- Denmark is a pioneer in terms of wind power. We invented offshore wind power, which is now being established worldwide. In addition to producing CO2-free energy, wind power has also evolved to be one of the cheapest ways to generate electricity - thanks to continuous technological development. In Denmark, we must utilise our leading position within wind power. This requires us to be at the forefront of the development of new, larger and more efficient turbines. Here Lindø Offshore Renewables Center (Lorc), in collaboration with the wind industry, can play a crucial role, said Anders Eldrup, Chairman of the Board of Lorc in a press release from the Danish Green Investment Fund.

A state-of-the-art nacelle test centre

Lorc's new test centre surpasses all other test facilities available in terms of technical capacity.

Measured on almost all parameters, Lorc's new test centre will become more than twice as powerful as its existing test facilities and more powerful than any other similar test centres in the United States, Germany or the United Kingdom.

-Related solution: The Danish National Wind Tunnel at DTU Risø Campus

Lorc already has two test facilities, and with this new centre, Lorc places itself as a world leader in nacelle testing and expects to attract the leading offshore wind turbine producers from Europe, the United States and Asia.

The new test centre will have the capacity to test wind turbines with turbine power of up to 16-22 MW. Today, 10 MW is the largest wind turbine on the market, and the first 12 MW wind turbine is expected to hit the market in 2021.

Ready for commercial use in January 2022

Accordingly, the new test centre reaches the segment for the largest offshore wind turbines expected to be introduced to the market in a 2022-2028 perspective.

-Related solution: Test your renewable energy technology in Denmark

In the autumn of 2021, the technical installations will be commissioned and the test centre is expected to be ready for commercial use in January 2022, where MHI Vestas will be the first company to test the new centre.

- The test centre at Lindø is in a class of its own and opens up the opportunity for completely new standards in offshore wind. The new test centre ensures that our most innovative work can be tested here in Denmark - the hotspot for offshore wind. The project confirms our dedication to Denmark's leadership in offshore wind and the development of highly-skilled, green energy jobs across the country, said Torben Hvid Larsen, CTO of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind.

About Lindø Offshore Renewables Center (Lorc):

• Lindø Offshore Renewables Center is a non-profit commercial foundation established in 2009 by some of the major players in the offshore renewable energy sector.
• The objective is to promote innovation in the offshore renewable energy sector contributing to the lowering of the Levelized Cost Of Energy (LCOE) and make renewable energy viable offshore.
• Lindø Offshore Renewable Center focus on test and validation at our state-of-the-art facilities at Lindø Industrial Park in Denmark.
• Activities span from manufacturing technologies and testing of structures and components to the full-scale testing of wind turbine generators (WTG).

Source: Energy supply (in Danish)