Denmark has agreed to build an island in the North Sea that would collect and distribute electricity from wind farms.
Authorities say the artificial island will be the size of 18 football fields and will produce and store enough green energy to cover the electricity needs of 3 million European households. It also provides clean energy for use in shipping, aviation, industry and heavy transport.
The € 28 billion construction project is the largest of its kind in Danish history. The government has a 51% stake in the island, the rest in the hands of the private sector.
“It’s a huge project,” says Professor Jacob Østergaard, head of the center for electric power and energy at the Technical University of Denmark. “It is and will remain a cornerstone in the green transition and the reduction of Danish CO2 emissions.”
Denmark has set itself an ambitious goal of reducing carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. It aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The green energy island is also a big problem for the rest of Europe, Østergaard said. It will be built approximately 80 kilometers off the west coast of the country and will connect to several European countries. It is expected to be operational in 2033.
“In the North Sea, we have enormous potential for offshore wind, 180 gigawatts in total. That means we can actually close all European coal-fired power stations,” and instead tap into this green energy, he explains.
“It is a Danish initiative, or at least we have taken the first step. But this will, at least with time, become an international effort.”
Listen to more from Prof Østergaard in the video player above.