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, produce and store enough green energy to cover the electricity needs of 3 million European homes. It will also provide clean energy for transportation, aviation, industry and heavy transportation.
The € 28 billion construction project is the largest of its kind in Danish history. The government will maintain a 51% stake in the island, with the rest the private sector.
“It’s a giant project,” said Professor Jacob Østergaard, who runs the center of electricity and energy at the Technical University of Denmark. “It is and will be a cornerstone in the green transition and the reduction of Danish CO2 emissions.”
Denmark has set itself the ambitious goal of reducing carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Its goal is 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 about 80 kilometers from the west coast of the country and will connect with several European countries. It is expected to be up and running in 2033.
“In the North Sea, we have huge potential for offshore wind energy, 180 gigawatts in total. That means we can shut down all of Europe’s coal-fired power plants,” and instead harness that green energy.
“It’s a Danish initiative, or at least we’ve taken the first step. But that, at least over time, will be an international effort.”
Learn more about Prof Østergaard in the video player at the top.