Denmark’s World-Beating Offshore Wind Farm Opens

Denmark has marked the opening of a brand new offshore wind farm – a move coinciding with the run-up to a global climate change summit that the country is hosting in three months time.  The Horns Rev 2 farm sits in the North Sea and is comprised of 91 individual turbines, which give a total capacity of over 200 megawatts.  This is sufficient power for approximately 200,000 homes in Denmark.

Each turbine stands around 150 metres high, 115 metres of which are visible above sea level.  Their individual capacity is 2.3 MW, and each blade network spans 93 metres across.  The energy gathered by the turbines is directed to a built-in transformer, before being transported to the mainland by cable.

Horns Rev Wind Farm

The Horns Rev wind farm opening ceremony was attended by figures including Lars Lokke Rasmussen – the Prime Minister of Denmark.  Addressing those present, Mr Rasmussen highlighted the significance of the new site, stating: “Horns Rev 2 is an important step in our energy policy.” He added: “It's our ambition that Denmark will be a green growth laboratory.”

Between December 7th and 19th 2009, 190 national representatives will gather in the Danish capital Copenhagen to agree a new worldwide climate change treaty.  Denmark itself presently makes substantial use of renewable energy sources (wind power supplies 20 per cent of its electricity) and is hoping that the climate summit will have a positive impact on environmental technologies in the country.

Horns Rev 2

Horns Rev 2 is only really accessible by helicopter, and a specially modified Eurocopter EC-135 will be used to transport personnel around the site (the choppy North Sea is not ideal for sailing around at the majority of times).

Horns Rev 2 already has two claims to fame.  Firstly, it is situated further out to sea than any other offshore wind farm in the world (the Danish coast is 30 kilometres away).  Secondly, its 209 MW capacity outdoes every other wind farm too.  However, an even more powerful wind farm is set to be up and running within months – the 630 MW London Array - which will be place in before the 2012 London Olympics.