Denmark’s Artificial Energy Island Project

Denmark’s Artificial Energy Island Project

Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III – Environment

In news 

• The Danish government approved a plan to build an artificial island in the North Sea as part of its effort to switch to green energy.

Key takeaways 

• The project is being called the largest construction project to be undertaken in Denmark’s history with an estimated cost of DKK 210 billion.
• An energy island is based on a platform that serves as a hub for electricity generation from surrounding offshore wind farms.
• The artificial island will be located about 80 km into the North Sea and the majority of it will be owned by the Danish government. 
• Its primary purpose is to provide large-scale offshore wind power.
• The idea is to connect and distribute power between Denmark and neighbouring countries.
• The move has come after the EU announced its plans to transform its electricity system to rely mostly on renewables within a decade and to increase its offshore wind energy capacity by over 25-fold by the year 2050.