Download the case study as presented in English

Download a synopsis of the case study in Danish

Co-operative approach generates local support for off-shore wind farms

Synopsis

This project proved a new concept for the construction of wind turbines, where energy utilities and a co-operative – an NGO – form a partnership. The utilities constructed the turbine in collaboration with the NGO. Immediately after the construction all shares were sold – passing ownership of the turbine to the co-operative. During 2009, two 155-m high 3.6 MW turbines able to produce 11.9 GWh a year were set up in shallow water close to the city of Hvidovre. One turbine is owned by the utilities, the other by the co-operative. Their oversized blades – 120 m in diameter rather than the standard 107 m – mean they can be seen from most parts of the county. Public acceptance from the 50 000 inhabitants was essential to obtain consent for construction; it was obtained in early February 2009. From the start, the concept was that shares should be sold to private shareholders with local residents having priority during the first month.

Map - the cooperative owns the turbine in the middle

Results

The communications strategy was clear: the co-operative managed the information campaign aimed at the local population with the energy utilities supplying technical data. Few protests were registered and, a year later, the general opinion is very positive. Even those who were initially opposed to the project have subsequently bought their own shares. Having individuals involved as investors has also been a success as 10 700 shares were acquired by 2 268 individuals and organisations of which 437 were mostly private people from Hvidovre. The climate-friendly attitude of the inhabitants in Hvidovre was crucial for acceptance of the project. Other co-operatives had already constructed offshore wind farms but new initiatives will copy the model to build near-shore wind farms with private individuals as investors organised in co-operatives.

The turbine of Hvidovre Wind Turbine Cooperative at Avedøre Holme together with Dong Energy's turbine and the powerplant in the background. Photograph: Leif Holmark

Replicability

This successful model for co-operative ownership can be replicated around Europe. Local ownership has the advantage that initial planning starts even before the official planning process and acts as a bottom-up approach involving ordinary people as well as professional planners at an early stage where changes can be introduced without problems. All stakeholders get involved early-on and problems such as visual impact are solved while concerns about noise and shadows can be minimised. However, the ownership structure has to be adapted to national rules as well as local taxation rules for profit. Simple rules for power purchase agreements are also required.

• Project website (in Danish, with a document in English)

The turbine in wintertime. Photograph: Ole Mikkelsen