Boskalis and DEME part of bid to develop world’s first energy island project
Photo credit CIP
Dredging firms Boskalis and DEME along with ACCIONA and MT Højgaard International – jointly known as the NJORD Group – have signed an agreement with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) to develop the energy island in the Danish North Sea. The project is said to be a landmark for renewable energy and the transition to a lower carbon future. If successful, it will lay the blueprint for further offshore renewable energy projects, which have been identified as a burgeoning market for dredging and infrastructure providers.
The energy island will be located in the North Sea, approximately 80-100 kilometres off the Danish west coast, where conditions for green energy production based on offshore wind are optimal. . The project is designed to connect 10 GW of offshore wind to Denmark and other neighbouring markets, host an innovation zone with potential for large-scale energy storage and Power-to-X technologies, and provide accommodation and operation and maintenance services from onsite harbour facilities.
The Danish Energy Agency is currently in dialogue with potential bidders for the energy island tender, which is expected to be launched by Q3 2022. CIP intends to bid in the upcoming tender. CIP acts as project developer on behalf of an investor consortium composed of PensionDanmark and PFA, two of Denmark’s largest pension funds, and Denmark’s largest utility company, Andel (collectively known as the “VindØ consortium”).
“We are proud to join CIP and the VindØ consortium, which gathers a core group of global leaders in maritime engineering solutions for offshore renewable energy production, storage and transmission. DEME Group has been pioneering the concept of energy islands off the coast, and is currently involved in designing, planning and executing similar projects in different parts of the world. We understand the complexity of renewable energy generation and storage on an artificial, multifunctional island at sea, and can rely on a track record of on-time delivery in the harshest marine weather conditions. We are looking forward to making a significant contribution to help advance solving Denmark’s energy transition challenge” says Luc Vandenbulcke, CEO of DEME Group.
Peter Berdowski, CEO Royal Boskalis Westminster: “We are excited with the formation of this partnership together with CIP as a leading global developer in the field of renewables. With our unique track record of creating new and climate resilient land development projects, together with our broad range of capabilities in the area of renewables, Boskalis is a logical contractor for the development of this innovative energy island in the Danish section of the North Sea. We look forward to taking the development of renewables further offshore to create a sustainable new horizon for millions of European households.”
The NJORD Group will be advised by engineering consultancy NIRAS.
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