A little story from Denmark: Danish Energy Policy.
To gain a little momentum, I decided to start with something I already enjoyed learning about. There was no escaping it, after one and a half years in Copenhagen, it is impossible not to develop an interest in the environment and renewable energy sources. It is part of the air you take in in Denmark! The fact that I come from a country where the economy is almost entirely reliant on oil and gas export meant that I paid particular attention to developments in alternative energy use. That is how I read about the Danish energy policy. I also had many interesting discussion about the subject with some impressively well educated Danes and I picked up most of what follows through living in Denmark, talking to people and a few fact checks on governement and research institution websites *. The story began in the 1970s when Denmark was entirely dependent on foreign oil and gas as energy sources, and consequently, was badly hit by the Arab-led oil embargo in 1973-74. This crisis prompted Denmark to change its energy policy, and to embark on a major research programme to develop alternative sources of energy. This was also complemented by increased oil production from Danish fields n the North sea, and by increased taxes on natural gas and oil to discourage consumption. The result is that Denmark went from being totally dependent on foreign oil, to being self sufficient within a period of 30 years. One particular achievement was the use of wind power to generate electricity, which now accounts for about a fifth of Danish electricity production. Moreover, Danish wind turbine industry became the largest in the world and accounts for about 40% of the world market. Current research in this field focuses on increasing its efficiency, reducing production costs, and expanding its use. Also, Denmark has invested extensively into other renewable energy technologies including , among many, solar power and biomass energy (energy derived from burning waste). Consequently, renewable energy sources are gradually accounting for more and more of Denmark’s energy production, and the Danes are amongst the lowest consumers of energy in the European Union. So, a successful research and development programme which also gave rise to a globally competitive industry and security in the energy sector. What I really like about the Danish energy policy is that it involved everybody: the government, scientists, the industry and the general Danish
population. The development of the wind power industry was based on the collaboration between publicly funded research and industry. For example, while small Danish companies develped wind turbines for export, Risø, the Danish National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, conducted research in the field, and provided test facilities and certificate procedures. This resulted in a boost to the danish wind turbine manufacturing industry and new job opportunities. Public polls evaluated the the public s opinion on the use of wind power.
Polymer solar cells- www.Risoe.dk
A close connection to the industry sector is a fundamental aspect to the organisation of Risø, which routinely offers training, advice and solutions to companies and businesses. Moreover, a quick look at research programmes at Riso shows that they often include an assessment of the impact of a given project on the society and the economy. Awareness of such projects is increased via large scale public demonstrations in museums and popular festivals, such as the Roskilde festival (huge music and culture festival that generates funds for cultural and humanitarian causes). The Danes are also involved in making decisions on science and technology issues through a Danish invention referred to as “the consensus conference”. The consensus conference is based on the random selection of a panel of lay citizens who subsequently receive thorough briefing on a given subject. Then, over a period of 3 days, this panel can probe a panel of experts on several aspects of the issue,ranging from biological to legal to ethical aspects. Any concerns about the issue are debated and the conference is open to the public and the press. On the final day, a report with the citizen panel::::s
position on the issue is delivered. This method aims to promote the dialogue between the experts,the lay population, and the politicians, and I think it is a fantastic way of making decisions on controversial matters. It was used for issues including the use of genetic information, environmental issues, noise and technology and many others. This public involvement may explain why Denmark has been so successful in developing such an environmentally friendly society. Living in Denmark, one is not conscious of being in an energy-saving environment. It comes so naturally to the Danes, and they are admirably well educated in matters related to energy and the climate. I am certainly getting an education!
* http://www.investindk.com, http://www.risoe.dk.