Denmark:

1
Denmark

• The Current Global Leader in the Wind Energy Field

2

• Wind energy currently satisfies 14 of the
  electricity demand in Denmark
• The Danish government expects wind power to
  account for 50 of domestic generation by 2030.

3
The increasing number of offshore wind farms

• Why go offshore?
• Poor remaining resources Denmark has never been
  rich in high-quality wind resources, and most of
  the suitable land resource is already utilized.
• Competing land uses Denmark is a densely
  populated country, with correspondingly high land
  costs.
• Landscape impacts Although the Danish people
  seem largely to have shared in their governments
  commitment to wind power, there is some evidence
  of growing resistance to further visual intrusion
  by the increasingly tall wind turbines in rural
  areas.
• That is where the wind is.

4
Pilot Projects

• Vindeby, Tunø Knob and Middelgrunden

5

• In 1991, Elkraft (a Danish energy producing
  company) established a 5 MW test plant at
  Vindeby.
• In 1995, Elsam followed suit and established a 5
  MW wind power plant at sea at Tunø Knob
• In 2000 Denmark commissioned what is, for now,
  the largest commercial offshore operation, a
  20-turbine, 40-megawatt facility on the
  Middelgrunden shoal off of Copenhagen.

6
A Brief History

• 1891
• Teacher Poul la Cour generates first
  wind-powered electricity.
• 1973
• Oil crisis prompts renewed interest in wind
  energy.
• 1976
• First wind turbine connected to the grid.
• 1978
• Risø wind energy test station and research
  centre opens.
• 1979
• First government support for wind turbines.
• 1981
• National Energy Plan sets goal for 1,000
  megawatts of wind energy by 2000.
• 1985
• Nuclear power abandoned as fuel source.

7

• 1991
• First offshore wind farm built at Vindeby.
• 1993
• Wind power capacity grows to 500 megawatts,
  enough for 3 of electricity.
• 1995
• Second offshore wind farm opens at Tunø Knob.
• 1998
• Wind power capacity reaches 1,200 megawatts,
  enough to satisfy 7 of the country's electricity
  demand.
• 2000
• Government adopts target for 5,500 megawatts
  of wind power by 2030, mostly offshore.