Europe is trying to move into the future by building two artificial “energy islands” in the North and Baltic Seas. Now Europe plans to effectively penetrate this sector by converting offshore wind farms into electricity generation capacity and feeding them into the grids of many countries. In this way, they will become intermediaries for the future interconnected renewable energy systems.
Artificial islands will serve as connection and switching points between offshore wind farms and the onshore electricity market. These locations are designed to capture and distribute vast amounts of wind energy. Among these cases, the Bornholm Energy Island and Princess Elisabeth Island are outstanding examples of new approaches to the implementation of renewable energy systems.
The energy island of Bornholm off the coast of Denmark will supply up to 3 GW of electricity to Germany and Denmark, and is also eyeing other countries. The Princess Elisabeth Island, located 45 kilometers off the coast of Belgium, will thus collect energy from future offshore wind farms and serve as an undisputed hub for energy exchange between the countries.
The Bornholm Energy Island project, developed by Energinet and 50Hertz, will be a valuable and even vital energy asset for the continent. This special island will be able to provide Denmark and Germany with the electricity they need. In order to assess the impact of the project, they have also started important work, such as purchasing high-voltage direct current cables and preparing the onshore infrastructure.
Construction of the railway is planned to begin in 2025, subject to environmental approval and archaeological excavations. Once operational, the Bornholm Energy Island will help minimise companies’ dependence on fossil energy and further promote energy cooperation between the countries to create an efficient and environmentally friendly energy system.
Princess Elisabeth Island is one of the winning projects and is considered the world’s first artificial energy island. A multi-purpose offshore substation located off the coast of Belgium, it connects high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) and is designed to collect and convert the output energy from renewable sources. It will also help integrate offshore wind farms with the Belgian onshore grid.
Construction of the island has already begun, and it will take around 2.5 years to prepare for laying the solid foundations. The island will feature variable-depth hybrid interconnections, such as Nautilus, which connects the UK, and TritonLink, which will connect to Denmark once operational. These interconnections will enable Europe to not only trade electricity, but also energy with optimum efficiency and reliability. The wind farm’s cables are laid in a bundle at sea and connected to the Elia onshore grid on Princess Elizabeth Island: here, Europe is showing how to tackle the climate challenge.
Although energy islands are associated only with Europe, they represent a global shift in focus on sustainable energy. Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) plans to develop about 10 energy island projects in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Southeast Asia. The islands feature proven technical solutions and a new scale of offshore wind power, making offshore wind power more accessible and affordable.
The European Union is a technological concept, and these artificial energy islands are the basis for an energy transition that ensures sustainable development and a connected world. The use of offshore wind energy in the tropics and the potential for cross-border energy flows are a big step towards providing the world with climate solutions. Bornholm and Princess Elisabeth laid the foundation, so new plans were made around the world.
The completion of these islands will effectively revolutionize the way humans create, distribute and consume energy, with the goal of creating a sustainable world for future generations.
Post time: Dec-30-2024