More than 30 local councils say they welcome the construction of new land-based wind turbines

Thirty-four councils have laid the plans for doubling the amount of wind energy produced by land-based turbines.

The current capacity of land turbines nationwide is about 2750 megawatts of energy. The councils say they have the space for another 2730 megawatts to be produced, the equivalent of 1400 wind turbines producing power at 2 megawatts each.

Danish Wind Industry Association managing director Jan Hylleberg said only 75 percent of the land could be used – equalling roughly 2050 megawatts of wind energy – but added the plan was a big step in the right direction.

‘Our surveys show there’s a huge desire in the councils to construct more windmills and that the councils themselves are willing to take responsibility for the planning,’ Hylleberg told science weekly Ingeniøren.

Hylleberg pointed out, however, that the energy gained from any new wind turbines would almost be offset by the planned removal of older and malfunctioning ones by 2020.

In addition to the 34 councils’ efforts, another 33 are presently conducting the same process of determining how much area they can allot to wind power. That could result in an additional 2000 megawatts or more of wind power.

According to the Danish Wind Industry Association, 31 councils indicated they did not wish to have any new wind turbines built in their area.