Denmark and Germany agree to landmark energy project that can supply up to 4.5 million European homes with green electricity

Denmark and Germany have agreed to complete the planned Bornholm Energy Island, after Minister Habeck and Jørgensen gave the go-ahead to connect it to their respective countries. When established in 2030, the Energy Island will be the first of its kind and can supply 3.3 - 4.5 million Danish and German households with green electricity.

By State of Green | [email protected]

29 August 2022

In a time where the consequences of climate change are evident and our energy security is threatened, European cooperation on the green transition is more important than ever before. In this spirit, Denmark and Germany have agreed to double down on integrating their electricity grids. In turn, this has also allowed Denmark to expand the planned capacity of the energy island from 2 to 3 GW.

The Bornholm Energy Island will be connected to Germany by an underwater cable and will significantly increase the trade of electricity between the two nations. Furthermore, it sends a strong signal ahead of The Baltic Energy Security Summit that will be held on Bornholm on August 30: that by working together, two countries can accelerate the green transition and bolster energy independence.

“The agreement reinforces the already close Danish-German energy cooperation and literarily strengthens our bonds by adding another electricity connection between our countries. The Energy Island is truly a landmark in energy history and comes at a time where international cooperation is more urgent than ever before,” says Dan Jørgensen, Minister for Climate, Energy, and Utilities of Denmark.

Bornholm, the Baltic Sea’s green bunker hub

in 2021, the likes of Ørsted, Molslinjen, Haldor Topsoe, Bunker Holding Group, Wärtsilä, Rambøll, Bureau Veritas and Port of Roenne formed Bornholm Bunker Hub to explore how local Power-to-X initiatives can support the demand for sustainable fuel from the more than 60,000 ships that pass the Danish island of Bornholm yearly.

Towards European energy security and climate neutrality

Denmark and Germany have led buildout offshore wind power in the Baltic Sea Region over the last 30 years. Today, Denmark and Germany have respective offshore wind energy capacities of 1.5 GW and 1 GW, which is more than 90 percent of the combined capacity for the entire region. However, more international cooperation is crucial in order to reduce further greenhouse gas emissions and to make of Europe independent from Russian gas and oil.

“The cross-border energy cooperation project with Denmark is a flagship project. The green power from “Bornholm Energy Island” will supplement national power generation and reduce our dependence on fossil energy imports. With such projects among European partners we achieve two key goals at the same time: European energy security and climate neutrality,” says Robert Habeck, Germany’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in Germany.

The Energy Island of Bornholm will be a joint project between Denmark and Germany, where the countries will seek a fair and balanced distribution of cost and benefits and work together on possible future connections to the energy island.

Key facts

Energy Island Bornholm is a joint project between Denmark and Germany and the countries will seek a fair and balanced distribution of cost and benefits.
As of 2021, Denmark and Germany have installed an aggregated offshore wind capacity 11 GW
In the Baltic Sea, Denmark currently has a capacity of 1.5 GW, while Germany has 1 GW.
The 3 GW offshore wind capacity of the energy island will provide enough power to supply the electricity needed by 3.3 million Danish or 4.5 million German households.
It is expected that the tender framework for the offshore wind build-out related to Energy Island Bornholm will be completed by the end of 2022.
The green electricity generated by the Energy Island is estimated to reduce CO₂-emissions in Germany by 3.5 million tons yearly from the establishment in 2030.
The cable connecting Denmark and Germany will have a length of approximately 470 km and will include a new substation on Bornholm connecting the two halves of the interconnector.