Life extensions approved for two more for Danish offshore windfarms

Both windfarms have been granted an extension of permits for electricity production. Nysted will now be able to generate electricity for another 10 years and Middelgrunden  for 25 years.

Nysted and Middlegrunden are two of Denmark’s oldest offshore windfarms. Middelgrunden was granted an electricity production permit in 2000, and Nysted three years later.

The owners of the windfarms had applied to the agency to extend their operating lives. To support its decisions, the Danish Energy Agency required an impartial analysis of the remaining lifespan of the projects. The owners are also obliged to carry out an extended annual service inspection.

Danish Energy Agency deputy director Stig Uffe Pedersen said, “It is positive that offshore wind turbines that are over 20 years old will have the opportunity to continue producing green electricity for many years to come. 

“This is primarily beneficial for the green transition. But it is also sustainable from a resource perspective that they can continue to operate safely and responsibly for a longer period of time.”

The Nysted offshore windfarm is owned by Ørsted, PensionDanmark and Stadtwerke Lübeck and consists of 70 turbines with a combined capacity of 161 MW.

Middelgrunden is owned by HOFOR and the Middelgrundens Wind Farm Association. It is located 3.5 km off Copenhagen at Trekroner Fort and has 20 turbines and combined generating capacity of 40 GW.

Earlier in June, the Danish Energy Agency also approved an extension of the electricity production permit for the Samsø offshore windfarm for 10 years.