Danish climate minister Dan Jørgensen (pictured) has signed declarations of cooperation with German and Dutch ministers to create and connect offshore energy islands in the North and Baltic Seas.
Under the two agreements, the countries dedicate themselves to jointly conducting a series of complex studies of how energy islands and offshore wind can be developed.
This will include how foreign connections from the islands can connect the countries’ energy systems with each other.
The use of electricity from offshore wind to hydrogen and green fuels is also mentioned as a key issue.
The deal with Germany also specifically notes the Danish political decision to establish an energy island in the North Sea and one in the Baltic Sea in 2030.
In the agreement with the Netherlands, the responsibility for analysis and investigations is given explicitly to the Danish and Dutch TSOs, TenneT, Gasunie and Energinet.
The work will be anchored in the international consortium North Sea Wind Power Hub, where the three TSOs since 2017 have collaborated on the development of a realistic concept for artificial energies in the North Sea after the so-called ‘hub-and-spoke concept’.
At the end of November Jørgensen ordered Energinet to carry out feasibility studies for the two energy islands in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, respectively.
The order from the Minister includes the directive that Energinet must mature and develop international relations in cooperation with TSOs in the partner countries with which a declaration is made.
Energinet vice president Hanne Storm Edlefsen said: “At Energinet, we are thrilled that Denmark has now signed declarations with Germany and the Netherlands on energy islands.
“The two energy islands in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea can only be realized through strong international cooperation, so the declarations are a very important step towards the establishment of energy islands, which is a vital next step for large-scale offshore wind and thus for green conversion in Europe and the world.
“Even though there are not yet binding agreements, it is still an important door that now opens on the way to energy islands that are connected to several countries.
“We are very much looking forward to the continued collaboration with the North Sea Wind Power Hub and our good TSO colleagues in Germany and the Netherlands.”