Renewable energy in Denmark

Hot water or steam is produced centrally and then distributed through a network of insulated pipes to high population areas.

One simple but important innovation in the district heating network was the development of internally insulated pipes.

All EU countries as well as Iceland and Norway submitted National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs)[18] to outline the steps taken, and projected progress by each country between 2010 and 2020 to meet the Renewable Energy Directive.

Total annual energy consumption is projected to be 16.4 megatonnes of oil equivalent (191 TWh) by 2020.

Biofuels (wood, straw and biogas) and the biodegradable part of waste provided the second-largest RE source at 18.5% of national generation.

Solar power has grown significantly in recent years from a low base and provides a further 2.7% share.

See: Renewable energy by country The maximum power that can be generated under ideal conditions when a plant is supplied with wind, sun or fuel.

1 Onshore wind turbine rated 2.2 MW 1,202 households (EU)* App.

303 households per 1MW, (303,000 per GW) Sources: *Emea.org **Solar Trade Organisation The table above shows the proportion of total Danish electricity generated by renewables rose between 2007 and 2017 from 28.1% to 71.4%.

[26] Current (2023) plans anticipate a complete phase out of coal from the electricity and heat sectors by 2030.

[27] The International Energy Agency's (IEA) Renewables 2022 forecast indicates that Denmark's renewable electricity capacity could nearly double, reaching 7 gigawatts (GW) by 2027, mainly driven by utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects financed via merchant revenues and bilateral contracts, alongside onshore wind expansion through repowering facilitated by auctions or corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

The report highlights the possibility of a 25% increase to nearly 10 GW with additional investment in subsidy-free PV projects and active market participation.

Streamlining the permitting process and accelerating project commissioning are expected to contribute an extra 2 GW from solar and wind sources.

The 2009 NREAP[32] report identified new and ongoing ways to promote the use of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector and amongst these included the following.

Regulations governing the energy efficient cooling of buildings under local authority control has been in place since 2008.

The EDTTP act was also cited as having established the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme to research into solutions including biofuels and intelligent electricity.

In 2021, Denmark supported enhancements in transport infrastructure, specifically expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging and renewable fuel stations.

Furthermore, the Coalition Agreement of 2022 reaffirms Denmark's commitment to green transport, focusing on revised electric vehicle rollout plans, promoting zero-emission vehicle adoption, establishing a fossil-free domestic flight route by 2025, aiming for complete domestic aviation decarbonization by 2030 with the support of a passenger tax, and accelerating the green transition in the heavy-duty transport, maritime transport, and aviation sectors.

[28][5] Electricity generated by wind power in Denmark rose from 7.2 TWh in 2007 to 13.1 GwH in 2014.

Denmark was the world's leading windpower country in 2014 by percentage of demand coverage at 39% of Danish electricity consumption.

[35] Denmark often produces more electricity from windpower than the entire country requires and will export it for sale or for storage in hydroelectric dams in Norway and Sweden.

A 2023 IEA report identifies Denmark as the global leader in installing offshore wind parks and energy islands.

[39] In December 2024 the European Union announced a state aid scheme of €1.7 billion (DKK 13 billion) to support expanded production of upgraded biogas and e-methane, which is expected to reduce GHG emissions by approximately 450,000 tonnes of CO2 annually from 2033.

[37] There were 39 CHP plants using biomass as a fuel in 2014 consuming approximately 2.7 million tonnes to produce heat and power, corresponding to 40.9 petajoules (11.4 TWh) consumption in that year.

Solar power is 2,339 MW grid connected by mid-2022,[41] a relatively recent arrival in Denmark.

[20][24] The large increase in solar deployment in 2012 was aided by incentives including tax credits and net settlement for produced power.

Smaller solar installations predominate with 73% of PV cell capacity being less than 6 kW by the end of 2014,[38] a sign that incentives have largely benefitted households.

Installed capacity of Solar PV was predicted to rise to 1,140 MW by 2024 and provide an estimated 3% of electricity consumption in Denmark,[38] but the rapid decrease in cost resulted in passing that number several years earlier.

The above table shows the actual overall and by sector renewable energy consumption achieved (PJ) in the years 2013-2016 as outlined in Denmark's NREAP progress report.

[29] Overall Denmark is running well ahead of its predicted trajectory, having achieved its 2020 total goal in 2015.