The Danish Energy Agency has prequalified a total of six consortiums and companies to participate in the tender for the 800-1000MW Thor offshore wind farm.
The six entities had submitted their applications by 1 December 2020 for the project, which will be located in the North Sea off the coast at Thorsminde and will be Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm when built.
The selected applicants are Orsted, Vattenfall, SSE Renewables and Thor OFW K/S (owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure 4 Thor OFW ApS and Andel Holding), Swan Wind (owned by Eneco Wind and European Energy), Thor Wind Farm (owned by RWE Wind Holding and RWE Offshore Wind) and a Total Renewables and Iberdrola Renovables joint venture.
Danish Energy Agency deputy director Janni Torp Kjaergaard said: “It is a strong set of players that has applied to be prequalified to bid for building Thor Offshore Wind Farm.
“This confirms that Denmark remains an attractive country when it comes to investments in offshore wind. Furthermore, the great interest is crucial for a cost-effective green transition.”
The agency will complete the tender during the year and the decision on the winner is expected to be announced at the end of 2021.
Thor will be located at least 20 km from the coast and is the first of the three offshore wind farms agreed to be established in the Danish Energy Agreement from 2018.
The project is tendered with a flexibility of 800-1000MW and the grid connection from the wind farm to the shore is included in the tender.
The grid connection of the first turbine can take place from 1 January 2025 and Thor must be fully established and connected to the grid by the end of 2027 at the latest.
The licence for electricity production is for 30 years with the possibility of an extension of five years.
Referring to the Swan Wind joint venture Eneco offshore wind director Ruben Dijkstra said: “We find that having a Danish partner offers strong local benefits.
“European Energy brings the regulatory experience, stakeholder management and other local knowledge which is indispensable for our attempt to win this tender.
“We have the experience and the appetite, so we consider our chances are good. With our combined competencies and local market insights, we form a strong joint venture.”
Referring to the Total-Iberdrola joint venture, Total country chair, Denmark, Rune Pedersen said: “Total has a strong ambition to reach net zero by 2050 together with society and to play a major role in the energy transition in Europe.
“Our participation in the Thor tender is in line with this ambition as it underpins our desire to support the energy transition in Denmark, where we build on more than half a century of Danish offshore operational experience being a reliable energy partner to Denmark.”