I was reading an interesting news article today about a new project to build a giant island off the coast of Denmark in the North Sea. It will serve as a hub for 200 giant offshore wind turbines.
The world's first energy island will be as big as 120,000sq m but there are hopes to make it as large as 460,000sq m. It is the biggest construction project in Danish history, costing an estimated 210bn kroner (£24bn; €28bn: $34bn).
IOTA... Located some 80kms or so off the Danish coast, I couldn't help thinking if it would qualify as a new IOTA reference?
The IOTA (Islands On the Air) awards programme is very popular with radio amateurs and is probably second only to the DXCC programme in terms of popularity. I'm sure a new Danish IOTA reference would generate some interest.
Would it count though? From what I understand, it must be a certain distance offshore and 80 kms should certainly qualify. However, I think it must also be 1km in length. If it expands to its full size then it might.
Does a new large artificial island qualify as a new IOTA reference?
Update: It would seem that it won't count as a new IOTA as qualifying islands can't be man made.
VHF... Whatever about IOTA, the new 'Energy Island' would be located out in a very wet locator square... either JO35 or JO36 and it would certainly count.
Considering how close it would be to Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, it would probably be very popular on all the VHF bands.
Noise?... While it's interesting to hear about new islands popping up out of the North Sea, it would hardly be a RF quite location with all of those inverters. Would radio communications be even possible on the HF bands? Would it even be allowed?
