New analysis: 138,000 jobs and 3200 companies in the energy cluster

Growth and new cross-cutting coherent value chains characterise the Danish energy system. An energy system that is currently moving from silos to sector coupling. This is shown by a brand new analysis of Denmark’s energy cluster prepared by IRIS Group.

At least 3200 companies, 138,000 jobs and more than DKK 400 billion in turnover and exports. The Danish energy cluster is large and has been growing rapidly since 2010.

This is shown by a new analysis “From silos to sector coupling” prepared by Iris Group for Energy Cluster Denmark. This is the first time that the energy cluster has been systematically mapped and also includes a map of the coherent energy system and the value chains that already exist and are underway.

The energy sector has historically been divided into silos with strong and optimized independent value chains for electricity, heat, gas, transport, etc. However, the green transition of our society and the rapid development of energy technology open up new cross-cutting and interconnected value chains and require new understanding throughout the sector of the systems and contexts in which the actors are involved. In this perspective, sector coupling is a crucial element in achieving the national climate targets in 2030 and 2050.

According to Glenda Napier, CEO of Energy Cluster Denmark, the new analysis shows that the energy system of the future is very much interconnected.

“Where the traditional value chains in the energy sector were optimised within e.g. energy production or energy consumption, the energy system of the future will to a large extent be characterised by new cross-cutting and coherent value chains as well as value chains that arise against other sectors such as the transport sector. The energy areas will all be mutually dependent on each other and the technology development that the world calls for will both be cross-cutting across energy areas, e.g. between energy production, energy management and energy infrastructure, but of course also continue to take place within the individual energy areas. For example, we need to bring down the price of green hydrogen significantly. This will be done by scaling, optimising and standardising electrolysis technology specifically,” says Glenda Napier.

Download the analysis here: From silos to sector coupling

The analysis “From silos to sector coupling” was prepared by Iris Group in July 2022 and is based on qualitative interviews with key players in the Danish energy cluster as well as quantitative data from Statistics Denmark.

If you have any questions about the analysis, please contact Glenda Napier, CEO of Energy Cluster Denmark on + 45 42 14 91 74 or by e-mail gna@energycluster.dk