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Danish parliament paves the way for 6GW of offshore wind

4C Offshore | Tom Russell
By: Tom Russell 22/06/2020 4C Offshore
The Danish Parliament has signed a climate agreement which paves the way for the country's green energy transition. It includes the realisation of the world's first two offshore wind energy islands totalling 5 GW, in addition to the establishment of a 1 GW offshore wind farm at Hesselø.

One energy island is to be located in the North Sea and will have a capacity of 3 GW in 2030 with room for at least 10 GW in the long term. The island in the North Sea will  be expanded in phases as electricity consumption increases, and the energy island is expected to joins trade relations with other countries. The second energy island to be established on the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and have a capacity of 2 GW.


The energy islands must ensure that Denmark can electrify more parts of society in the coming years and at the same time contribute to the electricity consumption of all Danish households and companies covered by green power. The energy from the energy islands can also be exported to neighbouring countries. Furthermore, it is envisioned that the energy islands will support technologies that can store or turn this renewable energy into green fuels (through so-called “Power-to-X”).


In 2018 government committed to three offshore wind tenders of at least 2.4 GW, the first being the Thor offshore wind farm. Today's agreement confirms that the second offshore wind tender will be located within the screened offshore wind area of Hesselø with a capacity of 1 GW. The parties have agreed that the wind farm should be operational by 2027 and have advanced the schedule compared to the original 2018 energy agreement.

The third and final tender under the 2018 agreement will now be included in the first phase of the energy islands and will be realised by 2030.

The parties agree that DKK 4 million will be allocated in 2020, DKK 121 million in 2021 and DKK 89 million in 2022 to support preliminary studies for the two energy islands and for a new 1 GW offshore wind farm at Hesselø. The feasibility studies are the first step in establishing the wind energy projects.


The parties also agreed that energy islands can potentially play a major role in the future electricity supply. Therefore the establishment of the energy islands and the park at Hesselø will be based on the principles of the Energy Agreement 2018, which states that offshore wind must be market driven without public support.


Danish wind energy trade organisation Wind Denmark welcomed the government's announcement. Jan Hylleberg CEO of Wind Denmark commented: “The agreement that the parliamentary parties have just presented is beautiful, ambitious and visionary and responds to many of the proposals that  Wind Denmark has highlighted  as particularly important for both the restart of the Danish economy and for the fulfillment of our climate goals. It is liberating , that the parties in this way has the courage and the will to put Denmark back on the map as one of the most ambitious countries on climate behalf while the agreement creates growth across the country and sectors."


“I am glad that we have listened to our concern that the two energy islands must not postpone the establishment of more offshore wind as decided with the Energy Agreement in 2018. There are many jobs in ensuring a continuous expansion while we prepare the very large investments , such as energy islands pull with them, particularly two new international connections, which are vital to creating a more integrated energy market , where the current can flow freely across Europe"
added Hylleberg.


Wind Denmark also calls for a clearer timetable for the establishment of a total of 6 GW offshore wind.
Hylleberg stated: “A clear and clear timetable is needed for companies in the wind industry and as soon as it is presented, the employment effect begins to manifest. Not before. Therefore, this plan must very quickly come so that we secure as many jobs in Denmark as possible already. ”

Denmark has over 1,700 MW of offshore wind power in operation including the recently commissioned
Horns Rev 3 project. Kriegers Flak is under construction with the installation of the foundations expected to run into the autumn this year. The installation of turbines is scheduled to start in 2021.

Later this year, the Danish government will issues a formal contract notice to officially launch the tendering process and pre-qualification phase for the
Thor offshore wind farm. A concession winner is expected to be chosen by the end of 2021. The 800-1000 MW Thor wind area is located 20 km off the West Coast of Jutland in North Sea and will be the first of three projects included in the 2018 Energy Agreement to be built over the next decade.

For more information on offshore wind farms worldwide, click here.

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