By Isabella Kaminski
The initiatives in the Danish Energy Strategy 2050 aim to reduce the energy industry’s use of fossil fuels by 33% by 2020, compared with 2009 levels.
The strategy calls for a significant increase in renewable energy obtained from wind, biomass and biogas which would increase the share of renewable energy to 33% of energy consumption over the next decade. If the strategy is implemented, 62% of the country’s electricity generation would come from renewable sources.
Bioenergy
The strategy aims to make establishing biogas plants more financially attractive by granting subsidies for biogas production, infrastructure and use in industrial processes. It would replace coal with biomass by allowing producers and consumers of district heat freedom of contract, in order to make it more advantageous for both sides to convert to biomass.
The strategy would make it possible for small power plants to convert from natural gas to biomass by allowing plants up to a capacity of 20 MW to freely choose their fuel source. It would also mandate a 10% biofuel additive by 2020.
Wind
In terms of wind power, the strategy would tender for a 600 MW offshore wind farm at Kriegers Flak. The construction of coastal and land-based wind turbines at the farm is planned to be completed by 2020, which would more than double wind power capacity in Denmark to a total of 42% of overall energy production capacity, compared with about 20% today.
The strategy suggests establishing new international electricity sharing capacity in connection with Kriegers Flak, as well as carrying out a study of coastal areas to identify locations suitable for a further 400 MW of small offshore wind turbines for use in development and demonstration of new wind turbines.
Smart metering
A further requirement would be that all electric metres installed after 2015 must be intelligent electric metres. From 2013, the limit for installing intelligent metres would be reduced from 100 MWh annually to 50 MWh annually.
According to the strategy, companies can expect to added expenses amounting to 0.1% of the rise in their gross revenue growth by 2020.
In a joint statement, Chris Huhne, UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and Dr Lykke Friis, Danish Minister for Climate and Energy, say: “Both our countries are working on radical and transformative plans to decarbonise our energy supplies and support new green innovation. And we’re working together on initiatives such as the North Seas Offshore grid and the development of smart grid technology, while our businesses are driving forward ambitious offshore wind development.
“Decarbonising further, faster, can keep Europe ahead in the global low carbon race, but the UK and Denmark can’t do that alone. That’s why the EU Commission’s forthcoming 2050 roadmap must kick-start the debate in Europe by offering a cost-effective, credible and ambitious pathway that enables member states to take the decisions that will stimulate low-carbon investment and take Europe beyond the cul-de-sac that’s the current 20% cut target.”