Energinet will start feasibility studies on behalf of the Danish Government for a potential 6GW of offshore wind farms at the North Sea 1, Kattegat 2 and Kriegers Flak 2 zones.
The three areas where Energinet is initiating feasibility studies have been designated by the Danish Energy Agency after the areas being deemed suitable for setting up offshore wind.
According to the Danish Finance Act for 2022, an additional 2GW of offshore wind must be established by 2030.
And with the Climate Agreement on Green Power and Heat 2022 (which was adopted back in June 2022), it has been decided that areas that can accommodate an additional 4 GW of offshore wind must be offered for development before the end of 2030.
Energinet programme manager Stine Rabech Nielsen said: “The political ambitions for more offshore wind before 2030 are sky-high.
“With the initiation of the feasibility studies, we are moving several steps forward, because the feasibility studies are the prerequisite for being able to set up an offshore wind farm at all.”
The preliminary studies at sea include, among other things, studies of the seabed, which should give the installers a good insight into where it is appropriate to establish the individual turbines and cables.
The preliminary study also contains analysis of wind, wave and environmental conditions, which may have an impact on the possibilities of establishing offshore wind in the area.
The results of the studies will be published so that the companies that want to bid to establish the offshore wind farm are aware of the conditions and the possible risks.
The order from the Minister for Climate, Energy and Supply does not contain a clear indication of which offshore wind farms are to be realized in North Sea I, Kattegat II and Kriegers Flak.
It is expected that a political decision on the geographical location of the offshore wind farms will be made at the end of 2022.
Energinet has also been instructed to prepare the establishment of grid connection points on land for areas in the North Sea, Kattegat and the Baltic Sea.