The six areas selected are Bornholm, Smålandsfarvandet, Sejerø Bay, Sæby, Vesterhav Syd og Vesterhav Nord. According to the terms of the agreement, 450 MW of the energy produced will be supplied by wind farms built in the designated areas. The remaining 50 MW will be generated by developmental wind turbines for research purposes.

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Strong local support for wind turbines

Minister of Climate, Energy and Building, Martin Lidegaard has been working with the mayors of eight municipalities where it was considered economically feasible to build wind turbines. The six sites chosen were those that showed the most support for placing the turbines in their area.

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“I am very pleased with the strong local support from the selected areas and also pleased that so many residents and businesses have the opportunity to become shareholders of the new coastal wind turbines. The next step is to secure bids that ensure that the expansion and construction happens as inexpensively as possible for consumers,” says Lidegaard.

Opportunity for local ownership

Offshore wind farms of up to 200 MW capacity will initially be placed at least four kilometres from land. The turbines must be online by 2020 and together will produce enough electricity to power 500,000 households. 

Read "In Focus - Offshore Wind: Power Plants of the Future"

Individuals have the opportunity to be directly involved in the project by purchasing shares in the wind farms. Up to 20 percent will be available for purchase. Local businesses will be offered financial incentives to buy in.

Ensuring capacity for future research

To ensure that the wind turbine industry has the opportunity to try out new technologies at sea, 50 MW of the total 500 MW capacity will be reserved for research. Electricity generated by experimental turbines will be compensated at a fixed rate of 0.70 kroner / kWh. The 50MW reserved for research will not be included in the bidding process and will be addressed separately.

The Danish Energy Agency will prepare the tender for the projects. When reviewing tendered bids, the Energy Agency will place particular emphasis on whether they ensure competition and low electricity rates.

Further information

More information about the regulations for coastal wind turbines as well as the Offshore Wind Committee’s final report and the record of its public hearing is available on the Energy Agency’s website.

To speak with Climate, Energy and Building Minister Martin Lidegaard, please contact public affairs officer Claus Kaae-Nielsen on +45 4172 9011 or by e-mail at [email protected]

If you have questions about technical issues, please contact Danish Energy Agency Department Head Hanne Windmüller in +45 3392 6879 or by e-mail at [email protected]

Source: Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building

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