In this connection, DTU hereby invites relevant businesses to express their interest in owning or renting one or more of the potential new/adapted test sites at Test Centre Østerild.
Background and time schedule
On 1 February 2024, a wide circle of Danish Parliament parties reached a political agreement (available in Danish only) to initiate an environmental and habitat impact assessment for an expansion of the Test Centre Østerild. The assessment includes the establishment of three new turbine sites with a maximum height of 450 metres and the adaptation of two existing sites for wind turbines of the same height. For more information about the project, see the Danish Agency for Planning and Rural Development call for ideas and proposals for the environmental and habitat impact assessment (available in Danish only). The environmental and habitat impact assessment is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
It follows from the agreement that, in parallel with the environmental and habitat impact assessment, a market survey will be carried out to decide whether and to what extent the new sites should be offered to relevant operators as long-term rental or sale.
According to the agreement, once the results of the environmental and habitat impact assessment and the market survey are available and presented to the parties to the agreement, a final decision can be made on the possible establishment of test sites and the final conditions in this regard. At the same time, the parties to the agreement must decide whether and to what extent test sites can be offered to wind turbine manufacturers as long-term rental or sale.
If it is decided to adapt and expand Test Centre Østerild, a Construction Act bill is expected to be presented to the Danish Parliament in early 2027. DTU expects to be able to initiate a call for tenders for potential new/adapted test sites in early 2027, see the section below on "Subsequent call for tenders for rental/purchase of the test sites".
Purpose of the expression of interest
The purpose of this call for expression of interest is to get an indication from the market on whether the market is interested in entering into contracts for purchase or rental of potential new test sites for wind turbines up to 450 metres tall at Test Centre Østerild. The purpose of the market survey is thus to identify interest in entering into long-term rental agreements or actual purchase contracts. In this connection, DTU also requests feedback on any other requests for the test sites. This applies in particular to the rental period and other rental terms, as well as to the process for the call for tenders for the test sites and planning of the expansion.
The potential expansion and adaptation of Test Centre Østerild is expected to establish three new test sites and adapt two existing test sites, so that a total of five test sites will allow the installation of wind turbines up to 450 metres tall. The remaining seven test sites at Test Centre Østerild will not be changed in terms of the maximum height of the wind turbines that may be installed at the test centre and are not included in this call for expression of interest.
Financial conditions and other terms
The construction costs for the potential new and adapted test sites are expected to be in the range of DKK 150-200 million per test site. If it is decided to sell the test sites to manufacturers, the price of the test sites must cover this amount. In addition, businesses purchasing test sites are expected to be obliged to return the test sites to the Danish State after 30 years in the same condition as when they were acquired. This corresponds to the terms and conditions for the existing test sites at Test Centre Østerild that are currently owned by manufacturers.
When renting test sites, the annual minimum rent is expected to be determined on the basis of the principle that the investments in the test sites can be depreciated over a period of at least approximately 10 years. The rental period is expected to be at least 8-15 years, and preferably longer if there is market interest.
Test Centre Østerild's geographical location with good wind conditions and good test facilities enables the wind turbine industry, in cooperation with DTU and other research institutions, to conduct efficient research, development and testing of wind turbines and wind turbine technology. There will be requirements for wind turbine manufacturers in relation to scope and annual reporting of research and development activities and the extent of cooperation with universities.
There are noise limits for wind turbines erected at Test Centre Østerild, and as a starting point, the noise emission limits for the individual wind turbines at the new sites are 120 dB(A) at 6 m/s and 122 dB(A) at 8 m/s as defined in the Danish Statutory Order on Noise from Wind Turbines (Statutory Order no. 995 of 26 August 2024).
In connection with the installation of the wind turbines, a building permit must be obtained, and the electrolysis plants must obtain environmental and safety approval. The wind turbine manufacturer is responsible for providing the necessary documentation in order to obtain the required approvals. In this context, there will be restrictions on emissions.
Questions to be answered in the expression of interest
Interested businesses are encouraged to briefly express their interest in owning or renting one or more of the potential new/adapted test sites at Test Centre Østerild.
DTU requests the following information:
- The overall purpose of owning or renting test sites and any preference in terms of either owning or renting one or more of the new sites.
- Information about the ownership structure of the interested business.
- Desire to own new/adapted test sites.
- The number of test sites the business is interested in purchasing and the probability (high/medium/low) of doing so.
- Desire to rent new/adapted test sites.
- Number and desired rental period and the probability for each site (high/medium/low) of the business renting one or more test sites.
- Requests for the test sites, including any special facilities at the test centre.
- Requests for the research cooperation framework with DTU and other research institutions for conducting research projects on the wind turbines installed by the owner/tenant.
These questions must be answered in the attached form.
