VÄXJÖ, Sweden,
Oct. 12, 2009
(Press Release) -
The Södra board has decided to invest in the Group's first wind turbines. The turbines will be constructed at Södra Cell's Mönsterås pulp mill. This phase comprises five to six wind turbines.
Permission to build the turbines has been granted and the planning process has started. Electricity production from the turbines is expected to start in the third quarter 2010.
The turbines are part of a major planned wind power development. Preliminary plans are also being drawn up for wind turbines at Södra Cell Mörrum and Värö pulp mills.
In addition, Södra has finalised an agreement covering at least 300 wind power plants in southern Sweden on land belonging to Södra members and elsewhere in southern Sweden. It is investing up to SEK 10 billion in an annual power production of 1.6 TWh with Norwegian energy producer Statkraft through their jointly-owned company Södra Vindkraft.
The agreement paves the way for the expansion of a significant number of wind farms in southern Sweden. Statkraft, Europe's leading renewable energy company, will become a partner of Södra Skogsägarna in a new joint business venture to drive the long-term development and expansion of wind power on Södra's properties. Each individual project will be preceded by an investment decision by the owner companies.
"This is a major initiative on renewable energy in the form of wind power in Sweden and Statkraft is delighted to be part of the project. The agreement also enables Statkraft to strengthen its position as one of Sweden's leading suppliers of renewable energy," said Bård Mikkelsen, CEO of Statkraft.
"It is part of a broad alliance which aims to speed up the development of sustainable energy solutions being called for by consumers. Not only does it allow us to develop our existing portfolio of wind power projects; it creates space for additional projects," said Södra's President and CEO, Leif Brodén.
By acquiring a 90.1 percent holding in Södra's existing wind power subsidiary, Södra Vindkraft AB, Statkraft will become a major partner for Södra. The project portfolio currently has a potential of some 300 wind power plants, corresponding to an annual energy production of 1.6 TWh.
As Södra's members have access to extensive land in southern Sweden, there is considerable scope for expanding the collaboration by adding the projects of Södra's members and other landowners in southern Sweden. These projects are in different stages of their permit application processes, depending on when each began. The first projects are expected to be up and running in 2010 at the earliest, after which they will gradually be expanded over a number of years.
