2024-05-292023/24:TU14 · p.13TUTransport & infrastructure
Obstacle lighting at wind turbines
Demand-controlled obstacle lighting for wind turbines
What's at stake: The decision affects how much light disturbance wind turbines cause for nearby residents at night, which in turn can affect local acceptance of wind-power expansion, while aviation safety must still be maintained.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether Sweden should already allow demand-controlled obstacle lighting for wind turbines, or whether this should await the ongoing regulatory review by the authority.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee recalls that the Swedish Transport Agency has already issued regulations on marking objects that pose a danger to aviation, and that the agency is currently reviewing the rules to, among other things, align requirements with ICAO recommendations and examine the possibility of adjusting the minimum height for obstacle lighting. As the committee does not wish to pre-empt this review, it rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 24 (MP)
The reservation (MP) calls for demand-controlled obstacle lighting - which lights up only when an aircraft approaches - to be allowed already now, arguing that today's constantly flashing lights needlessly increase opposition to wind power and that similar systems already work in, for example, Denmark.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 24 by MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 18/0/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 91/0/0/15 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/19/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 61/0/0/11 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:960 by Daniel Helldén et al. (MP) demand 12, 2023/24:1174 by Åsa Eriksson (S) and 2023/24:2453 by Rickard Nordin et al. (C) demand 86.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:960 av Daniel Helldén m.fl. (MP) yrkande 12, 2023/24:1174 av Åsa Eriksson (S) och 2023/24:2453 av Rickard Nordin m.fl. (C) yrkande 86.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to approximately 70 proposals in motions on aviation matters from the general motion period 2023. The motions concern, among other things, regional airports, emergency airports, safety-related issues in aviation, aviation's climate impact and electric aircraft. The reason the Riksdag says no to the motions is, among other things, already taken measures and ongoing investigation work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to ensure that en-route charges finance air traffic control services and emergency airports. (MP) — Reservation 24
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan requires a radical expansion of renewable electricity production and establishes that wind power shall benefit the municipality and residents in the surrounding area.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires a radical expansion of renewable electricity production and establishes that wind power shall benefit the municipality and residents in the surrounding area. Needs-based obstacle lighting reduces a nuisance for nearby residents and thus opposition to wind power, which is in line with that commitment and with the plan's requirement that the transition be made as simple as possible for people in everyday life. The plan does not directly address lighting regulations.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en radikal utbyggnad av den förnybara elproduktionen och slår fast att vindkraften ska gynna kommunen och de boende i närområdet. Behovsstyrd hinderbelysning minskar en olägenhet för närboende och därmed motståndet mot vindkraft, vilket ligger i linje med det åtagandet och med planens krav på att omställningen ska göras så enkel som möjligt för människor i vardagen. Planen berör inte belysningsföreskrifter direkt.
- wind power benefits nearby residentsdecisive»Vindkraften ska gynna både kommun och boende i närområdet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Wind power shall benefit both the municipality and residents in the surrounding area.”
- radical renewable expansion»En radikal utbyggnad av den förnybara elproduktionen är avgörande« (party programme ↗)“A radical expansion of renewable electricity production is crucial”
- transition simple in everyday life»bästa i vardagen och se till att det blir så enkelt som möjligt.« (party programme ↗)“best in everyday life and ensure that it becomes as simple as possible.”
- expanded energy capacity»Investeringar i grön teknik, industri och infrastruktur, utbyggd energikapacitet och stärkt styrning utifrån nya, skärpta klimatmål behövs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Investments in green technology, industry and infrastructure, expanded energy capacity and strengthened governance based on new, tightened climate targets are needed.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto wants to expand electricity production of all kinds, support municipalities participating in wind power expansion and tear down bureaucratic barriers for more electricity.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to expand electricity production of all kinds, support municipalities participating in wind power expansion and tear down bureaucratic barriers for more electricity. Demand-controlled obstacle lighting that reduces local resistance to wind power is a means for precisely that expansion. The plan does not mention obstacle lighting, but the demand to speed up slow processes speaks against waiting further.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill bygga ut elproduktionen av alla slag, stödja kommuner som medverkar till vindkraftsutbyggnad och riva byråkratiska hinder för mer el. Behovsstyrd hinderbelysning som minskar det lokala motståndet mot vindkraft är ett medel för just den utbyggnaden. Planen nämner inte hinderbelysning, men kravet på att snabba på långsamma processer talar mot att avvakta ytterligare.
- facilitate local wind powerdecisive»Kommuner som medverkar till utbyggnad av vindkraftverk ska kunna få ekonomiskt stöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Municipalities participating in wind power expansion shall be able to receive financial support.”
- tear down barriers for more electricity»Riv de byråkratiska hindren för mer el.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tear down the bureaucratic barriers for more electricity.”
- expanded wind power»Vindkraft långt ute till havs kan bidra med mycket energi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Wind power far out to sea can contribute much energy.”
- faster permit processes»Långsamma tillståndsprocesser ska snabbas på.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Slow permit processes shall be speeded up.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto commits to rapidly expanding wind power throughout the country and to giving municipalities a share of the returns to strengthen local acceptance.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto commits to rapidly expanding wind power throughout the country and to giving municipalities a share of the returns to strengthen local acceptance. The party programme wants to promote renewable energy through, among other things, simplified regulations, while environmental requirements for design and location shall be set. Demand-driven obstacle lighting, which reduces unnecessary opposition to wind power, therefore aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet åtar sig att bygga ut vindkraften snabbt i hela landet och att ge kommunerna återbäring för att stärka den lokala acceptansen. Partiprogrammet vill främja förnybar energi genom bland annat förenklade regelverk, samtidigt som miljökrav på utformning och lokalisering ska ställas. Behovsstyrd hinderbelysning, som minskar onödigt motstånd mot vindkraft, ligger därför i linje med planen.
- rapid wind power expansiondecisive»bygga ut vindkraften till havs snabbt i hela landet, med hänsyn till livet i havet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“rapidly expand offshore wind power throughout the country, with consideration for life in the sea”
- simplified regulations for renewable»både planeringsmål, förenklade regelverk och« (party programme ↗)“both planning targets, simplified regulations and”
- local acceptance for wind power»Ge rejäl ekonomisk återbäring till de kommuner där det byggs och finns vindkraft.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Provide substantial financial returns to municipalities where wind power is built and located.”
- environmental requirements for renewable too»Miljökrav på utformning och lokalisering ska« (party programme ↗)“Environmental requirements for design and location shall”
The plan wants to rapidly expand wind power, with permit processing times of maximum two years, and establishes that the green transition requires local anchoring.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to rapidly expand wind power, with permit processing times of maximum two years, and establishes that the green transition requires local anchoring. Demand-controlled obstacle lighting reduces precisely the local nuisance that creates resistance to wind power and removes a regulatory barrier without lowering flight safety. The counter-proposal's demand thereby aligns with the plan's commitment to doubled emission-free electricity production.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill snabbt bygga ut vindkraften, med tillståndstider på högst två år, och slår fast att den gröna omställningen kräver lokal förankring. Behovsstyrd hinderbelysning minskar just den lokala olägenhet som skapar motstånd mot vindkraft och undanröjer ett regelhinder utan att sänka flygsäkerheten. Motförslagets krav ligger därmed i linje med planens åtagande om fördubblad utsläppsfri elproduktion.
- faster wind power expansiondecisive»Det krävs en kriskommission för att snabbare öka Sveriges utsläppsfria elproduktion och tillstånd för vindkraft ska få ta max två år.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A crisis commission is needed to faster increase Sweden's emission-free electricity production and permits for wind power should take max two years.”
- local anchoring for wind power»Den gröna omställningen kräver lokal förankring. Den som bor eller äger mark nära ett vindkraftverk ska kunna få ersättning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The green transition requires local anchoring. One who lives or owns land close to a wind power plant should be able to get compensation.”
- remove regulatory barriers»Klimatet kan inte vänta på dyra och krångliga regelverk.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The climate cannot wait for expensive and complicated regulations.”
- doubled emission-free electricity»Vi vill fördubbla produktionen av utsläppsfri el, och rusta och bygga ut elnätet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to double production of emission-free electricity, and equip and expand the electricity grid.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants to expand more solar and wind power throughout the country and establishes that there is great potential to continue expanding renewable energy sources, including wind power.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to expand more solar and wind power throughout the country and establishes that there is great potential to continue expanding renewable energy sources, including wind power. Demand-driven obstacle lighting reduces local nuisance and thereby opposition to expansion, while clear safety requirements remain. The counter-proposal's expert requirements are therefore supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill bygga ut mer sol- och vindkraft i hela landet och slår fast att det finns stor potential att fortsätta bygga ut förnybara energislag, bland annat vindkraft. Behovsstyrd hinderbelysning minskar den lokala olägenheten och därmed motståndet mot utbyggnaden, samtidigt som tydliga säkerhetskrav kvarstår. Motförslagets sakkrav stöds därför.
- more wind power throughout the countrydecisive»Ska vi få ner elpriserna krävs att vi bygger inte bara kärnkraft utan också mer sol- och vindkraft i hela landet, investerar i kraftsystemet och satsar på energilagring.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To get down electricity prices we need to build not only nuclear power but also more solar and wind power throughout the country, invest in the power system and invest in energy storage.”
- expanded renewable energy»fortsätta bygga ut förnybara energislag, bland annat vindkraft, solenergi, biogas och vågkraft.« (party programme ↗)“continue expanding renewable energy sources, including wind power, solar energy, biogas and wave power.”
- clear safety requirements»För alla energislag ska finnas tydliga miljö- och säkerhetskrav.« (party programme ↗)“For all energy sources there shall be clear environmental and safety requirements.”
- consideration in wind power expansion»Utbyggnad av vindkraft ska koncentreras till redan exploaterade områden och platser med relativt« (party programme ↗)“Expansion of wind power shall be concentrated to already developed areas and places with relatively”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto wants to expand wind power but with respect for local democracy and adaptation to local conditions; demand-driven obstacle lighting reduces precisely that local nuisance.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to expand wind power but with respect for local democracy and adaptation to local conditions; demand-driven obstacle lighting reduces precisely that local nuisance. The party programme emphasizes that man's immediate environment has great importance for well-being and wants renewable energy sources to form an expanding base. The plan says nothing about aviation regulations.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill bygga ut vindkraften men med respekt för den lokala demokratin och anpassning efter lokala villkor; behovsstyrd hinderbelysning minskar just den lokala olägenheten. Principprogrammet betonar att människans närmiljö har stor betydelse för välbefinnandet och vill att förnybara energikällor utgör en växande bas. Planen säger dock inget om luftfartsföreskrifter.
- wind power with local considerationdecisive»Bygg ut vindkraften men med respekt för den lokala demokratin och anpassa storleken efter lokala villkor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expand wind power but with respect for local democracy and adapt the scale to local conditions.”
- good local environment»Människans närmiljö är av stor vikt för vårt psykiska och fysiska välbefinnande.« (party programme ↗)“Man's immediate environment is of great importance for our mental and physical well-being.”
- renewable as expanding base»Sveriges energiförsörjning ska tryggas genom en långsiktig energipolitik med fasta spelregler« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's energy supply shall be secured through long-term energy policy with firm rules”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants all fossil-free energy sources to contribute to electricity production and simultaneously promises to sharply reduce bureaucratic red tape and shorten government processing times.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants all fossil-free energy sources to contribute to electricity production and simultaneously promises to sharply reduce bureaucratic red tape and shorten government processing times. Demand-driven obstacle lighting is a regulatory simplification that reduces resistance to existing and new power generation without state cost. The question is not addressed in the plan, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att alla fossilfria energikällor bidrar till elproduktionen och lovar samtidigt att kraftigt minska regelkrångel och korta myndigheternas handläggning. Behovsstyrd hinderbelysning är en regelförenkling som minskar motståndet mot befintlig och ny kraftproduktion utan kostnad för staten. Frågan behandlas inte i planen, så slutsatsen är härledd.
- all fossil-free energy sources contributedecisive»Ska vi klara det behövs en elproduktion där alla fossilfria energikällor är med och bidrar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To manage it we need electricity production where all fossil-free energy sources are part of the contribution.”
- reduced bureaucratic red tape»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove one-third of companies' administrative costs and one-third of bureaucratic red tape”
- faster government decisions»Korta myndigheternas handläggningstider genom en bortre tidsgräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Shorten government processing times through a deadline”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan says nothing about obstacle lighting.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about obstacle lighting. The nearest principle is that great consideration shall be given to cultural and landscape values when expanding renewable energy, which speaks for demand-driven lighting that reduces disturbance for residents. The plan's commitment to municipal veto concerns establishment decisions and is not affected by the lighting regulations.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger ingenting om hinderbelysning. Närmast liggande princip är att stor hänsyn ska tas till kultur- och landskapsmässiga värden vid utbyggnad av förnybar kraft, vilket talar för behovsstyrd belysning som minskar störningen för kringboende. Planens åtagande om kommunalt veto handlar om etableringsbeslut och påverkas inte av belysningsreglerna.
- consideration for landscape valuesdecisive»hänsyn tas till kultur- och landskapsmässiga värden« (party programme ↗)“consideration is given to cultural and landscape values”
- local influence over wind power»Värna det kommunala vetot vid etablering av vindkraft« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect the municipal veto for wind power establishment”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:TU14)
- Committee report full text (HB01TU14)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1104 — Uppkalla Landvetter flygplats efter Evert Taube av Gustaf Göthberg (M)
- Motion 2023/24:117 — Utbildningskrav för piloter som flyger fallskärmshoppare av Eric Palmqvist och Eric Westroth (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1170 — Trollhättan-Vänersborgs flygplats och dess betydelse för hela Sverige av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1174 — Behovsstyrd hinderbelysning för vindkraftverk av Åsa Eriksson (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1256 — Luftbro med elflyg till Gotland av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1398 — Stärkt infrastruktur i Blekinge för väg, hamnar och flyg av Camilla Brunsberg (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1453 — Direkt flygförbindelse med Taiwan av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1491 — Statligt ansvar och ägande för Ängelholm-Helsingborgs flygplats av Per-Arne Håkansson och Niklas Karlsson (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1498 — Ronneby flygplats som statlig flygplats av Heléne Björklund (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1519 — En grön klimathandlingsplan för Sverige av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1600 — Ökat driftsbidrag till kommunala flygplatser med statligt upphandlad flygtrafik av Helena Lindahl och Daniel Bäckström (båda C)
- Motion 2023/24:1664 — Ökad efterfrågan på biodrivmedel i flyget för att skynda på klimatomställningen av Anders Ygeman och Mattias Vepsä (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1936 — Skavsta - Stockholmsregionens andra största flygplats av Sofia Amloh m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:205 — Upphandling av leverantörer av flygledning av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:2112 — Fortsatt utveckling av Arlanda flygplats av Jesper Skalberg Karlsson m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2279 — Bättre infrastruktur i Skåne av Lars Johnsson m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2453 — Ledarskap för klimat och grön omställning av Rickard Nordin m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2465 — Hållbara och tillgängliga transporter för hela landet av Ulrika Heie m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2625 — Utgiftsområde 22 Kommunikationer av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2661 — Stockholm som en hållbar tillväxtmotor av Mattias Vepsä m.fl. (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament