NATIONAL STRATEGY
Denmark’s “National Ocean Energy Policy” is not a standalone framework but a combination of strategies, funding programs, and integration into national climate goals. The country supports wave energy R&D through EUDP, guided by the Wave Power Strategy (2013) and Roadmap (2015), while waiting for the technology to reach commercial maturity. Offshore wind dominates current marine energy planning, but wave energy has the potential to contribute to a fossil-free Denmark.
Denmark uses Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) mainly for activities offshore. Wave Energy Converters are not yet specified in the offshore and nearshore planning, but will fall under the zones specific for renewable energy in the “Havplan”.
MARKET INCENTIVES
Currently, there are no dedicated feed-in tariffs or subsidies for wave energy. The hope is to replicate the success of Danish wind power: combining project funding with revenue support once demonstration projects prove viability.
PUBLIC FUNDING PROGRAMMES
Funding via EUDP (Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme): established in 2007, it provides grants for pre-commercial projects in renewable energy, including ocean energy. Typical projects have a duration of 3–4 years, with 3–5 partners, and a budget in the region of DKK 2–15 million, with a 40–60% cost share. EUDP has supported nearly 600 projects, raising technologies from lab validation (TRL 4) to near-commercial readiness (TRL 7).
MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING POLICY
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is used as a decision tool for offshore wind. Specific ocean energy space is not reserved.
The Danish Parliament and the various Governments of Denmark have in their Energy Agreements focus on offshore and nearshore spatial planning in the long-term goal for Danish energy policy. The latest Energy Agreement (Energy Bill) for the period 2012-2020 has specific focus on offshore wind turbine sea-spaces (Kriegers Fak and Horns Rev) as well as 6 dedicated offshore coastal areas.
Pre-selected areas for ocean energy have not been defined. However, historic test sites are recognized as potential areas by authorities.
AUTHORITIES INVOLVED
Spatial planning is coordinated with other interests, at the sea territory. In Denmark the following core public authorities administer the maritime spatial planning:
• The Danish Coastal Authority (an agency under the Danish Ministry of the Environment) – responsible for the use of the coast (together with local Municipalities) and the seabed (e.g. power cables) in Danish territorial waters, including coastal protection and erosion abatement;
• The Danish Maritime Authority (a government agency under the Ministry of Business and Growth) – responsible for maritime safety and the use of the sea territory;
• The Danish Energy Agency (an agency under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building) – the conditions for offshore farms are laid down in the Promotion of Renewable Energy Act. It provides in its chapter 3 that the right to exploit energy from water and wind within the territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone (up to 200 nautical miles) around Denmark belongs to the Danish State;
• The Danish Environmental Agency (an agency under the Danish Ministry of Environment) – responsible for the EIA together with the Danish Energy Agency;
• The Ministry of Defense – responsible for the monitoring of maritime traffic and marine environment, rescue services and handling of pollution at sea.
CONSENTING PROCESS
Three licenses are required:
• License to carry out preliminary investigations – consent in 1-2 months. Investigations cover MetOcean, Seabed Bathymetry, EIA, Maritime Safety, decommissioning plans and public hearing and can take from few months to several years depending on the complexity on the area (e.g. EU Nature 2000 area, fishing and breeding bounds, coastal conditions, landscape and seaview conditions and values, etc.);
• License to establish the offshore site (only given if preliminary investigations show that the project is compatible with the relevant interests at sea);
• License to exploit ocean power for a given number of years and an approval for electricity production (given if conditions in license to establish the project are kept).
The consenting process last from few months for a single device at unproblematic sites to several years.
The Danish Energy Agency is the “one stop shop” facility for the ocean energy consenting process.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The assessment is based on an analysis on the following topics: technical solutions, maritime and environmental safety precautions, organizations planning process and consent to environmental risks, and involvement of and consent by relevant other interests at sea.
The Danish Energy Agency and the Danish Environmental Agency are both the entities responsible for the decision on whether an EIA is required. Monitoring of e.g. offshore wind turbine parks are made by the owners. Decommissioning plans must be presented at application and performed at the end of e.g. periodic ocean technologies test programs.
LEGISLATION AND REGULATION
The legislation falls under the renewable energy act:
• “Promotion of Renewable Energy Act”
• “Energy Agreement (Energy Bill) for the period 2012-2020”
CONSULTATION
Consultation is done at the stage of the preliminary investigations.
Local Municipality has to be consulted and public hearing meeting published and held. For the less visible ocean technologies and sites outside the public reach (surfing, diving, bathing, leisure sailing, landscape and seascapes values) the process can be simple and short. For visible technologies the process can take longer.
Informal consultation activities can be implemented during the licensing process by direct contact with the authorities.
GUIDANCE AND ADVICE
There is guidance available to help developers during the process through the energy authority and e.g. DanWEC.
TEST CENTERS
Wave energy converters to be tested at DanWEC or at other locations in Danish waters will typically receive a temporary permit for deployment over the testing period - one or two years. Such permit can be obtained by filling an application to the Danish Energy Agency that will process the application.
