Denmark gears up for 9 GW of offshore wind tendering

Denmark’s Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities Lars Aagaard sought to reassure the offshore wind industry as he said on Monday that the government will start auctions for 9 GW of offshore wind this year.

Negotiations on the framework for these tenders are planned to begin next month, with the goal of having the capacity in operation by 2030. The turbines would supply green electricity to Denmark and Europe and could also power Danish power-to-X (PtX) projects.

In addition, the minister said the government is studying how to allow developers to build more wind turbines at the sites designated for tenders, which could increase the planned 9 GW of capacity.

"In addition to negotiating the 9 GW of offshore wind, we also need to decide in the spring how the energy island in the North Sea is to be offered to tender,” added Aagaard.

In parallel, the government is seeking a quick clarification on whether offshore wind projects under the open door scheme are in breach of EU regulations. The scheme was suspended earlier in February sparking anger from the industry. The minister admitted this creates uncertainty and said that there is a dialogue with the EU Commission at all levels.

Industry group Green Power Denmark welcomed the announcement that government tenders are getting underway but emphasised that a solution to the open-door scheme is urgently needed.

Green Power Denmark chief executive Kristian Jensen said that if the offshore wind turbines are to be spinning before 2030 and providing power for the country’s climate goals, the entire planned capacity should be offered at once and not one offshore wind farm at a time.

The planned 9 GW stems from the Climate Agreement on Green Electricity and Heat from June 2022.

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