in research and development that can make our projects both more sustainable and economically viable, he says.
The working approach within the program – broadly crossing disciplinary, organizational, and regional boundaries – is something he also appreciates.
– It creates an exciting dynamic.
Facts: Anders Bäccman
Age: 46 years.
Residence: Uppsala.
Family: Wife and two children.
Interests: Music, cooking, and leather craftsmanship.
Listening to: Chet Atkins.
Car: A BYD Atto3, 2022.
Facts: Deep Wind Offshore
The company was founded in 2020, has approximately 50 employees, and is headquartered in Haugesund on the southern part of the Norwegian west coast, about a two-hour drive north of Stavanger. Deep Wind Offshore is owned by Haugaland Kraft, SKL (Sunnhordland Kraftlag AS), the shipping company Knutsen Group, and the British energy company Octopus Energy. The company has three offices in Sweden, located in Stockholm, Varberg, and Uppsala.
Photo: Thomas Drakenfors, C2B2