Denmark Extends Life of Two Longstanding Offshore Wind Farms

The Danish Energy Agency (DEA) has approved the extension of electricity production permits for two of Denmark’s oldest offshore wind farms, granting them significantly longer operational lifespans.

The Middelgrunden and Nysted offshore wind farms have received clearance to continue generating power for an additional 25 and 10 years, respectively. Combined, the two facilities have been supplying clean energy for nearly five decades.

Middelgrunden was first authorized for electricity generation in 2000, with Nysted following in 2003. Before extending the permits, the DEA required both an in-depth technical analysis of the wind farms’ remaining operational life and a comprehensive service inspection.

Nysted is jointly owned by Ørsted, PensionDanmark, and Stadtwerke Lübeck. It features 70 turbines with a total capacity of 161 megawatts — enough to meet the energy needs of over 130,000 households.

Middelgrunden, meanwhile, is operated by HOFOR and the Middelgrunden Wind Turbine Cooperative. Its 20 turbines generate electricity for about 20,000 homes annually.

This extension follows a similar move earlier in the month, when the DEA approved an additional 10 years of operation for the Samsø offshore wind farm, which originally began producing power in 2002. Its production permit will now last until 2037.

Applications for extended production permits are also under review for the Rønland and Horns Rev 1 offshore wind farms.

Denmark holds a leading position in offshore wind innovation. Its Vindeby wind farm, built in 1991, was the world’s first offshore project, though it was retired in 2016. The country also boasts the oldest operating commercial offshore wind farm, Tunø Knob, which began operation in 1995 and celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025.