Denmark to Undertake Feasibility Studies for Offshore Wind Farms

Study areas for the six Danish sites designated for offshore wind farms are now established and Energinet.dk is ready to initiate feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments (EIA) for offshore wind farms, landfall cables and facilities for connection to the mainland.

The six areas include Bornholm, Smålandsfarvandet, Sejerø Bay, Sæby, Vesterhav South and Vesterhav North.

These areas are located at a minimum of 4 km from the coast, covering sites in a range of 45-75 km2. They are adapted to meet the incoming remarks, while ensuring a size that provides flexibility in planning in order to get the required spatial capacity for the establishment of offshore wind farms with capacity of up to 200 MW.

The feasibility studies assume the capacity of up to 200 MW for each of the wind farms and include studies of the seabed, wind, currents and waves, boating safety, flora and fauna. In addition, feasibility studies and environmental assessments cover submarine cable to shore and shore-based installations for grid connection.

When the final EIA permit and plan document is available, the Danish Energy Agency (DEA) will pick the winners of the concession contract for the establishment of the offshore wind farms. At the same time, the connection to the onshore grid will be finally determined, as well as the network companies which will establish connections from the coast to the grid. In the preliminary studies, the final planning route for land cable will be determined.

Energinet.dk will also hold public meetings in the concept phase, in order to give the citizens and other stakeholders an opportunity to hear more about the project and ask questions to the DEA, which will allow the construction at sea; to the Nature Agency, which must authorize the construction on land, and to Energinet.dk, which is responsible for studies and EIA work for wind farms, submarine cable, land cables, stations and other facilities on land.

The planned offshore wind projects are expected to produce first power by 2020.

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Offshore WIND Staff, April 26, 2013; Image: Vestas