Denmark approves first lifespan extension for one of world’s oldest offshore wind farms

The Danish Energy Agency has approved a 10-year extension to the electricity production license for the 23MW Samsø offshore wind farm, the first time in Denmark that an older offshore wind farm had had its operational lifespan extended.

The Samsø offshore wind farm was originally built in 2002 – one of the world’s oldest – and consists of ten 2.3 megawatt (MW) turbines with a total capacity of 23 MW. One of the ten turbines collapsed into the sea in 2015 and was subsequently replaced.

Electricity production for the Samsø offshore wind farm was originally limited to 25 years, at which point the wind turbines would need to have been dismantled and removed.

However, the wind farm owner Wind Estate has successfully applied for an extension to its generation permit, meaning that the offshore wind farm can now continue to produce electricity for another 10 years – through to 2037.

“This extension marks a major step forward for sustainable energy in Denmark,” said Ane Mette Lysbech Kleis, CEO of Wind Estate.

“It demonstrates our commitment to maximizing the value and lifespan of our legacy assets while contributing to a greener energy future with minimal CO₂ impact.”

While Samsø was not built to the scale of modern-day offshore wind farms – which regularly measure above 1GW – it nevertheless generates electricity equivalent to the needs of between 20,000 to 25,000 households.

Wind Estate provided the Danish Energy Agency with an independent analysis of the remaining service life of the wind farm, proving that the ageing wind turbines can withstand continued production. Additionally, Wind Estate must also carry out an extended service inspection each year after the wind farm turns 20.

“With this decision, Samsø Offshore Wind Farm can continue to produce green electricity rather than being dismantled and decommissioned,” said Stig Uffe Pedersen, deputy director of the Danish Energy Agency.

“It is gratifying for the green transition and sustainable from a resource perspective, as long as the plant can continue to operate in a responsible manner.

“This is the first time that the Danish Energy Agency has taken a position on whether an existing offshore wind farm can have its electricity production permit extended, and it provides perspectives for similar projects with offshore wind in Denmark.

“There are several older offshore wind farms around Denmark that are also approaching their final expiration date. In the coming time, the Danish Energy Agency will assess whether those wind farms can also continue to operate responsibly.”

In fact, the Agency confirmed in its announcement this week that it was already actively processing generation extension applications for the 40 MW Middelgrunden offshore wind farm that became one of the centrepieces of the Copenhagen climate conference in 2009.

It is also looking at the 17.2 MW Rønland offshore wind farm, the 165.6 MW Nysted offshore wind farm, and the landmark 160 MW Horns Rev 1 offshore wind farm, the world’s first large-scale offshore wind farm.

In Australia, the first wind farm to be decommissioned will be the Codrington wind farm in Victoria, which started operating in 2001. See: Ageing wind farm to be taken down using cranes, not explosives, in first of its kind project for Australia