Denmark leads European offshore wind power in 2009
Denmark leads European offshore wind power in 2009
07:45, January 26, 2010 
Email | Print | Subscribe | Comments | Forum 
Denmark-based wind-turbine makers delivered almost 90% of the wind turbines to the new European offshore wind farms, according to news reaching here from Copenhagen on Monday.
“2009 was a record year for the Denmark-based wind-turbine makers Siemens Wind Power and Vestas Wind Systems, which according to data released by the Danish Wind Industry Association delivered almost 90% of the wind turbines (measured on a MW basis) to the new European offshore wind farms,” said a statement from the Denmark official website.
Last year 199 wind turbines were installed in 8 European offshore wind farms with a collective nameplate capacity of 577 MW, up 54% on 2008.
Denmark accounted for 230 MW of this expansion with two new wind farms, making Denmark the European leader in offshore wind turbines with 305 installed, compared with second-placed Britain's 287.
However, it is believed that Britain will take the lead soon because of massive ongoing investment in offshore wind, according to the statement.
The Danish Wind Industry Association said that in addition to the 17 offshore wind farms totaling 3,500 MW currently under construction, a further 52 wind farms have been consented totaling more than 16,000 MW, the statement said.
828 wind turbines in 38 offshore wind farms are now installed and grid connected in Europe, totaling just over 2 GW. In 2010, the offshore market in Europe is expected to grow by 75% compared to 2009 with 1,000 MW of new capacity installed, and to account for some 10% of the continent's total wind power capacity, the statement added.
Meanwhile, nine European countries are reportedly planning a massive renewable energy network around the North Sea that will supply green electricity to much of Europe.
German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reports that nine European countries are planning to join forces in creating a EUR 30 billion renewable energy network around the North Sea.
The plan involves the construction of a high-tech electricity grid designed to even out the unavoidable fluctuations in energy production from wind farms and solar arrays, and transport green energy throughout much of Europe.
A high voltage cable network under the North Sea will connect the British, Danish and German offshore wind farms with tidal power plants in Belgium and hydroelectric power plants in Norway, as well as with wind farms and solar arrays on the European mainland.
Thousands of kilometers of power cables will be laid to convey the green energy across much of Europe. The report from the Denmark official website said that Denmark has agreed to join the comprehensive collaborative venture at a meeting in Ireland in December. In the fall, the nine governments are expected to sign a formal statement of intent and propose a timetable for the project.
To even out the naturally fluctuating energy delivery from wind and solar installations especially, the idea is to transport the energy to Norway, where the electrical energy can be stored as gravitational potential energy by pumping water up to high level reservoirs connected to hydroelectric power stations. The stored energy can then be released on demand simply by opening the sluices to increase power output from the turbines, the report said.
European offshore wind farms currently under construction will bring the total wind power capacity to 100 GW, which corresponds to around 10% of Europe's entire energy demand, according to the European Windpower Association.
By Xuefei Chen, People’s Daily Online, Stockholm.
“2009 was a record year for the Denmark-based wind-turbine makers Siemens Wind Power and Vestas Wind Systems, which according to data released by the Danish Wind Industry Association delivered almost 90% of the wind turbines (measured on a MW basis) to the new European offshore wind farms,” said a statement from the Denmark official website.
Last year 199 wind turbines were installed in 8 European offshore wind farms with a collective nameplate capacity of 577 MW, up 54% on 2008.
Denmark accounted for 230 MW of this expansion with two new wind farms, making Denmark the European leader in offshore wind turbines with 305 installed, compared with second-placed Britain's 287.
However, it is believed that Britain will take the lead soon because of massive ongoing investment in offshore wind, according to the statement.
The Danish Wind Industry Association said that in addition to the 17 offshore wind farms totaling 3,500 MW currently under construction, a further 52 wind farms have been consented totaling more than 16,000 MW, the statement said.
828 wind turbines in 38 offshore wind farms are now installed and grid connected in Europe, totaling just over 2 GW. In 2010, the offshore market in Europe is expected to grow by 75% compared to 2009 with 1,000 MW of new capacity installed, and to account for some 10% of the continent's total wind power capacity, the statement added.
Meanwhile, nine European countries are reportedly planning a massive renewable energy network around the North Sea that will supply green electricity to much of Europe.
German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reports that nine European countries are planning to join forces in creating a EUR 30 billion renewable energy network around the North Sea.
The plan involves the construction of a high-tech electricity grid designed to even out the unavoidable fluctuations in energy production from wind farms and solar arrays, and transport green energy throughout much of Europe.
A high voltage cable network under the North Sea will connect the British, Danish and German offshore wind farms with tidal power plants in Belgium and hydroelectric power plants in Norway, as well as with wind farms and solar arrays on the European mainland.
Thousands of kilometers of power cables will be laid to convey the green energy across much of Europe. The report from the Denmark official website said that Denmark has agreed to join the comprehensive collaborative venture at a meeting in Ireland in December. In the fall, the nine governments are expected to sign a formal statement of intent and propose a timetable for the project.
To even out the naturally fluctuating energy delivery from wind and solar installations especially, the idea is to transport the energy to Norway, where the electrical energy can be stored as gravitational potential energy by pumping water up to high level reservoirs connected to hydroelectric power stations. The stored energy can then be released on demand simply by opening the sluices to increase power output from the turbines, the report said.
European offshore wind farms currently under construction will bring the total wind power capacity to 100 GW, which corresponds to around 10% of Europe's entire energy demand, according to the European Windpower Association.
By Xuefei Chen, People’s Daily Online, Stockholm.
Related Reading
Special Coverage
Major headlines
Editor's Pick
Most Popular
Hot Forum Dicussion
