Energinet is to begin carrying out feasibility studies on behalf of the Danish Energy Agency for the proposed Hesselø Offshore Wind Farm, which is expected to have a capacity of between 800 and 1200MW.
As part of the new climate agreement from June 2022, it was decided to move the Hesselø Offshore Wind Farm south to a new location.
This happened after a fine screening from May 2022 showed that the area south of the original Hesselø area is a good alternative, as the seabed is considered to be better suited for setting up offshore wind turbines, Energinet said.
The order from June 2022 replaces the order from July 2020, which was based on the original location of the Hesselø Offshore Wind Farm.
Energinet managed to start feasibility studies based on the original location.
It said that the new feasibility studies must, to the greatest extent possible, be based on and reuse the feasibility studies that have already been carried out.
In addition, Energinet said it would continue as previously planned with regard to the onshore side of the project.
However, the new feasibility studies will also mean a delay in the approval process for the land project.
Energinet programme manager Stine Rabech Nielsen said: “It is important to emphasize that there are no changes on land of either cable routes or station facilities compared to previous orders.
“Even the submarine cable is recycled. It is only the geographical location of the offshore wind farm at sea that will be changed.”
Energinet will collect relevant information about the area for use by the Danish Energy Agency’s tender for the offshore wind turbine area.
All investigations, results and reports for the feasibility studies for the Hesselø Offshore Wind Farm must be completed by the end of 2024 at the latest.
The results of the studies will be published so that the companies that will bid to establish the offshore wind farm are aware of the conditions and the possible risks.
The winner of the tender will pay for the completion of the studies.
At the new location, Hesselø Offshore Wind Farm is expected to be in operation by the end of 2029.