Denmark has approved a plan to build the first energy hub in the North Sea. This is a small artificial island where the connections of wind farms converge. The energy can then be transported to the mainland via a single cable.
The island will measure about eighteen football fields and will be situated 80 kilometres off the Danish coast. The construction will cost around 210 billion Danish kroner (more than 28 billion euros). The project is to be completed around 2033.
Also read: Netherlands and UK want to link offshore wind grids
Energy hub research
In June, the Netherlands and Denmark signed a declaration of intent to cooperate in certain areas. Energy hubs at sea were an important part of this. Research into energy hubs is being carried out by the Dutch electricity grid manager TenneT and gas grid manager Gasunie. They are working together with the Danish grid manager Energinet.
According to a TenneT spokeswoman, the Danish plan is not a result of this research and it is good that the Danes are starting to build an energy hub. ‘Eventually, many energy hubs will need to be interconnected at sea. In the Netherlands, for example, we would be able to use Danish wind energy when it is windy there and not here, and vice versa.’
Source: ANP
