Denmark sets renewables target at 20 percent by 2011: biomass, biogas, biohydrogen, wind
Denmark aims to increase its use of renewable energy to 20 percent of its overall energy mix by the end of 2011, up from 15 percent today, the government announced today. Bioenergy, already providing more than 70 percent of Denmark's renewable energy, will provide the bulk of green energy under the plan. Around half a billion U.S. dollars will be invested in the package.
The agreement, which covers the period 2008-2011, meets or surpasses EU environmental goals in a number of areas. Among its important features: Denmark's overall energy consumption in 2011 to decrease by two percent compared to 2006 figures. Renewable energy will provide 20 percent of the country's energy at that time as well.
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's liberal-conservative government, along with most other parliamentary parties, agreed late Thursday on the new target, the Climate and Energy Ministry said in a statement. "With its new energy agreement, Denmark takes the (global) lead in terms of offensive efforts" to increase the use of renewable energy, Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard said.
The deal was reached less than a month after the European Commission set a renewable energy target for Denmark at 30 percent by 2020 - one of the highest targets for any EU member state - as part of the Union's scheme aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuel (factsheet on country targets at EU's energy portal).
The negotiating process had not been without its share of obstacles. Climate and Energy Minister Hedegaard's collegue, finance minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, feared the measures would end up costing the state too much.
Hedegaard nevertheless managed to convince Rasmussen and other sceptics that extra costs of up DKK 2.5 billion (€337 / US$ 497 million) were necessary to demonstrate Denmark's commitment to responsible energy policy in the run-up to the UN Climate Conference to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009.
The Danish agreement therefor calls for better subsidies for developing energy from biomass, biogas and bio-hydrogen, and for two new wind parks to be built off the Scandinavian country's coast by 2012. Currently, biomass is the most important source of renewable energy in Denmark accounting for approximately 70% of renewable energy consumption.
Green vehicles
Cars running on clean hydrogen fuel will be exempt from taxes while the tax-free status of electric cars will be extended until 2012. Clean hydrogen means in practise that the energy carrier will be created from biomass resources, because electrolysis based hydrogen (water split by electricity from wind) is far too costly:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: biogas :: biohydrogen :: wind :: Denmark ::
The share of renewables providing the electricity for Denmark's electric vehicles will also be proportional to the renewables used in the country.
"The creation of a stable framework for investments in renewable energy is in everyone's interest," Hedegaard said, adding that Denmark would also try to slash its overall energy use by two percent by 2011 compared to 2006 levels, and by four percent by 2020.
When it comes to reducing energy use, "Denmark is a world leader and we intend to continue in the same mode," Hedegaard said, pointing out that "In 2025, (Denmark's) total energy consumption will not have risen in 50 years."
The energy deal was reached after more than a year of negotiations. The far-left Unity List party refused to sign it.
The new agreement only deals with renewables for non-transport energy. Each EU member state will also have to reach a 10 percent biofuel target by 2020.
References:
Danish Government: Historic Energy Agreement Sewed Up - February 22, 2008.
Danish Government: Where does your energy come from?
EU Business: Denmark sets renewable energy target at 20 per cent by 2011 - February 22, 2008.
The agreement, which covers the period 2008-2011, meets or surpasses EU environmental goals in a number of areas. Among its important features: Denmark's overall energy consumption in 2011 to decrease by two percent compared to 2006 figures. Renewable energy will provide 20 percent of the country's energy at that time as well.
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's liberal-conservative government, along with most other parliamentary parties, agreed late Thursday on the new target, the Climate and Energy Ministry said in a statement. "With its new energy agreement, Denmark takes the (global) lead in terms of offensive efforts" to increase the use of renewable energy, Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard said.
The deal was reached less than a month after the European Commission set a renewable energy target for Denmark at 30 percent by 2020 - one of the highest targets for any EU member state - as part of the Union's scheme aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuel (factsheet on country targets at EU's energy portal).
The negotiating process had not been without its share of obstacles. Climate and Energy Minister Hedegaard's collegue, finance minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, feared the measures would end up costing the state too much.
Hedegaard nevertheless managed to convince Rasmussen and other sceptics that extra costs of up DKK 2.5 billion (€337 / US$ 497 million) were necessary to demonstrate Denmark's commitment to responsible energy policy in the run-up to the UN Climate Conference to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009.
The Danish agreement therefor calls for better subsidies for developing energy from biomass, biogas and bio-hydrogen, and for two new wind parks to be built off the Scandinavian country's coast by 2012. Currently, biomass is the most important source of renewable energy in Denmark accounting for approximately 70% of renewable energy consumption.
Green vehicles
Cars running on clean hydrogen fuel will be exempt from taxes while the tax-free status of electric cars will be extended until 2012. Clean hydrogen means in practise that the energy carrier will be created from biomass resources, because electrolysis based hydrogen (water split by electricity from wind) is far too costly:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: biogas :: biohydrogen :: wind :: Denmark ::
The share of renewables providing the electricity for Denmark's electric vehicles will also be proportional to the renewables used in the country.
"The creation of a stable framework for investments in renewable energy is in everyone's interest," Hedegaard said, adding that Denmark would also try to slash its overall energy use by two percent by 2011 compared to 2006 levels, and by four percent by 2020.
When it comes to reducing energy use, "Denmark is a world leader and we intend to continue in the same mode," Hedegaard said, pointing out that "In 2025, (Denmark's) total energy consumption will not have risen in 50 years."
The energy deal was reached after more than a year of negotiations. The far-left Unity List party refused to sign it.
The new agreement only deals with renewables for non-transport energy. Each EU member state will also have to reach a 10 percent biofuel target by 2020.
References:
Danish Government: Historic Energy Agreement Sewed Up - February 22, 2008.
Danish Government: Where does your energy come from?
EU Business: Denmark sets renewable energy target at 20 per cent by 2011 - February 22, 2008.
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