© Energy Cluster Denmark 2023
Is the ambitious goal of a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 still realistic? Will we be able to develop and expand the adoption of the technological solutions that can help us reach the targets of the Paris Agreement?
The short answer is ‘Yes’ – at least if you ask the energy cluster that will play a major role in ensuring that Denmark reaches its target.
‘The target is realistic,’ said Peder Østermark Andreasen, chairman of Energy Cluster Denmark.
‘We are now able to see the clear contours of the energy technologies that will allow us to achieve our goal, and there are lots of new green technologies that are ready for full-scale demonstration projects and upscaling. We will make great strides with the green transition if we can reduce the time we spend getting the technological solutions to market. Close collaborations on innovation between large energy companies, smaller companies and researchers can accelerate that process,’ he added.
The UN Emissions Gap Program monitors how much work is left to do in order to reach the 2030 goal. The latest forecast – based on figures from 2019 – shows that we can expect 56GT of carbon emissions in 2030, which is more than double the target.
In other words, there is a need for not only greater efforts, but also a shorter path from technology development to commercialisation.
‘It’s about getting the things we know are capable of making a difference to make a greater difference in a shorter amount of time,’ said Andreasen.
Energy Cluster Denmark constitutes an alliance within the Danish energy sector to address the technological challenges that must be solved to achieve global climate change mitigation targets. The organisation has developed a roadmap which outlines the areas in which new technologies can be brought to market faster through partnerships and collaborations.
‘Fortunately, there are many new green technological solutions that are ready for full-scale demonstration projects and upscaling. In our project portfolio within fields such as power-to-X, carbon capture storage and surplus heating, we can see that the solutions are sufficiently mature now that companies will be able to implement them across and beyond Denmark within a few years’ time. However, this will require making huge investments in upscaling and demonstrations of the solutions in the field today,’ said Andreasen.
‘The entire Danish energy sector has joined forces in supporting the acceleration of the green transition and putting Denmark at the forefront of climate change mitigation efforts. We have accomplished something unique in Denmark by forming an agreement across the entire sector – including businesses, knowledge institutions and public authorities – to work together. This gives us a special ability to further accelerate the positive trend,’ he added.
Dan Jørgensen, Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Supply, welcomed the new roadmap. He has therefore invited Energy Cluster Denmark to a meeting to discuss the facets of the cluster’s work with technology development and the opportunities to shorten timelines through the specific energy technology solutions being developed by the energy cluster’s members.
The collective Danish energy sector has joined forces to establish the cluster organisation Energy Cluster Denmark, the aim of which is to help accelerate the green transition via cluster collaborations on technology development and innovation. A number of major Danish energy companies have joined the board, including Vestas, Ørsted, Danfoss and Siemens Gamesa, and the project portfolio currently amounts to DKK 800 million in funding from the Danish Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the Danish Innovation Fund, EUDP and the EU. The organisation consists of 400 members, including energy companies, knowledge institutions and the public sector, all of which have joined forces to develop specific energy tech solutions with a view to contributing to the 70 per cent carbon-reduction target by 2030.
To achieve Energy Cluster Denmark’s vision of accelerating the green transition, the organisation has started by focusing on the best current technologies and latest research to outline 25 challenges that are realistic for Denmark to solve within a 10-year period via technological innovation. Energy Cluster Denmark has collaborated with industry organisations within the energy sector on input for the new Roadmap (Hydrogen Denmark, Danish Energy, the Danish District Heating Association, the Danish Energy Industries Federations, Oil Gas Denmark, SYNERGI and Wind Denmark). The new roadmap was recently approved by the board of Energy Cluster Denmark.
Energy Cluster Denmark: Head of Communications Thomas Ebdrup: tel. +45 29 72 76 85 / teb@energycluster.dk
© Energy Cluster Denmark 2023