Danes to dismantle offshore pioneer

Dong Energy is to decommission the 25-year-old Vindeby offshore wind farm in Denmark.

The company said the project’s 11 Bonus 450kW turbines, installed in 1991, are showing signs of age and will be dismantled.

“Vindeby was the humble beginning of a Danish industry which today has approximately 30,000 employees. But after 25 years of operation the Vindeby turbines are worn down and we’re therefore preparing to retire the wind farm,” said the company.

Dong is inviting dialogue on the possible reuse of infrastructure related to the wind farm.

“There are cables with an associated substation onshore and it might be interesting for companies interested in renewable energy. We would like to enter into dialogue with them prior to dismantling the wind farm,” said Dong.

The decommissioning could provide lessons for others following in the same path, it added.

“In future, other and much larger offshore wind farms will also have to be taken down. How to do that most efficiently and with the greatest possible consideration for the environment is still uncharted territory.

“In this context, Danish companies can perhaps get a head start, just as they did when we started the expansion of wind power.”

Image: the Vindeby offshore wind farm (Dong Energy)