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Plans to build the world’s first energy island which would provide power for three million households have been given the green light by Denmark’s politicians.
The giant artificial island, to be built in the North Sea, will be as big as 18 football pitches (120,000 square metres) but could end up three times this size, and is the biggest construction project in Danish history, costing an estimated 210 billion kroner (£24 billion).
Situated 50 miles out to sea off Denmark’s west coast, it will serve as a hub for 200 giant offshore wind turbines..
It is planned to be up and running by around 2033.
Neighbouring countries
Half-owned by the state and partly by the private sector the island will not just supply electricity for Danes but also neighbouring countries’ electricity grids.
Although those countries have not yet been revealed it is thought the UK could be among them.
Prof Jacob Ostergaard of the Technical University of Denmark told the BBC that, as well as the UK, Germany or the Netherlands could benefit.
The island would also provide green hydrogen for use in shipping, aviation, industry, and heavy transport.
Although the exact location of the new energy island has not yet to be revealed, Danish TV reported that a Danish Energy Agency study last year had marked out two areas west of the Jutland coast. Both locations had a relatively shallow sea depth of 26-27 metres.
‘Great moment’
Under Denmark’s Climate Act, the country has committed to a 70 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990s levels by 2030 and to become CO2 neutral by 2050.
Last December it announced it was ending all new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.
Denmark’s Energy Minister, Dan Jorgensen said the project was “a truly great moment for Denmark and the global green transition.
“(The island) will make a big contribution to the realisation of the enormous potential for European offshore wind.”
Professor Ostergaard told the BBC: “This is gigantic. It’s the next big step for the Danish wind turbine industry.”
Last November the European Union unveiled plans for a 25-fold increase in off-shore wind capacity by 2050, with a five-fold increase by 2030. Renewable energy provides around a third of the bloc’s electricity.
Denmark is home to wind turbine maker Vestas and offshore wind farm developer Orsted.
The country has been at the forefront of harnessing the power of both onshore and offshore wind, building the world’s first offshore wind farm almost 30 years ago.
As well as the giant island, Denmark has plans for a smaller energy island off Bornholm in the Baltic Sea to the east of mainland Denmark.
Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands will be provided with electricity from this site.
