Denmark Okays Turbine Test Centers Expansion

The Danish Parliament (Folketinget) has approved the expansion of the Østerild and Høvsøre wind turbine test centers.

The Act, which will take effect on 1 July, will allow the test centers to be expanded with two additional wind turbine stands respectively, making a total of nine stands in Østerild and seven in Høvsøre.

The expansion will also enable Østerild to test turbines up to 330 meters tall, compared to the center’s current capacity of testing turbines 250 meters tall, and Høvsøre will be able to test turbines of up to 200 meters in height, compared to its current capacity of accommodating turbines 165-meters tall.

The works at Østerild are expected to be completed by 2019, while Høvsøre is waiting for the final approval of Natura 2000, EU Commission’s governing body of protected sites.

According to DTU Wind Energy, which operates the centers, the reason for the pending approval is that Høvsøre’s new test stands will be located in a Natura 2000 area, which is subject to EU protection, meaning there will be fewer expropriations.