European Energy, SONFOR secure permit to build Lillebaelt Syd offshore windfarm

The 165-MW project is in the Strait of Lillebaelt, close to the city of Soenderborg, and is being developed by European Energy and Danish utility company SONFOR. The offshore windfarm is due to be operational in 2029.

The project will use 11 offshore wind turbines, installed in the Little Belt between Als and Helnæs, approximately 3 km off Als. The turbines will have a height of 256 m.

European Energy chief executive Knud Erik Andersen said, “We are delighted to finally secure the construction permit for this important project. It is a major milestone for European Energy and positions us as a leading developer of offshore wind in Denmark and the Nordics.”

SONFOR chair Ellen Trane Nørby said Lillebaelt Syd “is a showcase for how a public-private partnership can take action on climate change.” She said the windfarm will support the green transition and help Soenderborg municipality meet its net-zero carbon target. “With the establishment permit in hand, we can celebrate the result of 14 years of hard work, co-operation and dialogue with the local community,” she said.

Earlier in 2024, European Energy, SONFOR and energy company TotalEnergies signed an agreement that will see TotalEnergies will become the majority owner of the Lillebaelt Syd project.

The establishment permit for the windfarm includes several conditions to protect wildlife. The permit also requires that the turbines must stop or rotate slowly after sunset, when the wind speed is below 6 m/s, from 1 April to 31 October. The requirement takes account of the presence in the area of bats.

The project area is also important for porpoises found in the Belt Sea, so monopile foundations will only be installed between August and October, when the occurrence of porpoises in the area is at its lowest.

The Danish Energy Agency has also stipulated the developer should initiate a monitoring programme to enhance understanding of the impact of offshore wind turbines on the marine environment.