In south eastern Sweden, around 130 kilometres from Malmö, Novar is developing an energy project that combines sustainable generation, storage and nature conservation. The location, in the province of Blekinge, is fairly remote and consists mainly of productive forests. It is precisely in locations like this that we can make a difference. While productive forests naturally have limited biodiversity, we are developing a project that not only generates sustainable energy, but also creates space for more nature.
We are realising a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) here, combined with a solar park. By integrating generation and storage, we are building an energy system that delivers value throughout the year and can respond flexibly to supply and demand.
The Hallandsboda project will have a solar capacity of 10 MWp, generating approximately 10 GWh of electricity per year. The Battery Energy Storage System will have a capacity of 50 MW with 200 MWh of storage. The total project area covers around 20 hectares.
Rethinking the design
The project originally started as a large solar park. However, during development, we recognised that the characteristics of the land and the ecological conditions required a different approach. Instead of sticking to the original design, we redesigned the project. We made the solar park smaller and we added energy storage. The result is an energy system that is better suited to the area and financially robust.
This reflects how we work. We don’t force a plan just because it was once drawn on paper. We adjust, rethink and redesign until the project truly works. We remain flexible until the project is right for the land, the environment, and the energy system.
Developing with respect for the land and nature
From the outset, the environment played a major role in this project. Together with local authorities and ecologists, we carefully considered which parts of the area were suitable for development and which should remain untouched.
For example, we have taken precautions to protect bats and amphibians in the design. We keep our installations at a sufficient distance from these areas so that nature can take its course. Where the site once consisted mainly of uniform production forest, the project now introduces more structural variation and ecological diversity.
During construction, we actively safeguard the surrounding nature. We keep tree and bush clearing to a minimum to reduce disturbance during nesting periods. Larger trees are preserved or relocated intact tocreate sunlit fauna depots, and existing dead wood remains in place to support insects and small wildlife.
Fencing is designed with a 10–20 cm ground clearance, ensuring smaller animals can continue to move freely through the area.
We are also working with the landowner and the municipality on preserving an old barn as a suitable biotope for bats. Stones from existing walls and piles are repositioned to create habitats for reptiles and otherwildlife, and smaller ponds and open water areas are maintained to support amphibians.
Working together
Our collaboration with the landowner, the Swedish Church, is the foundation of this project. They took their responsibility seriously by setting up their own project group, with forestry specialists and ecologists. From the beginning, we have worked closely together to make joint decisions about the area’s layout.
Together, we determine where energy generation makes sense, which parts of the area we leave untouched, and how the land retains its value. For now and for future generations.
For the Swedish Church, it is important to treat the land with care. A vision we share with the landowner. Rather than developing a separate energy project, we are creating an energy system that fits in with the landscape and the long term. The project also contributes to local value creation. By combining renewable generation with storage, it strengthens the regional energy system and creates long-term economic value for the landowner, while aligning with municipal sustainability goals.
From permit to realisation
At the end of 2025, the project received its environmental permit. The next steps are to obtain the building permit for the storage system and complete the grid connection. After that, the project can move towards realisation.
Energy projects are part of a larger whole
Projects like this demonstrate that the role of energy infrastructure is evolving. We no longer view generation, storage, and land use separately, but as parts of a single coherent system.
At Novar, we design energy systems in which generation, storage, and use reinforce each other. We combine sustainable energy with storage and smart control. This allows us to create space for applications that require a lot of electricity, while treating the land on which we build with care.
We do not see an energy project as a standalone object in the landscape, but as part of a larger whole. It must fit into the environment. It must work within the energy system. And it must also remain a sensible choice in the long term.
The best projects do more than just produce energy. They add value to the area, strengthen nature where possible, and take future generations into account.
For the land. For the environment. And for those who will use it later.
