Ramboll to support the VindØ consortium with Danish energy island plans
Ramboll has been commissioned
to support to the VindØ consortium with the development of its artificial
energy island which is expected to be realised by 2030.
Ramboll is studying the possibilities of developing large Power-to-X (PtX)
facilities where power from windfarms is converted to products such as
hydrogen and ammonia to be used in shipping and industry. Ramboll is also
studying the feasibility of a data centre on the energy island. Given the
ever-increasing demand for data, placing a data centre on the energy island
could help secure a greener data driven future.
Finally, with fluctuating
outputs from the offshore windfarms, flexibility solutions in the form
of energy storage on the energy island, ranging from short-term storage
in batteries to storage solutions which may absorb and store power over
longer periods, are also being evaluated by Ramboll.
“Being innovative, however, is not enough. When identifying the possible
technical and commercially attractive solutions for the energy island,
sustainability is on top of our agenda,” said Søren Løvstad Christensen,
Project Manager and Chief Economist at Ramboll.
Activities such as electrolysis and PtX will produce heat as a by-product
- in some scenarios enough to supply several large Danish cities. Ramboll
is studying different solutions to utilise this for the benefit of the
energy island and society as a whole.
Another key component is the liveability aspects of creating an island
where potentially many people will stay for long or shorter periods. With
an expected lifetime of over 50 years, recreational areas as well as safe
and attractive environments and accommodation for the temporary inhabitants
of the island will need to be developed and designed from the very beginning.
The primary connection point to the energy island will be a port. The port
will be essential for shipping and landing materials for constructions
works, and for shipping of products produced on the island, but also for
the daily operations with crew transfer and transfer of supplies and materials
needed for the operations.
Ramboll is also studying
other options for utilising the port, such as being used as a service port
for other users, including as fishing vessels, Danish Coast Guard vessels,
environmental monitoring vessels etc.
Throughout 2021, 20-30 Ramboll experts from across business units and geographies
will be working on sustainable and innovative solutions for the energy
island, supporting the VindØ consortium with its bid in the upcoming tender
phase to be initiated by the Danish Government.
The VindØ consortium is composed of two of Denmark’s largest pension funds,
PensionDenmark and PFA, and Denmark’s largest energy company Andel (previously
SEAS-NVE), alongside Nykredit as financing partner.
“This is a historic project that will give Denmark and Europe the opportunity
to become the frontrunners of green energy production and storage. There
will be a huge benefit for our society from this project, and we are delighted
to be involved and provide our support to the VindØ consortium”, said
Jesper W. Thomsen, Business Development Director at Ramboll.
