Every time a wind turbine’s blades complete a full circle, it generates sufficient green electricity to charge 1,317 iPhones. For football fans, it may be more interesting to note that a full rotation of a wind turbine would allow them to watch 45 football matches in a row on their television, even those that go into extra time.

In short, we’re talking about massive forces that the opening of the offshore wind farm Horns Rev 3 will set in motion. From now on, 49 enormous offshore wind turbines will rotate nonstop out in the North Sea wind farm, which is located west of Denmark’s largest port, Esbjerg harbour.

“I am fascinated by the fact that nature’s own forces can secure a clean future for us. Horns Rev 3 will assist us in being able to cease using fossil fuels and fulfil the government’s objective of reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 70 per cent in 2030,” said  Dan Jørgensen, Denmark’s Climate, Energy and Utilities Minister.

-Related news: Offshore wind farm - Horns Rev 3

New wind adventures on the horizon

The decision to construct Horns Rev 3 in the North Sea was adopted in 2012, where it was also decided to construct the Krigers Flak offshore farm in the Baltic Sea. Currently, plans are underway to construct three more offshore wind farms by 2030.

“Every time a new offshore wind farm is connected to the grid, we take a step towards a truly green Denmark. We also demonstrate concretely what we mean about taking a global leadership role. We will extend this leaderships,” says Dan Jørgensen.

From 2024 and onwards, service and maintenance of Horns Rev 3 will take place from seaside town Hvide Sande, creating 25 – 30 fulltime jobs.

The wind energy sector in Denmark plays an important role in the country’s economy, helping secure growth, exports and local employment. In 2017, Denmark exported green goods and services to the tune of EUR 11.4 billion.

“The green wave is taking place in earnest in the USA and Asia. These are markets with new and attractive possibilities for green Danish exports, which can secure green jobs and growth in the Danish economy, while we also contribute to the fulfilment of a climate neutral world”, says Dan Jørgensen.

-Related solution: World's largest offshore wind farm

Horns Rev 3: background information 

Location: 25-40 kilometres from the west coast of Denmark

Price: EUR 0.10 per kWh I 20 TWh (10 – 12 years)

Number of wind turbines: 49

Total production capacity: 406.7 MW

Total height (inclusive of the turbine’s blades): 187 m

Combined weight per turbine: approximately 1,500 tonnes

Sources: The Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, Vattenfall

Photo: Vattenfall