International Experience
Learn More
To read more about Denmark's positive experience with wind power, visit the Danish Wind Energy Association.
Kids of all ages will enjoy learning about wind energy with "Wind with Miller", who makes learning about wind and turbines fun.
Denmark relies upon more wind power, as a percentage of the country's electricity usage, than any country in the world. Twenty percent (20%) of the country's electricity comes from wind power. Much of this wind energy comes from offshore wind parks. The first offshore wind project was installed in Denmark in 1991. The country is home to over 390 MW of offshore wind energy, and is home to two of the world's largest offshore wind parks. Today, the country boasts seven offshore wind installations and expansion plans call for two more 200-megawatt parks to be established in 2009 and 2010.
Learning from Denmark's Success
Denmark's real life experience can help us here in the United States to make informed, responsible decisions about offshore wind energy. Wind park developers in Denmark utilized a range of technology in their design and construction of these offshore wind parks. Data from these projects have and will continue to serve to inform NRG Bluewater Wind's expert team - many of whom are from Denmark and have worked on these existing offshore projects. Environmental studies were conducted before and after construction of the plants, and many of these studies continue during operation. This provides an important and directly relevant body of knowledge as we consider the siting of offshore wind parks in the U.S.
Danish Environmental Studies
The International Advisory Panel of Experts on Marine Ecology (IAPEME) reported the following results on the extensive monitoring performed of the Danish offshore wind farms, Horns Rev and Nysted. As part of the monitoring program the following areas were covered: fauna and vegetation, fish, marine mammals, birds, and human acceptance and attitudes. The studies performed as part of this monitoring program have shown that the Horns Rev and Nysted wind farms have very little impact on the environment, during their construction and during their operation. The following table summarizes the main findings of these studies:
| Issue | Horns Rev | Nysted |
|---|---|---|
| Fauna and vegetation | The artificial reef created by the wind turbine foundations are supporting benthic communities of hard bottom species, resulting in increased abundance of species and biomass | Monocultures of common muscles have developed at the turbine structures |
| Fish | Introduction of new artificial habitats with positive effects on fish communities after full development of artificial reef communities | |
| Marine mammals | Seals were only affected by pile driving operations. No general change in the behavior of seals at sea or on land could be linked to the construction or operation of the wind farm. | |
| The harbor porpoise population decreased slightly during construction, but increased again during operation. | The harbor porpoise population decreased significantly during construction and only slight recovery was observed after two years of operation. | |
| Birds | Birds generally show avoidance responses to the wind farm. Some species are displaced from former feeding areas. The collision risk with turbines is low Effects on overall bird populations are negligible. |
Download a more detailed summary of the extensive research done at these wind parks.
Danish and American Citizens: Common Concerns.
These studies also looked at how local residents now feel about the wind parks, after they've been built. Some key findings are:
- More than 80% of the respondents from the local areas were "positive" or "very positive" toward the wind farms.
- Almost two thirds of the responders stated that they found the wind farm effect on the landscape either "neutral" or even "positive".
An article written by Frances Beineke, the president of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) shows just how instructive the Danish experience can be for American communities considering offshore wind. Beineke headed a NRDC delegation that visited Denmark's Nysted project, one of the largest offshore parks in the world. She writes:
"...Initially, residents of this popular beach town were deeply concerned about the wind park. They didn't want it to intrude on their views or jeopardize tourism. Now, the mayor said, they look back and wonder what they were so worried about. Life goes on much as before the wind park, with summer visitors and an active harbor for recreational boating..." Read the full letter.
