The Danish energy policy has three focus points: security of
supply, climate impact and green growth
The Government’s target is a Danish energy supply 100 % based on
renewable energy in 2050.
Energy savings – the road forward
Energy savings and energy efficiency are important components of
Danish energy policy and contribute to limiting energy consumption.
We need significant and cost-effective energy savings within all
areas. We need to spend less energy in our homes; enterprises need
to be made more energy-efficient; and we need to aim special
efforts at public institutions.
The initiatives proposed by the government in 'Our future energy'
(November 2011) will result in a reduction of almost 14% in 2020
relative to 2006.
The
energy policy
agreement from 2008 sets out ambitious goals
for energy-saving initiatives. Total annual energy savings must be
raised to 1.5% of the final energy consumption for 2006 (10.3 PJ
per year), which corresponds to the combined energy consumption of
about 110,000 homes.
Furthermore, we must reduce gross energy consumption by 4% by 2020
relative to 2006. At the same time, it has been decided that the
energy-savings requirements of energy companies will be increased
by about 85% from 2010, and that the requirements for the energy
performance of buildings will be tightened by at least 25% in 2010,
2015 and in 2020.
Read more about energy savings in Denmark
here
Renewable energy in Denmark
Along with security of supply, energy savings and green growth,
expanding the use of renewable energy in Denmark is at the core of
the Danish energy policy. As a step towards the long-term goal for
a green-growth economy independent of fossil fuels, the government
is taking pains to deliver the ambitious goal of a share of 50%
wind power in electricity consumption in 2020.
Read more about the governments targets regardng renewable energy
in 'Our future energy' (November 2011).
At least 30% will be renewable energy in final energy consumption
by 2020, as stipulated in the EU climate and energy package. In
addition, there is a binding target of 10% renewable energy in the
transport sector by 2020.
The energy agreement from February 2008 improved framework
conditions and enhanced support for wind, biomass, biogas, waste
and other renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic solar
modules, wave power and gasification.
Read more about renewable energy in Denmark
here
Climate Policy
Denmark has committed to meeting an ambitious and
binding target for reducing greenhouse gases by 2020. This target
is the most ambitious in the EU: By 2020, Denmark must have reduced
the greenhouse gas emissions from Danish non-ETS sectors by 20%
relative to 2005.
Denmark’s international commitment to a significant reduction in
the greenhouse gas emissions not covered by the ETS in the period
2013-2020 poses a special challenge.
The government's climate target is to cut greenhouse gas emissions
by 40% by 2020 in relation to 1990.
In order to reach both the total target for the 2013-2020 and the
target of 40%, the government will present a climate plan in
2012.
The high level of ambition underpins the need for a Danish policy
that will give Denmark the highest return on climate and energy
investments. A good example of such a climate and energy policy is
investing in wind turbines.
Another good example is
the electric
car. The current investments in expanding the
infrastructure to accommodate electric cars are a relatively cheap
way to reduce CO2 emissions from the transport sector. The electric
car solves three problems in one, since it also provides energy
savings and opportunities for increasing the share of renewable
energy in our energy system.
Security of supply through energy savings, renewable energy
and European collaboration
The recipe for long-term security of supply is to reduce
energy consumption through energy savings, increased use of
renewables, and closer collaboration in Europe.