Electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) TenneT of the Netherlands, along with its German subsidiary, and Energinet of Denmark have agreed to develop a renewable electricity system in the North Sea, the North Sea Wind Power Hub. The trilateral agreement was signed on Thursday 23 March on the sidelines of the North Seas Energy Forum in the presence of European Commissioner for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic.
The project will see the construction of one or more artificial islands, to be called Power Link Islands, on the sand banks of Dogger Bank in the North Sea around 100 kilometres from the UK coast and 125-150 kilometres from the Danish coast, to take advantage of the shallow water (between 15 and 36 metres deep, 20 metres on average) and optimum wind conditions.
The islands would be a connection point for offshore wind turbines throughout the North Sea and the generated wind energy could then be distributed and transmitted to all countries bordering the North Sea: the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway and Belgium. The promoters believe total capacity could be between 70,000 and 100,000 megawatts, providing green energy to 70-100 million people.
For TenneT and Energinet, the agreement signed on 23 March, which will investigate the feasibility of building one or more islands, is a step towards creating broader cooperation at European level to develop renewable energy in the North Sea until 2050.
The 23 March agreement is an invitation to TSOs from North Sea countries as well as other infrastructure companies to join the initiative, the ultimate goal of which is to build a solid coalition of companies that will make the European energy transition feasible and affordable, TenneT said.
“Building one or more artificial islands in the middle of the North Sea sounds like a science fiction project, but it could actually be a very efficient and affordable way for the North Sea countries to meet the future demand for more renewable electricity”, Energinet added.
TenneT and Energinet – and any other parties that want to join – will investigate the details and potential of one or more Power Link Islands. If the TSOs decide to go ahead with the project, a Power Link Island could be developed by roughly 2035. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)