Monday 27 November 2017

Denmark ‘on track to be fossil fuel free by 2050’

Denmark is on track to meet its ambitious goal of becoming a low carbon economy, independent of fossil fuels, by 2050.

That's according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), which suggests the nation is also powering towards its 2030 target to generate at least half of the country's total energy consumption through renewables.

The IEA says the share of renewables in the country's power system is currently sitting at around 45% - it has the highest share of wind power in electricity generation out of all IEA nations.

The group suggests as well as increasing the proportion of clean power, Denmark must also figure out how to more rapidly decarbonise its heating sector.

It already uses combined heat and power (CHP) plants to provide half the electricity and two-thirds of heat sold in the country and is gradually switching from coal, natural gas and oil in heating systems to more sustainable biomass.

Paul Simons, the IEA Deputy Executive Director, said: "Denmark is now widely recognised as a global leader in integrating variable renewable energy while at the same time maintaining a highly reliable and secure electricity system, thanks to a flexible domestic power system and a high level of cross-border connections."