Page 36 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2018 publication

36 Autumn 2018 European Energy Innovation
DENMARK WIND ENERGY
Denmark
All in on renewables
and electrification
By Jan Hylleberg (right), CEO, Danish Wind Industry Association
Denmark was one of the
first countries in the world Back in June, a unanimous Danish
to go all in on wind energy
and set ambitious goals for
the development of wind technology.
Because Denmark did not fold, but
instead kept betting on wind energy,
the pioneering role has rendered it
possible for Denmark to win a wind
energy jackpot.
Subsequently, Denmark today in
many ways is still leading on matters
regarding wind energy production,
a substantial industry presence,
and a state-of-the-art phase-in of
renewables in the power grid. The
combination of this, ensured an
average of 43.6% electricity from
wind, last year.
The Danish energy system and
market is designed to handle periods
where wind energy supersedes 100%
of the electricity consumption as well
as times, where wind energy does not
supply power to the grid, and other
technologies and imports must carry
the load.
However, this catch 22 with wind
energy is getting more and more
evident as wind energy is built out
and provides ever more renewable
electricity. In other words: Denmark
was the first country to bet on wind
energy, and now Denmark will also
be the first country to develop and
implement measures that facilitate
a broader, more intelligent, use of
electricity.
NEW PLAN TO PAVE THE WAY
Parliament agreed on a new energy
agreement, which aims towards 2030
and lays out concrete measures
until the middle of the decade. At
that time 55% of the total energy
consumption is set to come from
renewables, with wind energy and
biomass contributing lion’s share.
Because of this target, 100% of the
electricity consumption will also
come from renewables no later
than 2030.
As part of the agreement, three
offshore wind farms are to be
established between 2025-2030. With
a total minimum of 2,400 MW, the
coming turbines will give a significant
boost to the renewables scene in
Denmark. Onshore, the agreement
follows a different political strategy,
as the cumulative production of wind
energy is expected to rise, while the
number of onshore wind turbines is
set to a maximum of 1,850 in 2030,
where the agreement calls for taller
and more efficient turbines onshore.
Overall the new Danish energy
agreement sets strong initiatives for
wind and other renewables and plays
in the global trend of technology
neutral auctions, as all technologies,
except large scale offshore wind, will
compete for subsidies, thus lowering
the total cost of the green transition
in Denmark.
Since Denmark produces vast
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