Wind turbines ‘as big as the Eiffel Tower’ to be tested in Denmark

Minister for Climate and Energy Lars Christian Lilleholt told news agency Ritzau that he welcomed the development.

“Denmark is a market leader in wind power. If we want to hold on to our position as an international leader then it is important that we are able to test the latest technology,” said Lilleholt.

“These are very big wind turbines. With a height of 330 metres [1,800 feet] they are as big as the Eiffel Tower. It is this technology we will see in future at sea. This will be a shop window for Danish wind turbine technology,” the minister continued.

Last week, a trio of Danish, Dutch and German power transmission system operators announced that they planned to build an artificial island in the North Sea in order to facilitate wind power production.

The agreement to extend the test centres in Jutland received broad political support, with the governing Liberal (Venstre) Party, the Danish People’s Party and the opposition Social Democrats, Socialist People’s Party (Socialistisk Folkeparti, SF) and Social Liberal (Radikale Venstre) parties all supporting the proposal.

SF’s leader Pia Olsen Dyhr said that the agreement secured Denmark’s ability to test and develop new wind power technology while staying considerate to the environment.

“It is good for the environment and creates a lot of jobs,” Dyhr told Ritzau.

People living close to the two test centres – located near the towns of Østerild and Høvsøre in northwestern and western Jutland respectively – can apply for compensation should their properties lose value due to the development.

The test turbines are expected to be in place from 2019.