The world’s frst ofshore wind energy

DENMARK HAS REACHED A LANDMARK AGREEMENT ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ENERGY HUB IN THE NORTH SEA. THE ENERGY HUB WILL BE AN ARTIFICIALLY CONSTRUCTED ISLAND 80KM FROM THE JUTLAND PENINSULA SHORE.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF THE DANISH ENERGY AGENCY. The hub will be owned by a public-private partnership. The hub will strengthen the integraton of Europe’s power grids and increase renewable electricity producton necessary for a climate-neutral Europe. By agreeing on the constructon and ownership of the world’s frst energy hub in the North Sea, Denmark takes another signifcant step in the green transiton. The energy hub will produce yet unseen amounts of green electricity, and is one of the government’s fagship projects for the green transiton in Europe. When fully implemented, it can cover the consumpton of ten million European households.

Denmark last year reached a deal on the future of fossil extracton in the North Sea, leading to the cancellaton of the ongoing eight licensing round and all future rounds to extract oil & gas. The deal also established a fnal phase-out date of fossil extracton by 2050 and laid out plans for a just transiton of impacted workers. Denmark is currently the largest oil producer in the European Union, and it is the biggest producer worldwide to so far establish a fnal phase-out date. “This is truly a great moment for Denmark and for the global green transiton. This decision marks the start of a new era of sustainable energy producton in Denmark and the world, and it links very ambitous climate goals with growth and green jobs. The energy hub in the North Sea will be the largest constructon project in Danish history. It will make a big contributon to the realisaton of the enormous potental for European ofshore wind, and I am excited

for our future collaboraton with other European countries”, states the Danish Minister for Climate, Dan Jørgensen.

Around the ofshore energy hub, 200 wind turbines are expected in the frst phase of the project. The energy hub will serve as an ofshore power plant gathering and distributng green electricity from the surrounding wind turbines directly to consumers in countries around the North Sea. Furthermore, the abundance of ofshore wind energy can be used to produce climate-friendly fuels for shipping, aviaton, heavy industries or heavy-duty vehicles. The island is expected to have a total area of at least 120,000m2. In its frst phase, it will be able to provide three million European households with green energy. The project will be a public private partnership between the Danish state and private companies. The state will own the majority of the island, but private companies will be crucial for the project to fulfll the potental with regards to innovaton, fexibility, cost-efectveness, and business potentals.

“We are at the dawn of a new era for energy. Denmark set a cutof date for fossil fuel extracton last year. Today, we are taking a decisive step toward a clean energy future. The European Union has set a goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and the Commission has set a target of 300GW of ofshore wind energy to atain this goal. By constructng the world’s frst energy hub with a potental capacity of 10GW, Denmark signifcantly contributes to this ambitous target. Not only by dramatcally expanding renewable energy producton, but also by supplying our European neighbours with an abundance of renewable energy”, says Mr Jørgensen.

The artfcial island will ofer the best opportunites to expand the project, for example by building a harbour and facilites for storage and conversion of green electricity from the nearby wind turbines in the sea. It is the long-term ambiton to be able to store green electricity on the island, convert it to liquid green fuel, and send it via subsea cables to Denmark and neighbouring countries. Details about the ownership of the island will be specifed for a tender for private partnerships to be opened, making the island a reality as soon as possible.

Energy hub