The deployment of offshore wind is growing and this development
is expected to continue in the future. There are, however, several
different marine planning interests and extensive analysis is
conducted to identify the most suitable areas
Future Offshore Wind Turbine Locations – 2025
The report: ”Future Offshore Wind Turbine Locations –
2025” was published by The Committee for Future Offshore Wind
Turbine Locations in April 2007. The report charts a number of
possible offshore areas where offshore turbines could be built to
an overall capacity of some 4,600 MW. Offshore wind turbines with a
capacity of 4600 MW could generate approximately 18 TWh, or just
over 8% of total energy consumption in Denmark. This corresponds to
approximately 50% of Danish electricity consumption. The committee
has examined in detail 23 specific possible locations each of 44
square kilometres to an overall area of 1012 square kilometres
divided between 7 offshore areas.
Evaluating multiple interests
The committee assessed society’s interests in relation to
grid transmission conditions, navigation, the natural world, the
landscape, raw material exploitation etc. The committee also
assessed options for connecting major offshore wind farms to the
national grid, including examining the engineering, economic and
planning options for landing power and the consequences for the
underlying grid of the various potential areas for construction. At
the same time the committee described scenarios for technological
development of wind turbines capable of installation at greater sea
depths. The committee attached importance to a planned and
coordinated expansion of wind power and the transmission network
with a view to obtaining the greatest possible economic
benefits.
Seven offshore areas identified
The committee recommends that the first farms will be constructed
at Djursland-Anholt in the Kattegat and Horns Rev in the North Sea.
However, the prioritisation of Horns Rev depends on the closer
evaluation of the nature conservation interests. From the economic
point of view an expansion in Jammerbugten off the coast at
Ringkøbing in the North Sea would be almost identical. Finally, the
committee recommends locations at Store Middelgrund in the Kattegat
and Kriegers Flak and Rønne Banke in the Baltic.
Taking into consideration the costs involved, the committee
recommends that any expansion of offshore wind farm construction
should take place in the order. As described in "Future Offshore
Wind Turbine Locations - 2025", when selecting potential areas, the
recommendations for following a particular sequence in constructing
sites are primarily based on the economic consequences regarding
the additional costs for installation relative to water depths, the
landing of power, the expansion of the land network and the
expected energy production.
The report also discusses a number of areas, of which several have
been designated previously, which the committee does not
immediately believe to be suited to the installation of large scale
offshore wind farms.