[7] In June 2016, Dutch electrical grid operator TenneT first presented its vision for the construction of a large European electricity system in the North Sea, based on a "hub and spoke" architecture, with international submarine power cables to participating countries forming the spokes, and a centrally built artificial island connected to large offshore wind farms forming the hub.
[8][9][10] In February 2017, a study commissioned by TenneT reported that as much as 110 GW of wind energy generating capacity could ultimately be developed at Dogger Bank in the North Sea.
A power link island would enable near-shore connections and thus reduce costs at the otherwise far offshore location holding a potential for as much as 100 GW of wind energy generation.
It would be possible to distribute the generated wind energy via direct current cable connections to all countries bordering the North Sea: the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway and Belgium.
[6][19] An analysis conducted by the ministry found that an island with 10 GW of power generation capacity would be able to produce enough renewable fuel to fully supply all ships and airplanes that refuel in Denmark.
If expanded to the full 10 GW of capacity, the island is expected to reach a total area of 460,000 square metres (5,000,000 sq ft), equivalent to about 64 football pitches.
It was also decided that it should be possible for bidders to define spaces on the island that can be flexibly rented out for innovative commercial purposes such as energy storage, Power-to-X generation or data center operations.
[29] In November 2020, Danish parliamentarians agreed to initiate preparatory investigations in a wide area of consideration in the North Sea for the location of a power link island and 3 GW of connected offshore wind farms.
[32][33] In April 2021, Energinet awarded the companies Fugro and MMT assignments to conduct geophysical surveys of the seabed in the area of consideration to a depth of 100 metres below the sea floor.
[40][41] In June 2021, the company Intertek announced that it had been commissioned by Energinet to undertake constraints analysis, consenting advice, and cable route and landfall assessments for the energy island in the North Sea.
[47] In August 2022, the company Ramboll was awarded a contract by Energinet to assess external threats, risks and sufficient burial depths for the island's subsea cable.
[48][49] In September 2021, Energinet awarded the company Niras an assignment to conduct environmental studies of the area of consideration for the North Sea energy island until 2024.
[53][54] In February 2023, Energinet issued a tender call for a ten-year contract for technical consultancy services related to the procurement and commissioning of the electrical infrastructure of the island.
[60] In June 2021, the Danish Energy Agency awarded Sweco Danmark a four-year contract to provide technical advice and assistance in preparation of the tender for the island.
[67][68][69] Under this model, the fixed island could feature a harbour, equipment for transmission of electricity, and areas for operations and accommodation, while facilities for Power-to-X might be placed on adjacent platforms.
[95] In June 2023, the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities postponed the tender until later in 2023 in order to analyze more options, citing the cost of the concept as envisioned at the time.
[100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108] In February 2021, Belgian transmission system operator Elia and Energinet announced that they had signed an agreement to assess the feasibility of a hybrid interconnector between Belgium and Denmark via the North Sea island by the end of 2021.
[118][119] The ministers of the Netherlands and Denmark also signed a bilateral agreement to jointly develop a concept for either an electricity interconnector or a hydrogen pipeline between the island and a future energy hub in the Dutch North Sea and potentially connections to the United Kingdom and Norway, with a view towards realization in 2035.
[122][123][117] In April 2023, the governments of Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark agreed to develop an interconnected system of energy islands and clusters in the North Sea by the mid-2030s on the basis of work conducted by the nations' grid operators.
[136][137] In November 2020, Danish parliamentarians chose two areas in the Baltic Sea, approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) south and southwest, respectively, off the island of Bornholm, for the development of 2 GW of offshore wind farms for the project.
[40][41] In April 2021, Energinet also hired Ramboll to map possible routes and landing locations for submerged power cables between the Baltic Sea energy island and adjacent countries.
[144][46] In August 2022, the company Primo Marine was awarded a contract by Energinet to assess external threats, risks and sufficient burial depths for the island's subsea cable.
[102][103][104] In January 2021, German transmission system operator 50Hertz and Energinet announced that they had signed an agreement to assess the feasibility of a hybrid interconnector between Germany and Denmark via the Baltic Sea island by the end of 2021.