Wherever the wind blows
The wind turbines in Flatnahagi
Flatnahagi marks a new era in Faroese energy: the shift from oil to wind power. Wind power is green energy because it is a sustainable energy source that does not produce any emissions. Additionally, wind power is cost-effective because wind turbines have low operating costs once built and installed.
Electricity generation
About the project
There's a reason why no people live in Flatnahagi – it's too windy. But this constant wind is perfect for generating electricity, and these wind turbines produce no less than 64 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. And how much is that? For example, you buy kilowatt-hours when you buy electricity for your house. A typical household uses 5.000 kWh per year.
The total electricity production in the Faroe Islands is 400 GWh. The wind turbines in Húsahagi produce 40 GWh, those at Gellingarklettur produce 100 GWh, and these produce 64 GWh. That means that about half of all electricity production in the Faroe Islands can be produced here in the area.
When drilling and blasting, there is temporary 'damage' to the land. We did not want to cause more harm than necessary, so when we consulted with P/F J&K Petersen about this project, we required that as much of the building material as possible should be of local origin, that is, from this area. Nothing should be imported. The road was laid out as sensibly as possible in the terrain, and the blasted material was also used to construct the road itself.
Flatnahagi is home to oystercatchers, golden plovers, snipes, and many other birds. Additionally, there are also plenty of hares. When starting a project of such size and scale, one must consider those who already live here. Building these wind turbines is intruding on their habitat. Therefore, preventive measures were taken, such as all construction and other activities put on hold during the breeding season. Furthermore, we were required to count the birds and do reports so that we could monitor the impact in the area in the long term.
The giants in Flatnahagi
The E-82 wind turbines are manufactured and certified for the most severe wind conditions, the so-called IEC 1a, which means they are suitable for areas with high wind speeds and turbulence. Additionally, the E-82 wind turbines are constructed and assembled in a way that meets all the requirements set by SEV in the grid connection specifications (Grid Code). The expected annual energy generation is estimated to be 105 MWh, and the expected net losses in the cables up to the SEV grid connection point are estimated to be 328 MWh annually. The image on the right shows the connection to the power grid and the power lines.
Specifics
Information boards
You’ll find these posters by the wind mill turbines. Download them here og go for a brisk walk in Flatnahagi.
Winds of
change
Green energy has been the aim since the turn of the millennium. But now we understand how suitable the Faroe Islands actually are for this. But these wind turbines are more than just green energy. They are also 120-meter-high symbols of a new era. They remind us of what we can change and achieve when we truly set our minds to it.