Denmark Unsuspends Two Open-Door Offshore Wind Projects, 31 Still On Hold

Authorities

March 3, 2023, by Adnan Durakovic

The Danish Energy Agency has resumed the processing of the Aflandshage and the Frederikshavn offshore wind farm projects which are part of the recently paused open-door tendering scheme.

Aflandshage Offshore Wind Farm visualization; Source: Environmental impact report

The Danish Energy Agency put the case processing of 33 open-door projects, including Aflandshage and Fredrikshavn, on hold until further clarification of EU law issues on 1 February.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities has now assessed that the establishment permits issued by the Danish Energy Agency for Aflandshage and Frederikshavn in the autumn of 2022 are not in violation of the EU law. The projects were granted feasibility study permits in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The Danish Energy Agency has therefore resumed the processing of the two projects.

At the same time, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities has assessed that permits issued to already established offshore wind farms are also not in violation of the EU law.

The Danish Energy Agency said it will assess the other projects under the open-door scheme as soon as possible.

The Aflandshage offshore wind farm is being developed in the Øresund Strait by HOFOR (Greater Copenhagen Utility). The wind farm will feature up to 26 offshore wind turbines with an individual capacity of between 9.5 MW 11 MW, and a combined capacity of between 247 MW and 286 MW.

Frederikshavn OWF ApS, a special purpose company established by European Energy, is the developer behind the up to 72 MW Fredrikshavn offshore wind farm.

The demonstrator project includes the installation of up to five offshore wind turbines at a height of up to 256 metres.

The five offshore wind turbines will be located four kilometres off Frederikshavn, and 1.8 kilometres off the coast of Hirsholmene.

European Energy and Vestas intend to deploy Vestas’ flagship V236-15 MW offshore wind turbines at three of the five test positions at the demonstrator wind farm. The wind turbines are expected to be constructed and put into operation in 2024.