When there is no wind and the sun is not shining, electricity becomes so expensive that we risk power cuts. Here are five suggestions to address the problem, writes Head of Development at the Danish District Heating Association Kim Behnke and 11 co-authors in this opinion piece, which was published on 23 November 2022 in Altinget.
Putting a bandage on a broken arm, that is very much how the Energy Bills Support, and the Energy Bills Relief schemes feel like. Although these schemes are very much welcome in tackling the rise in energy costs, it does raise concerns whether this is too short-sighted and will hurt in the long run. Perhaps encouraging energy conscious behaviour and promoting good energy habits is also required?
The energy crisis has dramatically pushed Danes to convert from fossil fuel heating, such as natural gas and oil to heat networks. New figures from the Danish Heat networks Association show that around 20,000 new homes will be connected to heat networks by 2022.
In Denmark, renewables are widely referred to as the “champagne of energy”. Because we can’t always rely on the sun to shine or the wind to blow, renewable energy will always be scarce and therefore a costly resource that should be used sparingly and intelligently. Hence, satisfying our future energy requirements from renewables will always require a guaranteed supply of energy.
Heat Network’s offer the possibility to accept heat from multiple heat sources.
It is clear to see why Danish heat consumers with individual gas-fired boilers living in gas network zones are screaming for heat networks. Odsherred Heat Network is not an uncommon example of how having a wide energy mix is lowering costs for consumers, and the more heat network connections are made the lower the price of heat will be in the future.
Hydrogen has been hailed as the answer to our energy trilemma, although it seems that the most important part of the story may have been lost in translation.
Heat customers in five Danish municipalities are spending an additional £433 million a year to keep warm when compared to prices in 2020. This emphasises the need for faster heat network deployment, says the Danish District Heating Association.
The Hornsyld Project is a good example of how Hornsyld-Bråskov local council is planning to apply the Heat Plan Denmark 2021 to transform the heat supply for Hornsyld’s 1600 inhabitants, schools, sports facilities, and businesses.
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