The seven wind turbines installed by Sund & Bælt off Sprogø generate 66 million kWh annually. As Sund & Bælt's own consumption for operations amounts to only 13 million kWh per year, a significant amount of sustainable energy is transmitted into the national grid through Energinet Denmark. This is traded by Nordjysk Elhandel on the Nordic power exchange on behalf of Sund & Bælt.
This means that the power produced by Sprogø Offshore Wind Farm does not directly provide the electricity for the bridge or Tårnby tunnel on Amager. Sund & Bælt buys its electricity from the electricity suppliers like everyone else.
Green certificates
As opposed to trading in physical power, electricity is traded through green certificates, so-called VE certificates. These are issued for each MWh the wind turbines produce and provide proof that the power derives from renewable energy sources. The green certificates are based on an EU directive and are administered in Denmark by Energinet.dk
Sund & Bælt holds green certificates corresponding to 13 million KWh per year to cover its own power consumption. The rest of the certificates are sold on to third parties. By purchasing a green certificate for a specific amount of energy, a business or a municipality can demonstrate that it has paid for the amount of renewable energy that corresponds to its own energy consumption.
