Denmark: Anholt Offshore Wind Farm Produces 31.5 GWh in 2012

At the end of 2012, 18 wind turbines had been installed in Anholt Offshore Wind Farm, and 14 of these wind turbines had already produced electricity. This number is a little lower than expected, primarily considering the very windy periods in the last quarter of 2012.

However, in December 2012, the production from Anholt Offshore Wind Farm was 19GWh, primarily due to very windy periods, and the total production for 2012 was 31.5GWh, corresponding to the annual power consumption of 7,875 households and this despite the fact that the first wind turbine in the wind farm did not start  producing power until 21 September 2012.

When Anholt Offshore Wind Power is fully completed, the wind power will be capable of covering the annual power consumption of 400,000 households or 4% of Denmark’s total power consumption.

In December, a power production of more than 50MW could be registered, and Anholt Offshore Wind Farm is slowly, but surely becoming a wind power plant. The production from all wind turbines in Anholt Offshore Wind Farm can be jointly regulated, and the wind farm will thus be able to contribute positively to creating a balance in the overall high-voltage grid.

This function was implemented at the same time as the Christmas spirit had arrived in Denmark the night after Christmas Eve. A severe wind and bound power production from Danish CHP plants increased the power production considerably, and a low power consumption resulted in a very negative power price on Nord Pool’s spot market.

In the period between 00:00 midnight and 09:00 a.m. on 25 December, the power price reached minus 1.49DKK/kWh during five of the night hours.

Negative power prices are a price signal reflecting the imbalance between supply and demand, and according to the concession terms for Anholt Offshore Wind Farm, the settling rules are frames so that no subsidies are granted in case of zero prices or negative spot prices in order to ensure a better integration of the wind energy in the power grid.

Consequently, the production from the wind turbines in Anholt Offshore Wind Farm which had been transferred to normal operation was stopped while the power price was negative.

The new stock-exchange regulations in terms of negative power prices were introduced on the Nordic electricity exchange Nord Pool on 30 November 2009 with the purpose of promoting renewable energy by making the market itself regulate the production in relation to wind energy.

When the power price is negative, it means that the power producers have to pay to get rid of the produced power; on the contrary; however, it is an advantage for the customers.

[mappress]

Press release, January 15, 2013; Image: DONG Energy