The Danish Government’s new marine plan will not allocate space for future offshore wind farms under the country’s open door scheme, effectively shelving the majority of projects.
The new marine plan put forward by a majority of parties in the Danish Parliament doubles the area of Denmark’s sea available for renewable energy developments and energy islands from around 15% to approximately 30%.
However, it does not include any space for yet-to-be approved projects under Denmark’s open door scheme.
As such, any applications which have not had an area laid out will be refused a preliminary investigation permit.
Three of the pending open door projects, Kadet Banke, Paludan Flak and Vikinge Banke, have had their areas previously designated. This means that they will continue through the permitting process, with the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities saying the Government aims to adjust the open door scheme so that the projects can continue within the framework of EU regulations.
An additional six projects had previously been assessed as approved under the existing open door scheme.
A total of 33 projects were being assessed as part of Denmark’s open door scheme. The process was put on hold in February over concerns it breached EU law, with six cases resuming processing in March.
The move has been met with protests from companies working in Denmark’s offshore wind sector.
Head of offshore wind at European Energy Andreas Karhula Lauridsen said that decision made by the government regarding the open door projects “is very unfortunate.
“The open door scheme could have ensured subsidy-free renewable energy for Denmark and green jobs in the local municipalities that were involved in the projects,” he said.
“We have obtained full support from all the municipalities where we have applied to establish new coastal offshore wind turbine projects. The local support for the projects in Stevns, Guldborgsund, Frederikshavn, Hjørring, Lolland, and Tønder is something we have worked on for a long time.
“It has been a requirement from the authorities that local governments should be consulted in this process – and we are puzzled that this local anchoring of renewable energy projects now seems to mean nothing.
“It is not just two years of wasted work in the service of the green transition, but also a significant blow to the ambitious Danish municipalities that had relied on utilising their local offshore wind resources to support green growth, power-to-X projects, and the prospect of green jobs.”
He added: “The expansion of green energy has come to a complete halt in Denmark, and today’s announcement from the government once again goes against the clear mandate that the Danish people gave to the politicians in the climate election of 2019, which was to accelerate the green transition and the deployment of renewable energy.”