Hub height 35 Units operational 11 x 450 kW Owner DONG Energy Status Being decommissioned | Distance from shore 2 km (1 mi) Rotor diameter 35 Make and model Bonus Nameplate capacity 4.95 Commission date 1991 Max. water depth 4 m (13 ft) | |
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Similar Middelgrunden, Nysted Wind Farm, Anholt Offshore Wind Farm, Gunfleet Sands Offshore, Horns Rev | ||
History
Elkraft began considering offshore turbines in 1987, and surveyed the waters around Lolland in 1989.
The wind farm started in 1991 and cost an estimated 10 million €, built by SEAS and Elkraft. The electricity industry at the time generally considered offshore turbines to be ludicrous, as they were placed in salty conditions and were much smaller than central power plants. The sceptic attitude had changed 6 years later, as offshore winds drove production higher than on land. As of 2015, global offshore wind power capacity is 11 GW, and there are plans for much more.
A single wind turbine had been erected in Swedish waters earlier, but Vindeby was the first collection of turbines, making it the first offshore wind farm. Four years later, the similar sized Tunø Knob wind farm was made. Tests were done to learn what to do and what not to do. Experience from Vindeby contributed to the development of cheaper ways to extract power from offshore winds.
The original government concession is for 25 years; from 1991 to 2016. In 2016, DONG Energy considered shutting down the wind farm, as it is well past its design life and had become uneconomical. Vindeby was the first in a long line of wind farms in a downwards cost trend.
As of March 2017 the wind farm is under decommissioning after having produced a total of 243 GWh.
Technology
The developers contracted Bonus Energy to supply 11 wind turbines (450 kW each) for the project, placed in shallow waters. The annual power is equivalent to 2-3,000 Danish households. The turbines were modified for offshore use by sealing the towers and controlling the humidity inside with air conditioning, extending the life of the machinery.
The area was also used for a wave plant in 2010.
Construction
The 11 turbines were erected in 11 days.
Operation
As of 2015, the farm has produced 242 GWh.