Easy access to high-quality test and demonstration facilities is crucial for keeping the wind industry competitive and innovative while promoting knowledge-sharing. For many years, Denmark has been a hub for test and demonstration projects supporting the entire value chain of the global wind industry. Extensive collaboration between the industry, public authorities and academic community in Denmark has played a crucial role in driving this continued development progress.

A glimpse of the future

On the windy west coast of Jutland lies one of the world’s largest full-scale wind turbine test facilities, Test Centre Østerild. Operated by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the centre hosts test stands for leading manufacturers such as Vestas, Siemens Gamesa and GE Renewable Energy. Østerild’s optimal wind conditions, combined with Denmark’s strong testing and production ecosystem, help manufacturers refine turbine technology and bring new models to market faster. Over the years, the centre has expanded its number of test stands and increased the maximum turbine height in the test areas to accommodate the increasing size of new turbines.

Since its establishment in 2012, the test centre has become a source of local pride in Thisted Municipality, attracting more than 30,000 visitors annually. 365 days a year, the site allows visitors to walk, cycle or drive among the nine test stands to catch a glimpse of the wind turbine technology that will shape the next five to ten years.

Testing every component

Before final testing at Østerild, each turbine component undergoes rigorous testing to identify and eliminate potential design or manufacturing flaws early in the process. This significantly reduces costs for the manufacturers compared to correcting issues after turbines have been mass-produced and installed worldwide.

Denmark is uniquely positioned as home to several state of-the-art test facilities, offering top-tier quality and capacity while specialising in different components. As is typical of the Danish wind industry, many of these facilities have been developed through partnerships between private companies, research institutions and public authorities.

One example is the Lindø Offshore Renewables Center (LORC), which specialises in testing nacelles and drivetrain components such as gearboxes. Another leading facility is the Danish Blade Test Centre, Blaest. Collaboration agreements with both Vestas and Siemens Gamesa have contributed to the centre’s growth, enabling it to house two test halls and eight test rigs capable of testing blades up to 120 meters in length.

DTU’s Risø Campus has been a hub for wind turbine research since the 1970s. Today, the campus hosts one of the world’s top research institutions, DTU’s Department of Wind and Energy Systems, as well as several cutting-edge facilities, including one of the largest university-owned wind tunnels globally.