Denmark managed to run on wind energy alone one day last month. On February 22, wind power supplied 104 per cent of the country’s energy needs for the day. According to WindEurope, Denmark’s onshore wind turbines generated 70 GWh while another 27 GWh were generated by offshore wind turbines. Such amount of energy is enough to power 10 million average European homes.

DENMARK IS THE QUEEN OF WIND POWER

Thanks to its installed capacity of 5,227 MW, Denmark’s wind power accounted for 37.6 per cent of the country’s total energy consumption in 2016. Note that 2016 wasn’t a year characterised by strong winds, as it was instead 2015, which registered winds 14 per cent stronger than normal in some days for the first time since 1994. In 2017, wind power is expected to continue increasing.

THE SHIFTING NATURE OF WIND

“Since 2008 we have experienced continuous growth in the wind energy production and each year set a new world record,” said Jan Hylleberg, CEO of the Danish Wind Industry Association. “As expected this trend did not continue in 2016 due to the low winds. Not maintaining the continued growth is to a certain degree frustrating, but on the other hand, it is a reminder that it is the shifting nature of the wind”.

RECORD OFFSHORE TURBINES

Also thanks to the results achieved in terms of economic wealth and jobs, Denmark’s programmes for developing wind energy continue, setting new ambitious targets. The country expects to generate 60 per cent of electricity via wind by 2021 and quit fossil fuels within 40 years. These objectives can be met by investing in technology, as has happened with the offshore turbine launched by MHI Vestas offshore wind. On December 1, a new 9-MW offshore wind turbine has been tested off the Danish coasts and broke all records. The new prototype produced 216,000 KWh in just 24 hours. It’s an innovative technology that will increase wind power while cutting costs, as fewer turbines will be needed to meet the needs of an offshore wind farm.