Denmark's first zero-subsidy wind farm

In most developing countries, apart from China, renewables aren't subsidised (though fossil fuels often are).  China even has a nascent carbon price via a cap-and-trade scheme.  But in developing countries, which initiated the green revolution, there are still some subsidies as well as carbon prices set by cap-and-trade regulations or carbon taxes.  The sustained fall in the cost of renewables has meant that in developing countries they are now making up most of new capacity and in developed countries they can now be deployed without subsidy.  The first modern wind turbine built was in Denmark, and it's still operating today.  (There was one built in the USA in 1888, though)  Now it's time for unsubsidised wind:

Gusty wind conditions and the first Danish deployment of Vestas' largest wind turbine model will enable Hirtshals Havn to churn out electricity on pure market conditions, only backed by a three-year PPA.

Installation of Denmark’s first zero-subsidy wind farm has begun, writes EnergyWatch.eu. Domestic developer Hirtshals Havnefond has planned a project in partnership with Vestas featuring four wind turbines of the model V136-4.2 at the country’s northern port of Hirtshals. The machines will start spinning on pure market conditions starting from the fourth quarter of this year. The project’s only security is a three-year power purchase agreement (PPA) entered with energy trader EnergiDanmark.

“It has a unique placement and novel wind turbines,” said Hirtshals Havnefond Chair Jens Peter Lunden, explaining how the project will be viable devoid of subsidy.

With an average wind speed of 8.2 meters per second, Hirtshals Havn could hardly be better suited for wind energy generation. The V136-4.4, with its 66.7 meter blades, can harvest more wind power the any wind turbine model thus far installed in the country. The 4.2 MW machine can also, Vestas claims, generate roughly 17 GWh annually at such wind speeds – approximately double last year’s average output from an onshore wind turbine installed in the country.

Wind Denmark acknowledges that the project site was the decisive factor in planning Denmark’s first zero-subsidy wind farm. For, even though last year’s technology-neutral tender ended with a remarkable average price of EUR 0.0031 per kWh – achieving veritable zero-subsidy status is entirely special, the interest group says.

“We have reached a point where the combination of fantastic wind conditions and the latest technology make it a given that onshore wind turbines can be installed without subsidy. This is a milestone we have been working towards for many years,” said Wind Denmark Chief Executive Jan Hylleberg, who, however, does not for that reason advocate canceling future tenders with attached subsidies.

“In part, it is about promoting technology-neutral competition, and there will probably still be projects requiring some support, as last year’s tender demonstrated. Fantastic wind conditions are not found everywhere, and there will also be sites that don’t allow the for the latest technology.”

The nascent turbine technology planned for Hirtshals only relates to the tops of the towers. Nacelles will be placed atop 82-meter towers, which is roughly half the height of Vestas’ forthcoming platform. This design feature is due to Denmark’s height restriction regulations, which stipulate that tip blade height must not exceed 150 meters. If that requirement was slackened, a larger portion of Danish wind power could be subsidy free.

“There is no doubt that if it were possible to install turbines taller than 150 meters, we would have a situation that could accommodate more wind turbines completed free of subsidy,” Hylleberg said.

Hirtshals is not the only zero-subsidy green power project planned in the country. In February, Danish developer Better Energy announced a 125 MW solar farm, only secured with a PPA with Danish fashion company Bestseller.

[Read more here]

And to allow community participation, shares in the new venture will be offered to everybody who lives within a 4.5 km radius.   That's one way to prevent fake claims that wind turbines cause cancer.

Source: Port of Hirtshals