Denmark solar park plans halted over otter protection concerns

Plans for Denmark’s largest solar park, the Energipark Rendbæk Øst, have been halted by the Planning Appeals Board (Planklagenævnet). The project, covering over 800 hectares in the Store Vildmose area of North Jutland, faced a setback following a complaint from a local resident.

The Board ruled that Jammerbugt Municipality failed to sufficiently investigate the potential impact on the otter, a protected species residing in the nearby Natura 2000 protected area. Mogens Gade, chairman of the Climate, Technology, and Environment Committee, acknowledged the municipality made an error by not conducting the environmental assessment before the local plan was established.

To move forward, the project will likely require a completely new application and a restart of the entire planning process. Local officials indicated they would not rule out future attempts to develop the site if new proposals are submitted.