Denmark is passionate about clean energy. Currently, wind and solar energy supply 50% of Denmark’s electricity needs.
Denmark, which long ago decided to put the country’s consistently blustery winds to use, has a well-established wind energy industry. Denmark currently generates almost twice as much wind energy per person as the next-place industrialized nation in the OECD.
Why Has Denmark Become A Global Leader In Wind Energy
It is not surprising that the North Sea and the Baltic Sea experience strong winds. More factors, though, support the sector’s growth in the nation.
A strong degree of interconnection and an adaptable domestic power system support Denmark.
Additionally, it is the location of the world’s largest offshore wind developer, Ørsted, as well as the Danish-based Siemens Gamesa and wind turbine giant Vestas. Denmark also makes significant investments in research institutions.
Learn From The Past
In the 1970s, the nation started making investments in wind energy. Denmark put in its first onshore windmill in 1977. However, because it is a small nation with a dispersed population, they are moving in the direction of offshore wind energy.
Denmark constructed the first offshore wind farm in the world in 1991. Like its neighbors, Norway and Sweden, and other governments in the area, including the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the nation is currently investing heavily in this sector.
Wind powers the Danish economy
Wind energy has proven to be a potent economic engine in addition to providing clean power with no fuel costs. In Denmark, there are more than 25,000 people working for more than 300 wind energy companies.
The increasing size of wind turbines is one factor contributing to their rising cost-effectiveness: up to 200 meters (66 feet) tall, with rotor blades one-and-a-half times the length of a football field.
This means that for every turbine and every dollar invested, more power is produced.
Delicate Balancing Act
Finding ways to manage an electricity grid dependent on fluctuating power sources is another important factor for the future of wind energy. This will help to ensure supply matches demand and prevent blackouts.
Energinet does this by managing the grid minute-by-minute with sophisticated software.
On windy days, it exports electricity to its neighbors, including Norway, Sweden, and Germany. It looks to Norway to make up the shortfall on days when the wind is light.
Storing Excess Power
Scientists and engineers are developing methods to store electricity for use on days when it is in excess, such as by converting it to heat.
“We store the heat in large, insulated water tanks until you need it,” according to Jorgenson of Energinet.
The creation of hydrogen and methane from electricity, which can then be used for heating and transportation, is another solution under development, according to Jorgenson.
These fuels can be used to charge electric vehicles when there is an excess of electricity, which lowers the price of electricity.
Future Wind Energy Growth In Denmark
The Danish wind industry has expanded over the past 30 years, which means the nation can export its know-how.
The first offshore wind farm to be built in America will be located off the coast of Massachusetts, and DONG Energy recently agreed to project-manage its construction.
Back home, Denmark plans to produce half of its electricity from wind by 2020 and claims that by 2050, it will be fossil fuel-free thanks to wind and other renewable energy sources.
Top 4 Wind Energy Projects In Denmark
Thor Offshore Wind Farm
The first of three sizable offshore wind farms to be constructed in Denmark before 2030 is the Thor Offshore Wind Farm, which is situated in the North Sea 20 kilometers off Nissum Fjord.
Between 2025 and 2027, the wind farm will be connected to the grid with a minimum capacity of 800 MW and a maximum capacity of 1.000 MW. The location has a 440km2 footprint and 10.3-meter average wind speeds.
It is run by the Danish Energy Agency and Energinet and is called “Thor” after the closest coastal community, Thorsminde.
Energy Island
Ahead of schedule, Denmark will construct the first energy islands in the world, with the capacity to power five million homes. They might usher in a new era for offshore wind energy production.
The electricity grids of other neighboring nations will also receive electricity from it in addition to the Danish people.
According to the plan, there will be an artificial island created in the North Sea that will act as a hub for 3 GW of offshore wind farms, as well as an energy island in the Baltic Sea. The development of the future Danish energy systems includes the energy islands.
Artificial Island In The North Sea
The man-made island, which is 80 kilometers (50 miles) offshore, will act as a hub for 200 enormous offshore wind turbines.
With an estimated cost of $34 billion, it is the most expensive construction project in Danish history. The island will be majority owned by the Danish State, which will hold at least 50.1% of it.
The initial capacity of this facility will be 3 GW. Then, it will be gradually increased to a maximum of 10 GW, providing enough power for 10 million households.
Island In The Baltic Sea
A 20 km south-southwest of Bornholm’s coast, the 2 GW electrotechnical apparatus, and wind turbines will be installed. It equates to the electrical needs of two million homes.
Vesterhav Syd And Nord Offshore Wind
The Vesterhav Syd and Nord Offshore Wind Farms are currently in the development phase and are expected to be operational by the end of 2023.
Together, they will generate enough environmentally friendly electricity to power 380,000 Danish households for an entire year.
Vesterhav Nord (170MW) and Vesterhav Syd (180MW), which are operated by Danish Energy Agency and Vattenfall AB, will be built in areas that the Danish government designated back in 2012. A total of 41 wind turbines will be used in the project.
Veddum Kaer Onshore Wind Farm
This project is a development of an onshore wind farm with eight turbines located in Mariagerfjord Municipality
The wind farm, which will be run by Euro Wind Energy and Vindteam, will have a total installed capacity of 33.6 MW, with a 4.2 MW capacity per turbine.
A hybrid mix of clean power will be produced at the wind farm thanks to the installation of 15.2MW of solar PV. The launch will take place in 2023.