Denmark aims to triumph and catch the wind

Offshore wind farms - that is what the Danes plan to develop in a major way as part of their ambitious strategy to meet at least half of the country's electricity needs from wind power by the year 2030. And they have won an enthusiastic endorsement from Greenpeace International.

Yesterday, to mark the opening of the 4th Pan-European conference of environment ministers here in Aarhus, the MV Greenpeace - veteran of the Brent Spar and Muroroa Atoll campaigns - took a party of journalists to see Tuno Knob, the world's largest offshore wind farm.

Located in shallow waters six kilometres off the east coast of Jutland, the 10 turbines produce 1.5 megawatts - about enough electricity for 4,000 homes.

Over the next 30 years, however, much larger offshore wind farms in Denmark could be producing a total of 4,000 megawatts.

According to Mr Sven Auken, the Danish Environment Minister, this is equivalent to 10 conventional power stations burning oil, coal or gas. He said the target provided clear evidence of his country's determination to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Now larger than the fishing industry, the Danish wind energy industry employs 12,000 people and earns £350 million a year in exports. More than 50 countries have bought Danish wind turbines.

Denmark now has 4,900 wind turbines supplying seven per cent of the country's electricity demand - the highest proportion anywhere. The vast majority of these installations are on land, but more offshore wind farms are to be developed in the next few years.

The British environment minister, Mr Michael Meacher, said the Danes were demonstrating that wind turbines "don't have to be on the tops of hills".

At a joint press conference with Mr Auken on board the MV Greenpeace, he referred to the "enormous potential" for wind energy in Britain - and, by implication, Ireland. "We're always complaining about the wind, so for God's sake let's use it," he declared.

A chart produced by Greenpeace suggested that Ireland could generate more than 15 times the electricity it needs by installing wind farms off the coast.

Even Greenpeace admits doubts that the potential of offshore wind power will ever be fully exploited. But the prospects of alternative energy have been enhanced following the pledges by industrialised countries in Kyoto last December to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.