Denmark to build world’s first energy island in the North Sea

• 3 years ago (2021-02-05)
• David Flin

Europe 1061 Offshore wind 119

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Denmark has approved a plan to build the world’s first energy island in the North Sea that will generate around 3 GW of wind energy.

The artificial island will be linked to hundreds of offshore wind turbines that will supply both power to the grid and provide green hydrogen for use in shipping, aviation, industry, and heavy transport.

These plans are part of the plans unveiled by the EU to transform its electricity system to rely mostly on renewable energy within a decade and increase its offshore wind energy capacity 25-fold by 2050. The energy island, which will cost around $34 billion to build, is an important part of Denmark’s legally binding target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 70 per cent by 2030 from 1990 levels, one of the world’s most ambitious.

The island will be located 80 km off Denmark’s west coast. Its wind turbines will have an initial capacity of 3 GW and be operational around 2033. Denmark also has plans for an energy island in the Baltic Sea. The state will hold a controlling stake in both islands.

Dan Jorgensen, Denmark’s Energy Minister, said: “This is truly a great moment for Denmark and for the global green transition. The island will make a big contribution to the realisation of the enormous potential for European offshore wind.”