Mega project in the North Sea: Denmark plans huge energy islands

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What project! A German-Danish consortium wants to build two large “energy islands” in the North Sea. One day it will be the largest power station in the world. Several large offshore wind farms are expected to generate a massive 300 gigawatts of green electricity by 2050.

The islands will be raised 150 kilometers off the German coast. “The Islands are production and supply bases,” project manager Thomas Dalsgaard tells “Spiegel.” “They also give us the flexibility to generate electricity or hydrogen depending on current needs. And send those energy products where the need is greatest.”

Electricity is converted to hydrogen

Green electricity from nearby wind farms will be stored on the islands. Some of the electricity will be transferred, and some will be converted to hydrogen directly on the island using so-called electrolyzers. The pipelines will supply hydrogen to mainland Europe.

The new superior energy center is scheduled to be online in 2032. Hydrogen is considered an essential part of the energy transition. It should be used primarily in areas that cannot be electrified easily. For example in industry or in air traffic. And make a decisive contribution to the energy transition.

2.5 billion euros per island

The cost of the two energy islands: 2 to 2.5 billion euros each. No wonder: as “Spiegel” wrote, the structure is quite complex. First of all, the North Sea floor, which has a depth of 40 meters, needs to be compressed at the planned points. Then, caissons filled with sand are placed on this foundation. The island platform is placed on top of it. It is about half a square kilometer in size. (be)

Source :Blick