Danes Select Sweco as Energy Island Technical Adviser

The Danish Energy Agency has awarded Sweco Danmak with a contract for technical advice and assistance in relation to the establishment of an energy island.

The work will support the Danish Energy Agency in building optimal knowledge about the project, whose development started with the political decision made in February.

The North Sea energy island will have an initial capacity of 3 GW which will be further scaled up to accommodate 10 GW of offshore wind.

Building the artificial island is expected to cost between EUR 750 million and EUR 1.5 billion, with the state being the majority owner, while the private co-owner (or co-owners) will own 49.9 per cent of the island, unless a future market dialogue shows that a lower private ownership share is more appropriate.

In planning and building the energy island, emphasis is placed on it being future-proof and having the right properties with sufficient room for innovation.

The Danish government’s agreement to build the energy island does not take a further position on how the decision on construction type and ownership is implemented in specific tender frameworks, including who builds the island, the island’s size and functionality, distribution of right of disposal, financial terms, obligations and rights. Matters such as these must also be clarified on the basis of future market dialogue(s) as well as technical, financial and legal analyses.

Under its technical adviser contract, Sweco, in close collaboration with the Danish Energy Agency’s other advisers, including legal and financial advisers, assist the Agency with technical advice and assistance in connection with the implementation of market dialogue, and preparation of any technical analyses.

The company will also provide technical assistance in connection with determining tender design and form and implementation of the forthcoming tender for co-ownership within the framework of the political agreement on the establishment of the energy island.

The tasks of the technical adviser are expected to include determining functional requirements for the island, including the island layout, port, infrastructure, auxiliary systems, as well as the requirements related to foundation conditions, geotechnics, structures and execution of marine projects including construction work in the open sea.

Furthermore, technical advice and assistance may include covering interfaces between different parties, such as between the client and Energinet, as well as offshore wind developers and any third parties in relation to electrolysis, energy storage, commercial port activities, etc.

The scope of work for Sweco will also include ensuring that Energinet’s requirements in relation to areas, layout, access conditions, cable connections, as well as functional requirements for the island’s auxiliary systems are reflected in the requirements specification for use in tenders.

The company may also be working on the preparation of technical analyses in relation to the establishment of the energy island, including completed or future market dialogue(s).