The first onshore energy parks are now one step closer to becoming a reality.

On Tuesday, the first seven specific areas for energy parks were designated, and the Danish Agency for Planning and Rural Development has now started preparing draft executive orders for the areas.

In addition, work is continuing on ten other specific areas for potential energy parks.

This is stated in an announcement on Plan Info.

”We are now ready to proceed with designating the first 17 areas for energy parks based on a close dialog with municipalities and renewable energy developers,” confirms Minister for Urban and Rural Affairs Morten Dahlin in a statement.

”This is an important step in enabling a quadrupling of green power from solar and wind on land. And it’s an important step to ensure a Denmark that is free of Russian gas. At the same time, the energy parks will provide new business and development opportunities in rural areas, which can contribute to more jobs and more growth locally,” says Dahlin.

The 17 energy parks have a maximum theoretical energy production potential of 9.2 TWh, according to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Affairs.

The first energy parks are expected to be finally designated ”at the end of 2024”, and then it is up to the municipalities, renewable energy producers and landowners to realize the energy parks.

188 areas submitted

The first seven parks have been found among the 188 areas that municipalities and renewable energy producers registered in the fall of 2022 in extension of the Climate Agreement on green power and heat. Initially, 32 potential areas were selected for the establishment of energy parks, which have been in public consultation.

The Danish Agency for Planning and Rural Development points out that ”initially” there was municipal support to continue working with seven areas. This does not rule out the possibility that more of the 32 areas will end up as energy parks.

”More areas may prove suitable,” the agency writes.

In December 2023, renewable energy plant installers and Danish municipalities submitted a further 83 proposals for future energy parks in an additional round. Of these, four sites have been eliminated and 10 have already been given the green light by the respective municipalities.

The ten sites are therefore still in the running to be designated as energy parks.

The law on state-designated energy parks comes into force on July 1, 2024.

The law provides favorable conditions for the establishment of onshore energy parks with wind turbines and solar plants as well as associated facilities in the form of PtX plants and other commercial buildings. 

Registration of new proposed areas will be possible in the fall of 2024 and again in 2025.

English edit: Catherine Brett