A new island is going to be built by Denmark, which is expected to have the ability to provide energy for three million households. This will be the world’s first energy island and might be as huge as 18 football pitches, i.e., 120,000 sq m. but efforts are being put to make it three times this size. This one of its kind project would be a significant development in the Energy Generation market as it will come to serve as a hub of 200 offshore wind turbines.
The project is estimated to cost 210 Billion Kroner ($ 34 Billion) and is the biggest construction project in Danish history. The project is set to be located 80 km out to sea and would be half–owned by the state and half by private players.
The country has revealed that the artificial island will not be just a source of energy for the country but would help out neighboring countries’ grids. The island would also provide green hydrogen for shipping, industry, heavy transport, and aviation.
As per Denmark’s Climate Act, the country is invested in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 70% in 2030 and becoming Co2 neutral through the year 2050. Recently, it also announced that it was putting an end to all new oil and gas explorations in the North Sea. This new project comes at par with the country's ambition to be more environmentally cautious.
In the political sector of the country, the island project is bringing a wave of excitement and is being looked at as a radical vision. Danish politicians have unanimously upheld the usefulness of the project.
In Bornholm, situated in the Baltic Sea, a smaller energy island is already set to be constructed. Agreements are in place for the island to provide energy to Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium.
The European Union revealed its plans for a 25- fold rise in offshore wind capacity by 2050. Renewable energy is responsible for providing about one-third of the EU’s current energy needs. As per the union, offshore wind supplies a current level of 12 gigawatts, out of which Denmark supplies 1.7 gigawatts. The new project would supply about 3 gigawatts in the starting, which will eventually rise to 10 with time. The small Bornholm Island would also provide 2 Gigawatts in energy. This brings the EU closer to its earlier plans that it set in November 2020.