The National Test Centre for Large Wind Turbines in Østerild and the Test Centre in Høvsøre are to be expanded. It is expected that the future wind turbines in Østerild will have a tip height of 300 metres, and the industry is very keen on the new test stands.
Earlier this year, the Danish Parliament decided to expand the two wind turbine test facilities in Østerild and Høvsøre. At the same time, it was decided to allow building wind turbines of up to 330 metres tip height in Østerild and 200 metres tip height in Høvsøre.
According to Peter Hjuler Jensen, Deputy Head of Department at DTU Wind Energy, the industry is quite interested in the possibility to test new large wind turbines:
“We have had meetings as a part of the tender process, where the people and companies interested have been able to ask questions. This is the first time we have had such an attendancy. However, we do know that we need to await the final offers before we can say anything about the real interest,” he says to Berlingske.
A chance for 300 metres tall wind turbines
Peter Hjuler Jensen also says that it is not unrealistic to think that within a near future there will be at least one 300 metres tall wind turbine in Østerild:
”It is quite possible, that there will be a 300 metres tall wind turbine in Denmark within the next few years. When we speak of wind turbines of that height, one should remember, that it is the same height of the Eiffel Tower.”
"The size of wind turbines have grown continuously. Many industry experts have stated over time, that we have reached the maximum and the wind turbines are not getting bigger. However, we can see that the wind turbines keep growing and getting higher. At some point, there is a limit, but we have not seen it yet from a technical point of view. But there may be an economic limit at a time when the components are so big to handle in production, transportation and installation,” he explains.