Middelgrunden 40MW offshore wind farm Denmark – lessons learned

ABSTRACT: The paper describes the model for public involvement, based on experience from offshore projects in Den-mark and factors affecting the method of installation, the skills and resources required and the experience in shallow waters with strict requirements for environmental consideration when establishing an offshore wind farm. The paper is based on the experience gained during the establishment of the offshore wind farm Middelgrunden, 40 MW established 3.5 km outside Copenhagen harbour on shallow water (3-8 meters deep) in the autumn of 2000. It is concluded that although active public involvement is a time and resource requiring challenge, it is to be recommended as it may lead to mitigation of general protests, blocking or delaying projects, and increase future confidence, acceptance and support in relation to the coming offshore wind farms in Europe. The experiences from the planning of the project is summarized, and the perspec-tives for the future development of offshore wind power in Europe are drawn