SIEMENS AG The clash between people, nature, and technology can create challenges and friction. But a forest in Thy is proof that both nature, local communities and private companies can come out on top when creating the technologies of the future.
The test centre in located in Osterild Klitplantage along a five kilometer gravel road. Foto:
Much wind has blown over the flat terrain at Thy in the northwest corner of Jutland since Osterild Test Centre was inaugurated in
A wealth of different turbines from the world's leading windmill manufacturers have benefited from the site's unique wind conditions and location. Thousands of tests have been carried out at speed and precision that is almost impossible to achieve elsewhere. Vestas,
At first, the locals were sceptic and even outright resistant when plans to build Osterild Test Centre were revealed. Today the centre is part of the local identity, and tens of thousands of people visit the area every year. It is large enough to be easily spotted on satellite images of Thy: Nine rectangular patches of gravel lie as pearls on a straight line from north to south.
However, you must be at ground level to fully understand the scale. Each patch of gravel is the size of two football fields, and here the wind turbines stretch 223 to 271 meters into the air. Even the shortest ones are taller than any high-rise in
Around the centre, part of the forest has been cut down to make space for the turbines and to ensure high-quality wind measurements. But the clearing of trees has also brought the area closer to its natural state, and in the open terrain, you can find more species of plants and animals than before the centre was built.
Read on to discover what Osterild Test Centre has meant to various people over the last decade.
How did the locals react to the plans for Osterild Test Centre?
I got a lot of angry phone calls at the time. Not many locals thought that it was a good idea. When one man supported the project at a public forum, he was almost booed out of the room.
What was that resistance based on?
The forest that we had to cut down meant a lot to the locals, because it was their fathers and grandfathers who dug the ditches and planted the trees. And when you go out and change what people know and are used to, it hurts them.
How do they feel about the test centre today?
Today, I find that people tell to me that 'that's what I've been saying all along, Claus, it's turned out really well'. Generally people are much more supportive now.
What impact has the establishment of the centre had on nature in the surrounding area?
Our intention has always been that we want to recreate the original natural landscape, and in that we have succeeded. Today there are far fewer trees and more open areas. This has meant there is a habitat for more species than the forest that we cleared provided. There is more flora and fauna in general. Fungi and larvae and insects. You name it.
But this is also something that takes a really long time, so you might say that we're only really halfway at this stage. But we can already see some really positive trends.
The centre was expanded in 2019 and now fits nine wind turbines at a time Photo:
Why is Osterild Test Centre a good place to test your wind turbines?
The wind conditions are highly predictable and the wind at the site is like what you get at sea because of how flat the area is. It is crucial that we are able to measure against the same elements we would expect to find at sea.
What do you think about this setup where DTU runs the centre and
We're fierce competitors, but we actually have a great relationship with Vestas, which is partly facilitated by DTU. If one company needs to stop the other turbines for a particular test, we'll agree on a time for that. We accommodate each other and that's a plus for the whole of the Danish wind-industry.
What does the Osterild Test Centre mean to the municipality of Thisted?
In 2022 alone, we expect to receive 50,000 visitors to the Osterild Test Centre-to date this year we have already had 40,000. Some of those visitors might have come to Thy anyway, but some come here because of the test centre; that's the first thing.
The second thing is that we live in an age with a tremendous interest in renewables and sustainability. So it really adds something to the identity of Thy locals that we have one of the best test centres in the world right here. It means a lot to us and it also means that we are noticed by others.
The tallest turbine reaches 271 meters from the base to the tips of the wings. That's 17 meters taller than the pylons of
What has Osterild Test Centre meant to the development of wind technology over the last 10 years?
Osterild has more than lived up to the high expectations that we and the industry had. Measurements carried out at the test centre are of great significance to the development of wind turbines by the industry and they provide a tangible input to our research, which also benefits the entire sector.
The test centre in Thy is of great importance if
How important is the Osterild Test Centre to your technological development?
Osterild plays a very central role in our testing activities. This is where we must bring our new wind turbines so that we can test, validate, and perform measurements on them.
It would in principle be possible to validate the power curve and grid performance of a wind turbine in a range of locations, but in most places it would take significantly longer-potentially two years instead of one.
Will it be equally important in 10 years time?
The developmental that has brought us to where we are today has depended on qualified tests, and that will remain the case in future. That means we need to find a location for a third testing site in
How big is the need to expand testing capacity in
There is a very high demand from the wind turbine industry for more test stands and the ability to test the next generation of taller, more efficient wind turbines. This means that it is crucial that we establish a third national test centre.
Should it be built according to the same model, meaning that the manufacturers would not own the test centre?
The model in place at Osterild Test Centre is one we should duplicate. This ensures that it is not only Vestas and
What impact has the Osterild Test Centre had on tourism in Thy?
Osterild is what we refer to in the tourism sector as a reason to go. It's a place that people actually want to travel to because they want to experience it, find out more about it, and see it with their own eyes. Having a place that is a part of the experience economy puts Thy on the map, which is important.
As far as I'm concerned, there is also even greater potential there. It could become our Legoland.
Is this interest felt beyond the visitor centre?
Yes - although it is still a significant exercise on our part. Say 100 visitors come to Osterild. If we do a really good job at telling them what else is going on in Thy, then perhaps 60-80 of those visitors will explore the area further. That will create both income and a sense of cohesion.
Contact
DEPUTY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
PHONE: +45 46775037
MOBILE: 4045 5037
PEJE@DTU.DK
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