Developer cancels offshore wind project over turbine size

A Denmark-based developer has decided to cancel an offshore wind project after not managing to find a turbine model that would fit the project’s original design parameters.

European Energy had been developing the Mejle Flak wind farm offshore Denmark since 2016, after acquiring the project from Havvind Århus Bugt A/S.

The wind farm would have comprised 20 turbines with a combined capacity of between 60 MW and 120 MW.

One of the conditions stipulated was that the project would abide by the design parameters set out in the 2014 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), including the turbine height.

According to European Energy, the project was scrapped after the authorities refused to allow an increase of two metres in the turbine height.

The developer told Offshore Energy that it had identified a 132-metre model that could have made the project work, but the authorities did not want to change the original parameters.

”We have simply not succeeded in finding a wind turbine on the market that can fit into the framework that was originally set for the project,” Andreas Karhula Lauridsen, Head of Offshore Wind at European Energy, said.

”We think it is a pity to have to abandon the wind turbine project at a time when everyone agrees that we need all the green power we can get established in Denmark at all to reach the Danish 2030 climate goal.”

Lauridsen also warned that there was not enough flexibility in the framework of the offshore wind turbine projects to adapt to developments in wind turbines, which are becoming larger and more productive.

”There will have to be political considerations about how we can have some smoother processes to obtain permission to establish renewable energy in Denmark. Otherwise, we risk not having the green power needed to achieve the climate goal in 2030 and be a major producer on Power-to-X products,” Lauridsen said.

The Mejle Flak wind farm was located in Aarhus Bay, close to Mejlflak. The project was initially developed by Havvind Århus Bugt A/S, which consisted of five energy companies around Aarhus – Brabrand Elselskab, Galten Elværk, NRGi, Viby Elværk, Østjysk Energi and Vindmøllelaug Århus Bugt.

Denmark’s Ramboll carried out geophysical and geotechnical investigations, the entire EIA process including Natura 2000 impact assessment, visualisation, and pre-feasibility studies including economic assessments.

According to Ramboll, the location of the site presented a challenge for the EIA process and the public acceptance of the project seeing that the wind farm had been located close to internationally environmentally protected areas and would have been visible from both the mainland of Jutland and the island of Samsoe.

Further, ship impact from heavy ship traffic in the area was also a factor that had to be considered, Ramboll said.