Denmark's Wave Energy Centre Must Be in Hanstholm

Creation date: 30 June 2009

-Financing for a preliminary research is now in place, which will be the signal for starting the work establishing WaveEnergyCentre Hanstholm with an expected budget of 50 million DKK.

Lately there has been worked under high pressure at Hanstholm and it has paid off now as a starting capital of ½ million DKK has been established to examine the possibilities of starting up Danish Centre for Wave Energy - called Danish Wave Energy Centre or DanWEC at Hanstholm

Growth Forum has granted 250000 DKK - The University of Aalborg DKK 100000 - The Municipality of Thisted DKK 100000 and Port of Hanstholm and Port Forum split the remaining DKK 50000 between the two of them.

Lecturer Mr. Jens Peter Kofoed from University of Aalborg is a central part in pointing at Hanstholm as the most relevant place in Denmark. And that exactly University of Aalborg does this - is important for the trade, who clearly means that they must be able to cooperate in this project and further on.

The wave energy companies mean that an important criterion for the geographic choice is partly that the University of Aalborg is a central part, but also that there is local back up and competences to support them in the essential areas - here they point at maritime competences such as smith's work, electricity/electronics, towage services etc. around the "wet element" placing quite other demands to equipment than land based solutions.

But also the goodwill of politicians to support the project and "24 hours service" all year round - organization and last but not least - the best waves in Denmark - these are the reasons they see why Hanstholm is the place in Denmark where the Wave Energy Centre of all Denmark must be - and we are on the move.

Therefore it is also important that capital is at hand so that the work group, appointed at the last meeting concerning wave energy at Hanstholm gets a "rope holder" and project manager and so that already on 1^st September a prequalifying application may be sent to Growth Forum. An application where the trade backs up and the main elements are well described - it is about specifying the service and the house, which the trade needs etc.

You are welcome to contact us for further information:

General Manager of the Port, Ms. Birgitte Juhl, mail bj@portofhanstholm.dk

University of Aalborg, Mr. Peter Frigaard, mail pf@civil.aau.dk

Municipality of Thisted, R & D Manager Mr. Jan Krogh, mail jkro@thisted.dk

General Manager of Port Forum, Ms. Britta Vang Mikkelsen, mail bvm@hanstholmhavneforum.dk