Denmark could miss out on hitting its target to reduce carbon emissions by 70% in 2030, according to a report by the government’s climate advisory body.
In its 2022 climate report, the Danish Climate Council said that “the government’s climate efforts do not yet demonstrate that” it will reach its ambition of reducing emissions by 70% before 2030, compared with 1990 levels.
The council added that the Danish government needs to set out clear renewable energy targets and that development plans should be increased, including construction of more wind and solar farms.
The report also concluded that from today until 2030, there will be a shortage of 5-8 terawatt hours annually if Denmark is to cover its own electricity consumption to the 70% target.
The Danish industry association, Wind Denmark, said that to close the deficit with wind, it would require establishing 3-6GW of wind power on top of the 2-3GW that was decided with the Finance Act agreement last year, in order to reach the 2030 climate goal.
Wind Denmark’s Martin Risum Bøndergaard said: “We are pleased that the Climate Council now also confirms that we must set ourselves concrete goals of being able to produce the necessary green electricity ourselves and that the process must be accelerated.
“This is in line with what an overall energy sector has long put forward.
“Namely, that there is a need for a clear RE objective and associated action plan with concrete tools that can speed up the development of offshore wind, onshore wind and solar energy.”