Denmark’s Samso offshore wind farm has received approval from the Danish Energy Agency to continue operating for an additional 10 years, extending its electricity production licence until 2037. The wind farm, which began operations in 2002, becomes the first aging offshore facility in the country to be granted an operational extension.
The decision marks a precedent for Denmark, where older wind farms had previously been scheduled for decommissioning at the end of their original licence periods. The approval was based on a lifetime assessment conducted by the plant’s operator, Wind Estate, and is contingent on continued compliance with annual extended service inspections.
“With this decision, Samso Offshore Wind Farm can continue to produce green power rather than being dismantled and decommissioned,” said Stig Uffe Pedersen, Deputy Director General of the Danish Energy Agency. “This is gratifying for the green transition and sustainable from a resource point of view, as long as the plant can continue its operation in a responsible manner.”
The Samso facility consists of 10 wind turbines with a combined capacity of 23 megawatts, enough to supply electricity to between 20,000 and 25,000 households.
The extension also comes as the Danish Energy Agency moves to implement provisions under the EU’s emergency regulation, which allows for a streamlined permit process. According to Article 6 of the regulation, certain environmental assessments—such as species protection evaluations—can be bypassed if mitigation measures are in place and based on existing data.
The Samso permit includes specific requirements for wildlife protection, including seasonal restrictions on turbine operations. From April 1 to October 31, the turbines must either stop or rotate at low speed after sunset when wind speeds fall below 6 meters per second, in order to minimize potential impacts on bat populations.
The agency is currently reviewing similar licence extension applications for the Middelgrunden, Ronland, Nysted, and Horns Rev 1 offshore wind farms.
“This is the first time that the Danish Energy Agency has decided whether an existing offshore wind farm can have its electricity production licence extended,” Pedersen added. “It provides perspectives for similar offshore wind projects in Denmark.
