State Aid: Commission Approves Three Support Measures for Renewable Energy in Denmark

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules three schemes to support electricity production from wind and solar in Denmark in 2018 and 2019. Denmark has a goal of supplying 50% of its energy consumption from renewable energy sources by 2030 and to become independent from fossil fuels by 2050. In line with this goal, the Danish authorities will implement three measures supporting renewable energy: A multi-technology tender scheme for onshore and offshore wind turbines and solar installations, with a budget of DKK 842 million (€112 million). The beneficiaries of the aid will be selected through two tenders organised in 2018 and 2019, with the different technologies competing with each other. The selected installations will offer their electricity on the market and receive support in the form of a premium on top of the market price (top-up payment).

Germany, Belgium and Denmark Sign Agreement to Deploy More Offshore Wind in Europe

The governments of leading offshore wind markets, Germany, Belgium and Denmark have signed a Joint Statement to further the deployment of offshore wind energy in Europe.

The signing ceremony took place this morning (6th June) at the opening of Offshore Wind Energy 2017, the industry event co-organised by WindEurope and RenewableUK in London. The signatory governments reaffirmed their commitment to deploy a significant volume of offshore wind power in Europe between 2020 and 2030 and were represented by Marie-Christine Marghem, Minister of Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, Belgium; Rainer Baake State Secretary for Energy, Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy, Germany and Kristoffer Böttzauw, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate, Denmark.

 

Dutch Open 'World's Largest Offshore' Wind Farm

Dutch officials on Monday opened what is being billed as one of the world's largest offshore wind farms, with 150 turbines spinning in action far out in the North Sea.

Over the next 15 years, the Gemini windpark, which lies some 85 kilometres (53 miles) off the northern coast of The Netherlands, will meet the energy needs of about 1.5 million people.

EU Backs 600-MW Kriegers Flak Wind Farm in Danish Waters

The European Commission on March 28 determined that its support of the 600-MW Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm in Danish territorial waters is in line with EU state aid rules. The commission said the project will help Denmark reduce CO2 emissions, in line with EU energy and climate goals, without unduly distorting competition.

"The Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm will help to cut carbon dioxide emissions while the support is carefully designed to avoid distorting competition in electricity markets. I'm glad to be able to approve state support for this project," Margrethe Vestager, commissioner in charge of competition policy, said in a statement.

Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands Want to Build an Island Hub to Support 100GW of Offshore Wind

The island could also become a crucial provider of renewable-power-to-gas for Europe.

A group of European countries is looking to build a giant island in the North Sea in order to support up to 100 gigawatts of offshore wind projects. 

If built, the island would be sited on the Dogger Bank, a large North Sea sandbank where the water depth ranges from 15 to 36 meters.