Renewable energy in Denmark
| Renewable Energy in Denmark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Renewable Energy (RE) | |
| RE as % of Gross Final Energy Consumption. | 29.2% (2014) |
| Target for above. | 30.0% (2020) |
| Renewable Electricity | |
| Percentage of Electricity generated by RE. | 57.4% (2014) |
| RE generated / Total electricity generation. | 17,562 / 30,615 GWh (2014) |
| Record % RE covered electricity consumption | 138.7% (26/7/15 wind only) |
| Installed capacity (2014) [1] | |
| Wind Power. | 4.9 GW |
| Bio Energy. | 1 GW (ex waste) |
| Solar Power. | 0.6 GW |
| Hydro Power. | <0.01 GW |
| Total | approx 6.5 GW |
| Country Notes | |
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Denmark is a world leading country in wind energy production and wind turbine production. In 2014 Denmark produced 57.4% of its net electricity generation from renewable energy sources.[2] The Danish wind company Vestas Wind Systems A/S has expanded from its domestic base and by 2015 had a revenue of €8.423 billion, with more than 18,000 employees globally and manufacturing plants in Denmark, Germany, India, Italy, Romania, the United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Australia, China, and the United States (see Vestas link above for sources).
Denmark has a target of producing 30% of all its energy needs from RE energy sources by 2020, a considerable increase from the 17% it attained in 2005.[3] By 2014 this figure had already reached 29.2%[4] and was the fifth highest amongst the EU-28 countries. The country has ambitious renewable energy goals for the future, not least in the wind power sector which already provided the largest single source of electricity in 2014.
In the heating sector the country has long used and continues to develop district heating (DH) networks. Hot water or steam is produced centrally and then distributed through a network of insulated pipes to high population areas. Houses within a district heating area have heat exchangers installed instead of boilers for their heating and hot water requirements. The heat exchanger keeps the two water systems separate and means that heat can be adjusted as with a familiar domestic boiler. One important innovation in the district heating network was the development of internally insulated pipes. The two pipes taking and receiving the return of water are placed inside a much larger pipe and insulating material is set so as to fill the figure eight shaped void between the two smaller and the large pipe. In 2013 district heating supplied over 60% of all households in Denmark with heating and hot water.[5] The development of district heating technology has led Denmark to become a world leader in industrial pump and thermostat designs and its products are used in many industries worldwide.
Cogeneration is also widely used. This is a process that extracts the waste heat produced when generating electricity. Power stations designed to do this are known as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) stations. CHP stations in Denmark are often sized to provide the heat required for the local district heating system. Thus CHP stations produce both electricity for the grid and heat for district heating systems. Heat can be stored in large industrial hot water tanks for several days allowing electricity and heat supply to be provided time independently from each other. By 2013 the use of CHP stations had reduced the overall energy consumption in Denmark by 11%.[5]
Danish electricity generation has become increasingly decentralised with a move away from production in the large central power stations to many smaller, locally based and mostly CHP stations. Many of these smaller stations use locally sourced bio energy sources including straw and wood pellets.
Energy Consumption and Targets.
Gross Energy Consumption in Denmark 1990-2015[6]
Adjusted for Climate variations and Fuels for Net Electricity Exports, updated Calculations, only for 2015*.
| Unit: PJ | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 819 | 839 | 850 | 814 | 782 | 763 | 755 | 747 |
| Oil | 355 | 376 | 352 | 312 | 289 | 278 | 276 | 284 |
| Natural Gas | 82 | 192 | 192 | 176 | 149 | 138 | 127 | 133 |
| Coal | 327 | 175 | 166 | 147 | 146 | 143 | 137 | 108 |
| Waste, Non Renewable | 8 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
| Renewable Energy | 48 | 81 | 123 | 163 | 180 | 186 | 196 | 203 |
Between 1990 and 2013 gross energy consumption fell by 7%.[7] Most of the fall can be attributed to a great increase in combined power and heat generation (CHP) and the growth in wind power. This has increased energy conversion efficiency, reducing conversion losses by 28% or 7% relative to gross energy consumption.[7] Put simply smaller and decentralised CHP plants use fuels far more efficiently than older centralised power plants, and wind power has no fossil fuel to waste. Thus the growth of these two sources (10% during the period)[7] has displaced fossil fuels by more than a one to one ratio. The use of Biofuels in local CHP plants has further displaced fossil fuel consumption.
The figures in the table above show that whilst the reduction in fossil fuel use has been most pronounced in coal use, there has also been a significant reduction in oil and natural gas usage since 2000. Oil has fared better than the other fuels because it still dominates usage in the transport sector and alternative fuels and transport solutions are not yet widely deployed.
The Danish Government has introduced the following targets for national energy policy:[8]
- Eliminating coal from power production by 2030.
- Providing all electrical and heating from renewable sources by 2035.
- Providing 100% of Denmark's energy requirements in electricity, heating and transport from renewable sources by 2050.
Electricity production
Electricity generation in Denmark by source 2014 [2]
| Wind | 42.7% |
| Wood | 6.7% |
| Waste | 2.6% |
| Solar | 2.0% |
| Straw | 2.0% |
| Biogas | 1.4% |
| Hydro | 0.1% |
| Total (renewable sources) | 57.4% |
| Total (non-renewable sources) | 42.6% |
| Total (all sources) | 100.0% |
In 2014 wind energy produced 42.7 percent of Denmark's net electricity generation, the largest share from any source and larger than non renewable generated electricity. Biofuels (wood, straw and biogas) and the biodegradable part of waste provided the next largest RE source at 12.7% of national generation. Solar power has grown significantly in recent years from a low base and provides a further 2% share.Hydroelectricity provided just 0.1% of net national generation but the country maintains strong links to its neighboring countries large hydroelectric reserves. Fossil fuels and other non renewable sources accounted for just 42.6% of Denmarks total net generation and continues to decline. Total RE generated electricity accounted for 57.4% of Denmark’s net national electricity generation in 2014.
So how does a country which generates the largest share of its electricity needs from wind power cope on calm windless days? Denmark sees this challenge as an opportunity to develop new solutions and in so doing is transforming its energy sector and upgrading its technological and engineering capability and is now exporting these worldwide. One of the ways the country manages is by exporting electricity on days when wind production is very high (Some days Denmark produces more electricity from wind power alone then the entire country requires). Much of the power is exported and stored in Norwegian and Swedish hydroelectric systems via the system of pumped storage (storing power for future use by pumping reservoir levels up higher). On calm days the power can be reimported. The country also imports and exports electricity to Germany and across the Nordic region which moves power to where it is most in demand given production conditions on each day. As electricity can be transported thousands of kilometres with only a few percentage point transmission losses the load and variability can be spread across a wider and more stable geographic area. These long distance transmission lines are being upgraded across both the Nordic region and more widely across Europe. The country has also developed power plants which can increase their output much more rapidly than traditional ones to respond to fluctuating production from wind sources. Many of these plants are the many smaller and dispersed CHP power plants across the country.
The production and dispersion of electricity across Denmark, the Nordic region and Germany can be viewed in real time on the Energinet.dk website. The site illustrates wind and power production, electricity imports and exports, and the contribution made by CHP plants to both district heating and stabilising electricity production. The link to this site is here Energinet.dk.
Growth of electricity generated by renewables
Electricity generation in Denmark (GwH) from renewable energy sources 2007-2014[2][9][10][11][12]
| Total electricity generation* | Land based wind turbines | Offshore wind turbines | Photovoltaics | Hydopower** | Biofuels | Waste | Thermal generation from RE fuels*** | Total renewable generation | % of National generation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 37024 | 5,800 | 1,370 | 30 | 1,936 | 1,570 | 3,192 | 10,392 | 28.1% | |
| 2008 | 34649 | 5,453 | 1,524 | 27 | 1,920 | 1,672 | 3,257 | 10,261 | 29.6% | |
| 2009 | 34290 | 5,046 | 1,664 | 20 | 2,117 | 1,551 | 3,029 | 9,759 | 28.5% | |
| 2010 | 36618 | 5,122 | 2,686 | 21 | 3,313 | 1,467 | 4,176 | 12,005 | 32.8% | |
| 2011 | 33210 | 6,360 | 3,405 | 18 | 3,025 | 1,502 | 3,851 | 13,634 | 41.1% | |
| 2012 | 29025 | 6,796 | 3,472 | 104 | 18 | 3,143 | 1,440 | 3,935 | 14,325 | 49.4% |
| 2013 | 32956 | 6,772 | 4,351 | 518 | 15 | 3,220 | 1,411 | 3,996 | 15,652 | 47.5% |
| 2014 | 30615 | 7,913 | 5,165 | 597 | 16 | 3,078 | 1,441 | 3,871 | 17,562 | 57.4% |
* excludes internal consumption by plant.
** figures in italics include photovoltaics.
*** includes biofuels and biodegrable fraction of waste.
The proportion of total Danish electricity generated by renewables rose between 2007 and 2014 from 28.1% to 57.4%. Total renewable electricity generation grew from 10,392 GWh in 2007 to 17,562 GWh by 2014, a rise of 69%. Since 2007 most of the growth in RE electricity generation continues to be the result of growing wind power generation (accounting for +56.9% of total generation growth), thermal generation from RE fuels added an additional 6.5%, Solar power has also made an impact as a new power source of an additional 597 GWh (5.7%) since 2012.
Reduction in fossil fuel generated electricity
Renewable energy generation in Denmark increased from 10,392 GwH to 17,562 GwH between 2007 and 2014.[2][9][10][11][12] Fossil fuel generation fell from 26,318 GwH to 12,405 GwH in 2014.[2][9][10][11][12] Electricity generated from renewables first exceeded electricity from fossil fuels in 2012 and again in 2014.
Wind power
Wind power net electricity generation 2007-2014 GwH [2][9][10][11][12]
| Land based wind turbines | Offshore wind turbines | Total wind power | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 5,800 | 1,370 | 7,170 |
| 2008 | 5,453 | 1,524 | 6,977 |
| 2009 | 5,046 | 1,664 | 6,710 |
| 2010 | 5,122 | 2,686 | 7,808 |
| 2011 | 6,360 | 3,405 | 9,765 |
| 2012 | 6,796 | 3,472 | 10,268 |
| 2013 | 6,772 | 4,351 | 11,123 |
| 2014 | 7,913 | 5,165 | 13,078 |
Electricity generated by wind power in Denmark rose from 7,170 GwH in 2007 to 13,078 GwH in 2014. Offshore wind power has been growing in importance, rising from 19.1% of total wind production in 2007 to 34.5% of production by 2014.
Renewable thermal
RE thermal generation includes electricity generated from biofuels and electricity generated from the fraction of waste that is biodegradable. Since 2010 RE thermal generation in Denmark has accounted for approximately 4000 GwH per year.[2][9][10][11][12]
Biofuels also play an increasingly important part in district heating. The proportion of heat generated by biofuels has been rising since the 1980s and by 2013 close to 45% of district heat was produced by renewables.[5] A rough calculation of the 60% of households provided with district heat would imply that renewable fuels provide just over a quarter of Denmark’s heating and hot water needs in that year.
Solar power
Solar power is a relatively recent arrival in Denmark and significant generation first occurred in 2012 with 104 GwH of electricity generation. By 2014 this had risen to 597 GwH.[2][12]
References
- ^ "Energinet.dk/ Climate and Environment /Environmental reporting (/electricity generation /thermal power stations), and /re generation /wind power- solar power-other renewable".
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Environmental Report for Danish electricity and CHP – Summary of the status year 2014, Energinet.DK" (PDF).
- ^ "DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC".
- ^ "Share of renewables in energy consumption in the EU rose further to 16% in 2014. Eurostat News Release, 10 February 2016".
- ^ a b c "pg.13, The Danish Energy Model, Innovative, Efficient and Sustainable. Danish Energy Agency".
- ^ "Key Figures from Danish Energy Agency's Preliminary Energy Statistics 2015".
- ^ a b c "p4, The Danish Energy Model, Innovative, Efficient and Sustainable. Danish Energy Agency" (PDF).
- ^ "pg.2, The Danish Energy Model, Innovative, Efficient and Sustainable. Danish Energy Agency".
- ^ a b c d e "Environmental Report 2008, Energinet.DK" (PDF).
- ^ a b c d e "Environmental Report 2009, Energinet.DK" (PDF).
- ^ a b c d e "Environmental Report for Danish electricity and CHP – Summary of the status year 2010, Energinet.DK" (PDF).
- ^ a b c d e f "Environmental Report for Danish electricity and CHP – Summary of the status year 2012, Energinet.DK" (PDF).
External links
- Wind power in Denmark
- Electricity sector in Denmark
- Solar power in Denmark
- Energy in Denmark
- Energy policy of the European Union
- Renewable energy in the European Union
- Renewable energy commercialization
- List of countries by renewable electricity production
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