In spring 2021, Ørsted and ATP joined forces to develop a groundbreaking sustainable concept for Denmark’s upcoming tender for an energy island in the Danish North Sea. The concept presents an island in constant development, with unlimited space for innovation and adaptation as the green transformation evolves.
The North Sea Energy Island consists of a small artificial island, which can be expanded with flexible modules that can be added and replaced as needed. The modules are built onshore and connected to the North Sea Energy Island, meaning the island can easily be upgraded to accommodate over 10GW of offshore wind energy, which is the ambition present in Denmark. It can also be adapted to accommodate rapid developments in Power-to-X and other technologies in 2030 and 2050.
Flexible modules are the most scalable solution. It is also the direct way to provide large amounts of green energy as quickly as possible. Modules can be built on land, while reclaimed island and offshore wind turbines are built at sea, which will result in considerable time savings during the construction phase. With this flexible and modular concept, Ørsted and ATP estimate that the energy island in the North Sea can provide green energy two years before an inflexible and confined island.
In this way, we will build an energy island that can be commissioned quickly and that is prepared from the start for an unknown technological future, and that can serve as a hub for offshore wind and new green technologies for decades to come. to come.
Rasmus Errboe, Area Manager Continental Europe at Ørsted, said: “We are ready to deliver an island that embraces the rapid development of renewable technologies and enables an intensification of green transformation. With our approach, the North Sea Energy Island will be more than just an island. We believe that our modular concept offers the best conditions to ensure that the energy island will remain relevant in 2030 and 2050, and we look forward to further dialogue with authorities and decision makers about the “North Sea energy island”. “
Claus Wiinblad, Senior Vice President at ATP, commented: “We think the flexibility of our concept is a great advantage and creates a very good climate-friendly energy solution, which is absolutely crucial when embarking on a long-term investment like this, and so there is a base to create a reasonable risk-adjusted return.At the same time, we invest in the green transition, and thus The North Sea Energy Island fits both with ATP’s climate ambitions and with ATP’s goal of creating the best possible retreats.
Jesper Kristian Jacobsen, CEO of Aarsleff which leads the construction consortium on the North Sea energy island, said: “With this concept, we have taken well-known technologies and construction methods and combined them in a new, intelligent and revolutionary way suited to the harsh environment of the North Sea. This means that we can build a an energy island that can provide a huge ramp-up of offshore wind and is ready to meet future needs from the start.
