CASE STUDY: Middelgrunden Windfarm

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SECTOR: Energy COUNTRY:Denmark

BACKGROUND
The new era of windpower in Denmark started 20 years ago. A number of small industries made relatively small turbines - 22 kW and 55 kW turbines. Most of these were bought by co-operatives of grassroots. Production of wind turbines has become one of Denmark's largest industries, an industry with a considerable export. Under normal circumstancesn a turbine will produce more energy than it demanded to produce the turbine in less than 6 months, often in only 3-4 months.

The turbines have become quite large. Middelgrunden Windfarm consists of 20 2MW turbines. The maximum height of the wingtip is 111 meters. The turbines are located close to Copenhagen Harbour - very visible when you are approaching the city from the North. The turbines are places in a circular arc with a 12.5 km radius. The total length is 3.4 kilometres. Copenhagen Energy owns half of the turbines. The Middelgrunded Wind Turbine Co-operation owns the other half. 47% of Denmark's 6226 wind turbines are owned by co-operations.

Some of the 20 turbines seen from the top of a turbine - almost as you might see them approaching Copenhagen airport

INDICATORS
An environmental impact assessment has been carried out. The energy production is estimated to 89 million kWh of electricity annually. Nature will be spared annually a pollution of 258 tons of Sulphur dioxide; 231 tons of Nitrogen oxides; 76000 tons of Carbon dioxide and 4900 tons of dust and clinker.

The turbines and the bridge to Sweden

The park has, however, a number of negative environmental impacts, described in the EIA. The subjects covered in this are:

• Visual Impact
• Dispersal of sediments during construction work
• Animals and plants
• Noise and traffic
• Water flow
• Accidents - total damage leading to oil spill from the gearbox etc.

A registration of the conditions prior to the construction work has been made. This will be followed by a survey two years after (in 2002).

EVALUATION
The evaluation is still going on, but much information is available in the quite extensive EIA published by Copenhagen Energy and the Middelgrunden Wind Turbine Co-operative in May 1999.
Some aspects have, however, not been considered in the EIA:

• The turbines contribute to make many people aware of renewable energy - because the are visible for many travellers
• The Middelgrunden Wind Turbine Co-operative has organised the 8000 people that own the 10 turbines - in principle, the co-operative could be a forum for further actions.

The Co-operative have been awarded the European Solar Prize 2000, the Energy Globe Award 2001 and the Green Apple Award 2001. It is possible to monitor the energy production on the internet. The actual production corresponds to the expected.

BENCHMARK DATA
There are no agreed benchmark data.

DRIVERS
The Copenhagen Environment and Energy Office (KMEK), a local NGO have been a driving force in organising the Middelgrunden Wind Turbine Co-operative, negotiating with Copenhagen Energy and a number of local and national authorities. The symbol of building a 'fence' against the Swedish Barsebäck Nuclear Plant can be considered a part of the motivation. Barsebäck is located near the Copenhagen centre, clearly visible from the coast. Once organised, the Co-operative has proven to be a strong and dynamic organisation.

LEASONS LEARNT
Much can be learned from the Middelgrunden case. An important lesson is that it is important to carry out a proper environmental impact assessment even for a project that by most a priori is considered for sustainable. The evaluation of the visual impact - and the design of the park - has been very essential for the project. A number of designs have been tested, leading to a reduction of the number of turbines from the original 27 to 20 and to the circular arc lay-out.

APPLICATION
The change in government November 2001 has brought development of new offshore wind-parks in Denmark to a standstill. A number of other countries are, however, planning offshore parks.

TRANSFERABILITY
The local conditions have to be taken into consideration, when transferability is discussed. The foundations are planned to cope with the Danish ice-situation during severe winters - a location in the Atlantic further North might call for new dimensions.

IMPACT ON SUSTAINABILITY AREAS
Environmental - High, if placed on the right locality
Social - Medium, creating network between owners
Economic - Medium, depending on the value of the saved pollution
Institutional - Low

PROJECT CONTACT
MSc (civ eng) Kens H Larsen
Copenhagen Environment and Energy Office (KMEK)
Blegdamsvej 4B st
DK-2200 Kobenhavn N
Telephone: + 45 35 37 36 36

Associate Professor Morten Elle
Department of Civil Engineering,
Building 118
Technical University of Denmark
DK-2800 LYNGBY
Tel: + 45 45 25 15 42;
fax: +45 45 88 32 82;
e-mail: me@byg.dtu.dk

REFERENCES

Copenhagen Energy and the Middelgrunden Wind Turbine Co-operative: 'Environmental Impact Assessment of the wind farm at the Middelgrunden Shoal - non-technical Sumary of the EIA, 1st revision, January 2001', Copenhagen

www.middelgrunden.dk ; www.dkvind.dk and www.middelgrund.com