As research now shifts towards Danish policies for promoting RES, we begin with a much more positive outlook, where not only are the Danish meeting EU prescribed targets, they are promisingly exceeding them, coupled with exceedingly high ambitious.
Denmark is often argued to be one of the more influential cases for promoting RES, where it has been stated that ‘Denmark has been a pioneer and maintains its position as one of the leading countries in the development and use of renewable energy’ . Such a position is echoed by the statistics, which in 2014, showcased that Denmark produced a commendable 57.4% of its net electricity generation from renewable energy sources. The impressive growth of RES in Denmark can be easily seen through the below graph, which shows positive growth from just over 5% in the early 1990s, towards the figures we see today.
Unlike the Netherlands and many other EU MS’s, Denmark is already seen to surpass EU-wide targets. When the EU outlined the indicative MS targets, the overall target for Denmark was to produce a 30% of share of energy generated from renewable sources in gross final energy consumption. Moreover, this included a 40% target for heating and cooling, a 52% target of electricity demand met by electricity generated from renewable energy sources and a 10% target for transport . Due to far surpassing these targets, Denmark has already outlined additional impressive renewable energy goals for the future, including the complete adopted of renewable energy for 100% of its energy needs in all sectors including transport by 2050 .
Renewable energy usage in Denmark is characterized by a heavy reliance upon wind power and combined power and heat generation (CHP). The focus upon CHP in Denmark has contributed towards declines in gross energy consumption, where put simply; CHP has given way for increases in energy conversion efficiency . This has created a situation that sees older centralized power plants to pave way for smaller and decentralised plants that use fuels far more efficiently than older. Likewise, reliance upon wind power sees no fossil fuels to be wasted.
Geographically speaking, Denmark has an advantage through being surrounded by the sea. Moreover, this advantage stretches further ‘in regards to cost-effective installation and operation of large-scale offshore wind farms in that the quality of the spatial, substrate and wind conditions exeeds those of the neighboring countries’ . With that said, Denmark more often than not, is able to exceed their own demand for electricity when it comes to windpower. Im doing so, the country has a plethora of unused energy, which allows them to profit through exporting it for sale, or provide their own energy security through storage within hydroelectric dams in both Norway and Sweden.
Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom: lessons to be learnt for the Netherlands?
Report on a seminar for the SER negotiations on the Netherlands’ National Energy Agreement
4.2: Not always plain sailing: Brief History of RES in Denmark
Whilst the current state of play allows for Denmark to confidentially generate large shares of RES, the historical pathway towards this has not always been plain sailing. In 1972, Denmark was reliant upon a large share of fossil fuels in their energy mix, with a substantial 92% coming from imported oil. Following this Denmark was severely impacted by the 1973-4 oil crises, to the extent that ‘93% of Danish energy needs were met by imported oil from the Middle East’ . The crisis then impacted upon various segments of society, which saw a ban on ‘motoring on Sundays, a ban of shop-window lighting, the turning off of every second bulb in street lighting, and a range of other policy initiatives’ .
The events of 1973-4 caused ripples between Danish policymakers, who as a result of the crisis made the realization that Danish energy security was rather feeble and something would have to change. As a result of this, they were forced to rethink their energy policy, which firstly took shape in 1978, where coal was limited to 18% of their energy mix . This was facilitated the creation of the Tvind wind turbine, alongside a wind turbine industry. Out of this experience, Denmark progressed from being a large importer of energy towards a more self-sufficient provider, as renewables became the natural choice for Denmark. In doing so, the impetus upon RES was able to increase energy security through decreasing dependence upon other countries, whilst additionally creating an environmentally friendly mind-set through tackling global warming pollution.
4.3: Political and Social Determinants
Denmark has continually boasted a clear commitment in promoting renewables, which is seen throughout Danish society and politics.
4.3i: Political Consensus
The political system in Denmark consists of a multiparty system, with a total of nine parties that are represented within parliament. Since the aforementioned oil crises, which provoked sensitivities regarding energy security and pricing, the political consensus in Denmark has been steadily in support of RES. Across the political spectrum, consensus has formed favorably on the side of promoting RES. Such a consensus allowed the Danish government to formulate an ‘ambitious research and development program for wind turbines, seeing an opportunity to capitalize on Denmark’s ample supply of wind, and to lead the development of an expanding renewables industry with strong economic potential’ . These developments enabled the formulation of a dedicated Energy ministry in 1979, which today still exists, yet with an extended reach under the ministry of Climate, Energy and Buildings.
Further examination of political developments shows that Danish consensus was to be enhanced under a series of policies that uphold traditional Danish values based upon local action and community enterprise. In doing so, the government provides an array of subsidies, incentives and guarantees for co-operatives and their locality. Such a notion of a shared ownership when it comes to promoting RES has helped build a society that feels they have a role to play, in turn increases social consensus. All together, this enables issues relating to promoting RES to be broken down into simpler steps, creating a ‘highly democratized, decentralised energy sector, reducing reliance upon imports and fossil fuels. Arguably, this is something the Netherlands could draw from, where with bottom-up action and top-down support, we see that elements such as transparency and trust are seen to increase. Ultimately, social consensus is seen to benefit, whilst translating into stability behind the support of renewable policies, regardless of future governments.