Whereas a lot of the main focus within the offshore wind sector is on the rising monetary challenges and uncertainties, a undertaking in Denmark is being placed on maintain over objections from environmentalists on how and when the variety of bats within the area are counted. The undertaking’s builders are saying it’s creating uncertainty concerning the capability of the undertaking to obtain its permits to proceed.
The undertaking referred to as Aflandshage Vindmøllepark is proposed for the southern Øresund area close to Copenhagen and was to be operated for HOFOR, a utility firm that gives power, water, gasoline, sewage, and different providers to the capital area in Denmark. The undertaking is superior within the planning course of with the corporate highlighting that it is likely one of the few tasks that was on observe to be operational by 2030, a vital goal date in decarbonization and the subsequent section of renewable power.
The corporate is citing the uncertainties raised by complaints and the shortage of readability over the allowing course of. They’d been transferring ahead, together with deciding on Siemens Gamesa to produce the generators earlier than protests derailed the undertaking. The corporate introduced it’s taking a write-down of almost $72 million as a result of the prices for growing the undertaking should be acknowledged within the accounts for 2023.
“We are actually placing the funding within the Aflandshage undertaking on maintain,” says Susanne Juhl, chairman of the board of HOFOR. “The undertaking will likely be deserted utterly except it proves potential to proceed the undertaking in one other type within the close to future.”
They be aware the placement of the undertaking was chosen with consideration for migration patterns and wildlife in addition to the Swedish territorial border, the close by airport, and busy crusing routes. The plan which was accredited within the fall of 2022 requires 26 offshore wind generators with a complete top of as much as 721 ft to the highest of the blade. With a complete output of 300 MW, it could have the ability to provide inexperienced electrical energy that corresponds to the consumption of roughly 300,000 households.
The allow included circumstances concerning the monitoring of chook and bat migration. HOFOR studies it had agreed to a counting of the bats throughout the building section for the wind farm to develop a preservation plan for when it was in operation. Probably, the wind farm must cease operations at sure instances to stop chook or bat strikes.
The corporate’s allowing for the wind farm nevertheless was canceled in July 2023 attributable to complaints. The requirement for the bat depend was moved to earlier than the development begins with the corporate reporting it should replace the undertaking’s environmental impression report. They’re saying because of this it’s unsure based mostly on the present stipulations if they might ever obtain permits. They decided that it entails an unlimited monetary threat for each HOFOR and the Municipality of Copenhagen to provoke the undertaking with out the mandatory permits.
“The experiences from the Aflandshage undertaking affirm the necessity to have a look at the general authority processes in wind turbine tasks,” says Juhl. “Now we have skilled hindrances in our undertaking that trigger us to place an in any other case ready-and-ready undertaking on maintain.”
HOFOR is continuing with the bat depend as a result of it’s the minimal requirement to regain the permits. They’re mentioning that as this proceeds nevertheless it raises the prospects of additional uncertainties or delays as the method has been reopened for extra complaints. They’re working to remap the undertaking and in search of a path ahead whereas additionally warning the write-down will scale back HOFOR’s capability to develop different inexperienced power tasks. Juhl concluded by saying they have been assured the wind generators and bats would have been in a position to stay side-by-side and meet the renewable power targets.
