320 L. BOSCÁN ET AL.
Danish wind power development, which started in 1977, is a visible
facet of this success. At the end of 2018, installed wind power capacity was
6.1 GW, accounting for more than one-third of installed electricity generation capacity (Danish Energy Agency 2018c, 2019). At the end of 2017,
wind power production accounted for 43.2% of gross domestic electricity
supply, setting a new record; this represents an increase of more than
20 percentage points compared to 2010 (Danish Energy Agency 2018c).
Growth continued in 2019 with another increase to 46.9%. Windmills
now out-produce domestic electricity demand frequently. In 2018, the
highest ratio of wind power production to domestic electricity demand
for an hour was 149%, reached at 4:00 (UTC + 1) on September 22,
2018 (Energinet 2019). Improved electricity interconnections enabled
excess production exports to Denmark’s neighbors (Norway, Sweden, and
Germany).
However, beyond wind, there are several less visible aspects at the
core of Denmark’s success. These include energy planning and organized community participation. Market and infrastructure integration
with neighboring countries, which possess fuel and technology mixes
that complement Denmark’s, also contribute. Similarly, natural resource
development, including oil and gas, has enabled sustainable and secure
supply.
When the first oil crisis broke out (October 1973), Denmark had
recently begun its first production of oil and gas (the Dan field) and
was still reliant on imported oil. Domestic natural gas production was
insignificant and only used for own consumption in the North Sea platforms, which were at the exploration stage. Yet in 1972, oil represented
92% of gross final energy consumption, 78% of fuels used in electricity
production, and 75% of final energy consumption for heating purposes.
In contrast, at the end of 2017, oil accounted for 37% of gross final energy
consumption and only 1.4% of all fuels used in electricity production
(Danish Energy Agency 2018d). The Danish government’s first energy
plan (1976) responded directly to the crisis. It proposed a shift to coal
and nuclear. The plan laid out the foundations for a country-wide natural
gas network and established a national heating planning system at the
municipality level, with a focus on energy efficiency and socio-economic
viability. Popular rejection of nuclear generation led to a decision in 1985
to forego it (Danish Energy Agency 2016; Meyer 2000), but otherwise
these plans came into action and shaped Denmark’s long-term strategy
toward independence from fossil fuels.
Danish wind power development, which started in 1977, is a visible
facet of this success. At the end of 2018, installed wind power capacity was
6.1 GW, accounting for more than one-third of installed electricity generation capacity (Danish Energy Agency 2018c, 2019). At the end of 2017,
wind power production accounted for 43.2% of gross domestic electricity
supply, setting a new record; this represents an increase of more than
20 percentage points compared to 2010 (Danish Energy Agency 2018c).
Growth continued in 2019 with another increase to 46.9%. Windmills
now out-produce domestic electricity demand frequently. In 2018, the
highest ratio of wind power production to domestic electricity demand
for an hour was 149%, reached at 4:00 (UTC + 1) on September 22,
2018 (Energinet 2019). Improved electricity interconnections enabled
excess production exports to Denmark’s neighbors (Norway, Sweden, and
Germany).
However, beyond wind, there are several less visible aspects at the
core of Denmark’s success. These include energy planning and organized community participation. Market and infrastructure integration
with neighboring countries, which possess fuel and technology mixes
that complement Denmark’s, also contribute. Similarly, natural resource
development, including oil and gas, has enabled sustainable and secure
supply.
When the first oil crisis broke out (October 1973), Denmark had
recently begun its first production of oil and gas (the Dan field) and
was still reliant on imported oil. Domestic natural gas production was
insignificant and only used for own consumption in the North Sea platforms, which were at the exploration stage. Yet in 1972, oil represented
92% of gross final energy consumption, 78% of fuels used in electricity
production, and 75% of final energy consumption for heating purposes.
In contrast, at the end of 2017, oil accounted for 37% of gross final energy
consumption and only 1.4% of all fuels used in electricity production
(Danish Energy Agency 2018d). The Danish government’s first energy
plan (1976) responded directly to the crisis. It proposed a shift to coal
and nuclear. The plan laid out the foundations for a country-wide natural
gas network and established a national heating planning system at the
municipality level, with a focus on energy efficiency and socio-economic
viability. Popular rejection of nuclear generation led to a decision in 1985
to forego it (Danish Energy Agency 2016; Meyer 2000), but otherwise
these plans came into action and shaped Denmark’s long-term strategy
toward independence from fossil fuels.