The Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Supply has requested transmission system operator Energinet examines whether the planned Bornholm energy island could deliver 3GW of offshore wind rather than the 2GW currently planned.
An order from the ministry calls for Energinet to therefore expand the latter’s current feasibility studies for the island.
The ministry order only provides an opportunity to study the areas, and it will require a new political decision to use the expanded areas for the establishment of offshore wind.
The order also includes feasibility studies for cable connections between the energy island and offshore wind farms, export cables to Zealand and international connections to neighbouring countries.
The TSO said the waters off Bornholm may be a relevant alternative to the Hesselo offshore wind farm if it cannot be realised.
The Hesselo tender is currently on hold after the feasibility studies found that there are seabed areas with soft bottoms that could indicate less favourable conditions than originally assumed in the fine screening of the area.