Denmark has outlined an ambitious plan to become completely independent from fossil fuels by 2050.
The country’s government has published its “Energy Strategy 2050” document that contains a raft of initiatives to drastically cut the use of coal, oil and gas, and rapidly increase the use of renewable energy.
Energy efficiency measures and research and development measures will also help the country to achieve the goals set out in the document, which include a 33 per cent cut in fossil fuel use by 2020.
The plan has been publicly backed by the UK, which has itself set ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, and will increase pressure on the European Commission to consider more ambitious environmental targets.
“Denmark is the first country to present such a specific and ambitious strategy for achieving independence from fossil fuels,” said Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Lykke Friis. “This is no small task, however. Over the next 40 years, we need to cut our consumption of coal, oil and gas four times faster than we have over the past 40 years.”
The Energy Strategy 2050 initiatives include the provision of subsidies for biogas facilities, conversion from coal to biomass, the development of up to 1000 MW of offshore wind, and boosting energy efficiency with the use of smart meters and more stringent building codes.
The government also wants to support research and demonstration activities in the renewable energy field, and says that its policies will result in “moderate” increases in electricity and heat costs for homeowners.
“No one is saying that carrying out major investments in energy efficiency and expanding our use of renewable energy is going to be free,” said Friis. “But the alternative – continued dependence on fossil fuels – will, as all signs indicate, only become more expensive in the years to come.
“Converting to renewable energy will shield Denmark from the effects of increasing energy prices.”
The EU has agreed to an overall 20 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, and has also agreed to increase this to 30 per cent if a global deal on climate is reached.
The UK and Denmark, however, want this deeper cut implemented regardless of progress on Kyoto talks.
“Decarbonising further, faster, can keep Europe ahead in the global low carbon race, but the UK and Denmark can’t do that alone,” said Friis and UK Climate Change minister Chris Huhne. “That’s why the EU Commission’s forthcoming 2050 roadmap must kick-start the debate in Europe by offering a cost-effective, credible and ambitious pathway that enables member states to take the decisions that will stimulate low-carbon investment and take Europe beyond the cul-de-sac that’s the current 20 per cent cut target.”
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