Denmark plans massive 10GW offshore wind tender to insure against “Putin’s black gas”

The Danish Energy Agency announced this week plans for the largest offshore wind tender in the country’s history, which could see anywhere from 6GW to 10GW awarded from six new sites.

Located on the Jutland Peninsula in the North Sea, Denmark is one of this planet’s offshore wind pioneers, having built the world’s first commercial offshore wind farm back in 1991 – a 5MW project consisting of 11 wind turbines located in the shallow waters off the coast of Vindeby in the country’s southeast.

Since that time, Denmark is operating total offshore wind capacity of 2.7GW, with the 1GW Thor Offshore Wind Farm to be completed in 2027. A further 3GW is expected to be built on the Bornholm energy island being developed between the Danish Energy Agency and Danish TSO Energinet.

The Danish Energy Agency on Monday published the procurement framework for a mandated minimum of 6GW worth of offshore wind across six sites.

A new element in this latest offshore wind tender is the freedom for developers to install as much offshore wind as possible in their allotted areas (with one exception), which could see the installation of as much as 10GW of offshore wind or more.

“We’re delighted to announce the largest offshore wind procurement procedure in Denmark to date,” said Kristoffer Böttzauw, director general at the Danish Energy Agency.

“This is a massive investment in the green transition.”

The six new offshore wind sites include three wind farms at the North Sea I site as well as the Kattegat, Kriegers Flak II, and Hesselø – the latter of which is the only site with a maximum capacity of 1.2GW.

A minimum of 1GW of offshore capacity must be built at both Kriegers Flak II and the Kattegat, while a minimum of 3GW must be built at North Sea 1.

“Finally, we are able to publish the biggest offshore wind tender in Danish history,” said Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s minister for climate, energy, and utilities.

“With hundreds of wind turbines, we are insuring ourselves against Putin’s black gas, and as of today Denmark is one large step closer to becoming Europe’s green powerhouse.

“When the wind turbines are operating, we can cover all of Denmark’s power consumption with green electricity – and we can produce hydrogen and green fuels for ships and planes.

“It is projects of this scale that can make a big, green difference for the climate and our security. Not just for Denmark, but for all of Europe.”