Offshore wind power: Denmark launches its largest ever call for tenders

Denmark announces an ambitious tender to develop six gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030.
Danemark appel d'offre éolien offshore

Partagez:

On April 22, 2024, Denmark officially announced a tender for the installation of offshore wind farms, with the aim of producing six gigawatts of power by 2030. The project is described as the largest in the country’s energy history.

Strategic choice of sites

The tender includes six sites spread over four areas in Danish waters, specifically in the North Sea I, Kattegat, Kriegers Flak II and Hesselø. Each area has been selected for its optimal wind potential and its contribution to the national target.

Investments and financial model

The average investment cost for a 1 GW offshore wind farm is estimated at around DKK 16 billion (EUR 2.1 billion; USD 2.3 billion). With the six concessions, this would represent a total investment of around 14 billion USD, assuming that only the minimum 6 GW is awarded. These projects will be developed without direct subsidies, with the Danish government holding a 20% stake.

Optimistic outlook despite challenges

Kristoffer Böttzauw, Director of the Danish Energy Agency, expresses his enthusiasm: “We’re delighted to be able to offer the largest offshore wind supply in our country to date. This is a massive investment in the green transition.” Despite a drop in investment in 2022, the WindEurope association remains optimistic, anticipating the construction of around 5 GW more per year over the next three years.

Economic realities and implications

The offshore wind energy sector has suffered recently in Europe, with only 400 million euros invested in 2022, impacted by legal and market uncertainties. Challenges remain with high interest rates and rising material costs.

Towards European climate targets

Although new wind farms will increase installed capacity from 2.7 GW to 3.7 GW by 2027, this is still insufficient to meet Europe’s climate and energy targets. Denmark’s efforts are part of a wider drive to accelerate the continent’s energy transition.

Denmark’s initiative underlines the country’s commitment to sustainable development and lays the foundations for a greener, more resilient energy strategy for the future.

Suzlon Group receives third consecutive order from AMPIN Energy Transition to supply 170.1 MW of wind turbines for a project in India's Andhra Pradesh state, strengthening their strategic industrial partnership.
The Muir Mhòr floating wind project secures Aberdeenshire's onshore consent, paving the way for the potential production of one gigawatt of electricity, enough to power up to 1.2 million British homes by the early 2030s.
Iberdrola España and Renfe conclude a virtual power purchase agreement for 370 GWh per year for ten years, strengthening the use of renewable energy in Spanish railway transport.
TotalEnergies has been awarded a concession in the North Sea enabling the development of a 1GW offshore wind project, reinforcing its strategic presence in Germany.
With an annual increase of 14%, global offshore wind capacity now reaches 85.2 gigawatts, driven mainly by China, the United Kingdom, and Germany, while another 27.3 gigawatts are currently under construction.
Seabed exploration begins in Jammerland Bay to validate the placement of sixteen turbines and the cable corridor, the first tangible step before construction of the project led by TotalEnergies and European Energy.
RWE and Østermark Entreprenørforretning celebrate advanced construction of the operational building for Denmark's largest offshore wind farm, promising up to 60 permanent local jobs by 2026.
RWE and Amazon Web Services enter a strategic collaboration to supply renewable energy for data centres and accelerate digital capabilities within the global energy sector.
SSE Renewables inaugurated its first wind farm in Southern Europe in Chaintrix-Bierges and Vélye, with eight Siemens Gamesa turbines and an investment exceeding €30mn ($32.3mn).
The Astenn Avel consortium, led by Elicio and Q ENERGY, brings in VALOREM to bid for the 500 MW floating wind project planned off the coast of Southern Brittany.
The Canada Infrastructure Bank supports the construction of the Mesgi'g Ugju's'n 2 wind farm, co-owned by Mi'gmaq communities and Innergex, through a combined equity and debt financing package.
The first turbine of the Éoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion project was assembled at Port-La Nouvelle, marking a major industrial milestone for Ocean Winds and its partners.
RWE inaugurated an onshore wind farm in Plounérin and Plounévez-Moëdec, featuring four turbines with a capacity of 14.7 MW, in partnership with the local SEM Lannion-Trégor.
The Moulins wind farm, made up of five turbines, was inaugurated on June 6 across three municipalities in the Douaisis region. It will generate €70,000 in annual tax revenue for local authorities.
Chinese firm SANY Renewable Energy enters Serbia through a 168 MW wind deal aimed at powering the local grid from 2028.
The Wedgeport Wind project led by Elemental Energy secures $97mn from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to install 12 turbines in southwest Nova Scotia.
France’s first floating wind farm, Provence Grand Large, located off the Gulf of Fos, has been commissioned with a 25 MW capacity, supplying the equivalent annual electricity consumption of 45,000 people.
Norges Bank Investment Management has finalised the acquisition of stakes in RWE's German and Danish projects, representing 2.6 GW of planned installed capacity by 2029.
Enlight has secured $310mn in financing to convert Gecama into a 554 MW wind-solar-storage hybrid plant, making it the largest installation of its kind in Spain.
The contracts for the offshore wind farms of Fécamp, Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Brieuc have been amended to allow production shutdowns when electricity prices fall below zero on the market.