On 23 May 2025, the Danish Energy Board of Appeal dismissed the complaints against the construction of the offshore wind farms Jammerland Bugt Kystnær Havmøllepark and Lillebælt Syd Vindmøllepark which European Energy and TotalEnergies own together with SONFOR.
The construction permits were issued by the Danish Energy Agency in November and December 2024 based on comprehensive environmental impact assessments of the two offshore wind farms. Subsequently, the construction permits were brought before the Danish Energy Board of Appeal and the Danish Environment and Food Board of Appeal by several environmental associations (a German NGO and two local civic associations) who claimed that parts of the environmental impact assessments and the terms listed in the construction permits were not sufficient to protect nature and wildlife, including in particular bats and birds.
Following an assessment of the case, the Danish Energy Board of Appeal and the Danish Environment and Food Board of Appeal have dismissed all complaints and, consequently, upheld the Danish Energy Agency’s construction permits, among other things, on the ground that the Danish Energy Agency has made as complete scientific assessments as possible at the time of the decisions and that the Danish Energy Agency has chosen the most appropriate measures in the terms of the construction permit based on the prudence concept. This means that the offshore wind farms may continue as planned.
The construction of the 16 offshore wind turbines in Jammerland Bugt and 11 offshore wind turbines in Lillebælt is expected to begin in 2027, and the wind turbines are expected to be ready for energy production in 2029.
The two offshore wind farms are part of the Danish open-door scheme, and together they will be able to supply more than 400MW of green power, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of up to 400,000 Danish households.
Ellen Skodborggaard and Shaneela Khan from Accura’s Team Environment & Planning have assisted European Energy and TotalEnergies in conducting the case before the Danish Energy Board of Appeal and the Danish Environment and Food Board of Appeal in relation to all energy and environmental issues raised.