Vattenfall’s 176MW Vesterhav Nord offshore wind farm has started producing power, joining its 168MW sister park Vesterhav Syd, which began generating electricity in January 2024.
Mathilde Damsgaard, project director for Vesterhav South and North at Vattenfall, said: “It is with great pride that we are now sending the first fossil-free power ashore from Vesterhav Nord as well.
“It has been an exciting task with many challenges since we won the tender in 2016, and it is great to see the efforts bear fruit thanks to a great effort from the many involved.”
All 21 turbines in Vesterhav Nord are expected to be connected before the end of March, and when that happens, the offshore wind farm will be able to supply fossil-free energy to 180,000 Danish households.
It was clear last year that Vesterhav Nord would not be fully connected within the deadline (December 31, 2023) included in the agreement with the state.
Vattenfall has applied to the authorities for a deadline extension and is still in dialogue with the Danish Energy Agency about this.
In order to minimize the visual nuisance from lights at coastal offshore wind turbines, a new radar-controlled system is being installed at Vesterhav North and South, so that the warning lights on the turbines at night are only switched on if an aircraft is approaching.
Until the authorities’ final approval after a test period, the anti-aircraft lights on the hardware will be on all the time – white during the day and red at night.
Damsgaard said: “The test period for the new radar-controlled light at the two Vesterhavs parks will begin shortly, and of course we must be absolutely sure that the light works as it should before it can be activated.”