Thisted municipality pauses new renewable energy applications

Thisted municipal council has delayed the next application round for new wind turbines and solar farms by nearly four years, pushing approvals to late 2030 at the earliest, according to a report by Danish broadcaster DR.

The move follows a decision to evaluate the so-called Thy model, a local framework for renewable energy projects that earlier this year won the national climate award from the Association of Danish Municipalities. The model requires advisory local referendums before projects proceed.

Controversy arose last month when the council advanced two projects despite majority local opposition in the votes. The evaluation, decided on Wednesday, will assess how to improve participation—currently around 35 percent—and whether voting eligibility or weighting by distance from projects should change, said Kristian Pilgaard, chair of the Midtthy Energy Association, which facilitates dialogue between residents and developers.

Mayor Niels Jørgen Pedersen (V) acknowledged the delay but noted the municipality already has six approved projects to process. Grid capacity constraints may further slow progress, with new turbines and solar farms unlikely to be operational before 2035 even after approval.

The Thy model’s five principles include local ownership, fair compensation for neighbors, ecological integration, landscape preservation, and broad community support before planning begins.