Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Denmark's ascent to the top position as the nation with the world's highest
percentage of wind power contributing to national electricity generation.
In addition to illustrating the inluence of technological momentum, there
are two other contemplative policy insights to be gleaned from studying wind
power difusion in Denmark. First, Denmark's wind power development expe-
rience demonstrates that grassroots support mechanisms which engage com-
munities and individuals in the development process bolster the efectiveness
of economic incentives.
2
Second, Denmark's wind power story demonstrates
that establishing a technological foothold is never a guarantee of uncontested
market entrenchment. As any technology matures, its impact on society, busi-
ness and political fortunes evolves. In Denmark, wind power began its ascent
as a technology for the rural masses. By 2001, 80% of all wind power turbines
installed in Denmark were owned by community cooperatives, comprising as
many as 150,000 individuals.
3
Yet as wind power in Denmark enters the second
decade of the twenty-irst century, mega projects are increasingly spearheaded
by utilities and major wind power development irms. As this pattern of own-
ership has evolved, public support for wind power has tailed of. Concerns over
the cost of wind power and the impact that this technology is having on the
Danish landscape has cast a degree of uncertainty over whether or not the gov-
ernment can achieve its laudable goal of generating 50% of Denmark's electric-
ity through wind power by 2020.
4
As this chapter will document, a unique conluence of STEP conditions
set Denmark on a path toward wind power difusion. herefore, replication
of Denmark's policy model will not guarantee similar levels of success in
other nations that seek to emulate Denmark's wind power achievements by
replicating Danish policies. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the Danish
approach to wind power development will continue to be successful as the
government struggles to adjust policy to address the social, economic, and
technical challenges associated with higher levels of wind power difusion.
4.2 AN OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN DENMARK
Table 4.1 highlights an interesting trend in Denmark. Between 2000 and
2010, global primary energy consumption increased by 28%, yet primary
energy consumption in Denmark actually
decreased
by 3%, despite economic
growth of 6.7%. Moreover, this is not a recent development. Compared to
1980, by 2010, GDP in Denmark nearly doubled, yet primary energy con-
sumption grew by less than 7%.
5
Simply put, Denmark has achieved a degree
of success in decoupling economic growth from energy consumption. his
is a result of eforts on the part of the government, industry, utilities,
