Financing of wind power : a case study of Lau Vind Ltd

The wind power increase of Gotland as well as other parts of Sweden during the last ten year period has meant that this renewable energy source has increased its share over other fossil sources. The year of 2011 became the first when the wind power produced more energy than an average nuclear reactor. Now that wind power is in an expansive phase, the land issue will be of great interest. Land with good wind resources will be of interest to wind energy developers. The problems that this essay is based on are; how can landowners altering the economic conditions at a wind power establishment? What opportunities and obstacles exist for landowners who choose to set up wind power on their land? The purpose of this essay is to highlight the economic conditions that exist for landowners for the establishment of wind farms, with regard to compensation for the leasing and return on invested capital. The authors will also clarify the difficulties and opportunities arising from the process at an imaginary wind power establishment, which have emerged through interviews and research articles. The primary sources consist of interviews with actors for a planned wind farm in southeast Gotland, as well as representatives of a trade association of companies working with wind power. Interviews were also made with a bank, where the experience in question funding for wind energy has been important for our problem as well with a wind turbine manufacturer for real facts about wind turbines. Landowner’s interest in wind energy as a long term investment has in Lau on Gotland resulted in a project where local landowners have chosen to form a joint company to invest in a wind farm, with the goal that the park generally will be owned by local residents in the parish. Conclusions to be drawn from this study is that landowners who form a joint company, in this case Lau Wind AB will open an opportunity for landowners to take a larger share of the ownership and profits as wind power turbines on their land supplies. But also for locals who have opportunity to become owners of the wind through the purchase of shares in wind farm