The Danish Energy Agency has approved lifetime extensions for two of the country’s oldest offshore wind farms-Nysted and Middelgrunden-allowing them to continue generating green electricity for another decade or more.
Nysted, commissioned in 2003 and owned by Orsted, PensionDanmark and Stadtwerke Lübeck, has been granted a 10-year extension.
The 161MW array comprises 70 turbines and supplies power to more than 130,000 households.
Middelgrunden, located just 3.5km off Copenhagen and co-owned by HOFOR and Middelgrundens Vindmollelaug, will now operate for another 25 years beyond its original 2000 permit.
Its 20 turbines produce enough power for around 20,000 households.
Deputy director general of the Danish Energy Agency Stig Uffe Pedersen said: “It is positive that offshore wind turbines over 20 years old can continue producing green electricity for many years to come.”
He added: “It is also sustainable from a resource perspective that the plant can continue to operate safely and responsibly.”
As part of the permit renewals, the Agency required independent assessments of remaining service life and introduced mandatory extended annual inspections.
Earlier in June, a similar 10-year extension was granted to Samso Offshore Wind Farm.