"In Energinet, we are excited that Denmark has now signed declarations with Germany and the Netherlands on energy islands", says Hanne Storm Edlefsen, Vice President of Energinet: "The two energy islands in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea can only be realized through strong international cooperation, so the declarations are a very important step towards the establishment of energy islands, which is a vital next step for large-scale offshore wind power and thus for the green transition in Europe and the world."

With the two declarations, the countries will be working together to carry out a number of complex studies of how energy islands and offshore wind power can be expanded and, not least, how international interconnections from the islands can connect the energy systems of the countries with each other. The use of electricity from offshore wind to hydrogen and green fuels is also a key issue in the declarations.

The European Union's energy and climate objectives are mentioned in both declarations as the basis for the cooperation, including the objective of climate neutrality in 2050 and the European Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy. In the declaration with Germany, the Danish political decision to establish an energy island in the North Sea and one in the Baltic Sea in 2030 is also specifically noted. In the declaration with the Netherlands, the responsibility for analyses and studies is explicitly given to the Danish and Dutch TSOs, TenneT, Gasunie and Energinet. The work will be anchored in the international consortium North Sea Wind Power Hub, where the three TSOs since 2017 have cooperated on the development of a realistic concept for artificial energy islands in the North Sea in accordance with the so-called ' Hub-and-spoke concept '.

"Danish politicians have paved the way with the decision to implement energy islands. However, I think everybody is agreed that energy islands that are only connected to Denmark are not sufficient to power the massive upscaling of renewable energy we need in Europe. That’s also why it is good news that the ministers for energy and climate in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands have signed these two declarations. Even though the declarations are not yet binding, it is still an important door which is now opening up on the road to energy islands that are connected to more than one country, says Hanne Storm Edlefsen, and continues: "We look forward to the continued cooperation with the North Sea Wind Power Hub and our good TSO colleagues in Germany and the Netherlands."

At the end of November, the Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Dan Jørgensen, gave Energinet order to carry out preliminary studies to the two energy islands in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, respectively. The order from the minister includes, among other things, that Energinet must mature and develop international connections in collaboration with TSOs in the cooperation countries with which agreements are made.

5 key elements in the two declarations.

-The declaration with Germany covers the Baltic Sea and the North Sea as hubs for offshore wind power and energy islands.

-The declaration with the Netherlands covers hubs in the North Sea and analyses must be made with a view to ' realization of a first joint project in 2030 or as soon as possible thereafter '.

-The purpose of the declarations is to investigate and assess options for the countries ' cooperation on common energy hubs for the mutual benefit of both countries.

-Studies under the declarations cover issues such as the distribution of RE-shares and costs, the design of the electricity market, the technology options for the electrical systems, Power-to-X, etc.

-The declarations are political declarations of intent on objectives and measures and are not legally binding.

Links:

Declaration with German minister 

Declaration with Dutch minister 

Read more about North Sea Wind Power Hub

Energinet's website on Energy Islands