On Wednesday, the Danish Energy Agency granted an establishment permit for European Energy’s offshore wind project in Frederikshavn, Northern Denmark. The project includes the installation of up to five offshore wind turbines at a height of up to 256 meters.

Three test versions of Vestas’ upcoming offshore turbines, V236-15MW, are slated for installation in 2024.

European Energy is delighted that the project is now a step closer to realization.

”We have been working intensively on our plans to make the city of Frederikshavn a global focal point for new offshore wind power technology,” says European Energy Head of Offshore Wind Andreas Karhula Lauridsen.

”Therefore, we are very satisfied to gain the permission from the national and local authorities. This is an important milestone, and we are now pursuing the development of the project and working to ensure the necessary financial framework for the project.”

The project involves the installation of up to five offshore wind turbines at a height of up to 256 meters with a total capacity of 72MW, located four kilometers from the coast at the Port of Frederikshavn and 1.8 kilometers offshore the islands Hirsholmene.

The permit follows a lengthy process of environmental impact assessment for the installation of the offshore wind turbines as well as the laying of cables on the seabed and on land. The results have been in public consultation over the summer, during which local residents had the opportunity to submit their responses.

”The climate and energy crisis shows in all clarity that we have no time to waste. We hope to see the offshore wind turbines enter into operation in the first quarter of 2024. We are happy that the municipality of Frederikshavn is leading the green transition by providing the necessary space for these offshore wind turbines,” says Lauridsen.

European Energy is also considering linking Power-to-X to the project, with the developer now in talks with various parties in Frederikshavn about using the power in a PtX project.

A long time coming

The project has been in the pipeline for some time. The Danish Energy Agency granted a permit for the test center as far back as 2010. At that time, however, it was not granted to European Energy, but to Dong Energy – now Ørsted – which planned to test Vestas’ planned offshore wind turbine, V164, at the site.

When the establishment of the Østerild test center was decided later that year, Ørsted opted instead to move the test turbines to Thy.

Then, in 2012, the license was sold to French energy company EDF, which at the time was engaged in the development of its own offshore wind turbine, Haliade 6MW.

However, that development had ceased again in 2016 when the French license expired and was therefore not reapplied for. Instead, it was picked up the following year by European Energy, which is now well and truly ready to erect turbines off Frederikshavn.

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