Sveaskog has entered into agreements with Alight and Svea Solar respectively to build solar power on forest land at a number of locations in southern Sweden. Sveaskog is thereby expanding its involvement in renewable energy. The energy portfolio already contains significant shares of wind power and biofuels. The investment in solar power is also in line with Sveaskog's overall ambition to make wider use of the landholding and the business strategic opportunities that come with a large landholding.
“Our mission is to create value from forest and land. Investing in solar power on Sveaskog's land is a natural step for us as a large landowner. It is a way to further contribute to the energy transition and the future need for more types of energy, while at the same time giving us opportunities for new income. In Alight and Svea Solar, we have found two knowledgeable and stable partners when we now take this step,” says Erik Brandsma, CEO at Sveaskog.
The agreements with Alight and Svea Solar mean that Sveaskog leases land and that the partners develop and build the solar parks. Sveaskog will then, together with the respective partner companies, finance and own the facilities.
The planning will begin in the fall of 2024 and will apply to facilities in electricity areas SE3 and SE4 – the areas that currently have the largest electricity deficit. The total output planned within the framework of the agreements is 2 gigawatts.
Sveaskog is Sweden's largest landowner. Sveaskog's core business is managing and cultivating the forest as well as supplying timber, pulpwood, wood chips, biofuel, forest plants and forestry services. In addition to activities linked to forestry, Sveaskog leases land for hunting, tourism and energy production. Wind power is today the dominant form of energy on Sveaskog's land. Approximately 18% of Sweden's total installed wind power output is on Sveaskog's land.
