Located on Denmark’s west coast, Hvide Sande (White Sands) is a picturesque fishing town known for its stunning beaches and tight-knit community of approximately 3,000 inhabitants. Remarkably, 96% of the town’s residents are connected to its District Heating Network, which boasts the lowest heating prices in Denmark, a result of its forward-thinking embrace of renewable energy and strategic thermal storage, offering both economic and long-term environmental benefits.
Wind, Solar, and Thermal Storage: The Backbone of Hvide Sande’s Success
At the heart of Hvide Sande’s affordable district heating system are three large wind turbines, a solar park, an electric boiler, a large-scale heat pump, and most importantly, a vast thermal energy storage system. These technologies work together to decouple energy supply from demand, ensuring that the town can make the most of renewable energy when it’s available and store any excess electricity as heat for later use.
This balancing act is key to Hvide Sande’s ability to keep heating prices exceptionally low. The thermal store acts as a giant energy “battery,” storing heat that can be used whenever it’s needed, not just when the wind blows or the sun shines. This flexibility means that even when electricity prices are low or negative, the town can continue to generate income by efficiently using and storing energy as heated water. This ensures that residents benefit from consistently low heating prices, even when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining.
Moreover, Hvide Sande’s thermal storage capacity is set to double with the construction of a new 3,100 cubic meter accumulation tank. This expansion will allow even more heat to be stored, further stabilizing prices and enhancing the town’s energy resilience.
A Back-Up Plan for Times of Low Renewable Production
In periods when renewable electricity production is low, Hvide Sande turns to its gas-fired Combined Heat & Power plant (CHP). This versatile piece of equipment produces both electricity and heat, with any excess electricity sold back to the grid at market rates. The revenue from electricity sales is then reinvested into the district heating system, further driving down the cost of heating for local residents.
As Denmark continues its green energy transition, fossil gas is being phased out and replaced by renewable gas, consisting of green and synthetic gas. In 2023, green gas was estimated to account for 30% of the total gas consumption, and according to the Danish Energy Agency’s forecast, by 2030, biogas will cover between 89-100% of the total Danish gas consumption. As the country moves away from natural gas for individual home heating, green gas will increasingly serve the energy demands of industries and combined heat and power (CHP) plants, ensuring that critical sectors can maintain efficient, low-carbon operations without compromising on energy supply. Furthermore, CHP remains key to Denmark’s energy security, providing resilience during periods of low renewable energy generation.
Lower Heating Prices Through Renewable Energy
Hvide Sande’s district heating system has not only kept heating prices stable but has also driven a dramatic reduction in CO2 emissions. In 2020, over 92% of the town’s heat was generated from renewable sources—wind, solar, and heat pumps—with just 7.6% coming from natural gas. This shift away from fossil fuels has made Hvide Sande a leader in Denmark’s green transition.
By maintaining control over their own electricity supply, thanks to owning the cable that connects the wind turbines to the heating plant, Hvide Sande avoids costly transmission fees. This is yet another way the town keeps heating prices down, a strategy that UK coastal towns could emulate by investing in local energy infrastructure.
Facts about Hvide Sande’s Wind Turbines
- The three wind turbines produce up to 15,000 MWh per turbine per year during a normal wind year.
- The project, which cost £11.2 million, was commissioned on 30 December 2011.
- Hvide Sande’s wind turbines power a 10 MW electric boiler and a 4.65 MW heat pump installed in 2020.
- In combination with a 9,576 m² solar heating plant (built in 2014), the district heating plant has reduced CO2 emissions by 95% in eight years.
- In 2020, 92.4% of the heat was generated from renewable green energy (wind, solar, and heat pumps).
- Hvide Sande Fjernvarme owns the cable from the wind turbines to the heating plant, avoiding transport costs.
- Approximately 96% of the town’s 3,000 residents are connected to the district heating network.
A Vision for UK Coastal Towns
Coastal towns in the UK are uniquely positioned to follow in Hvide Sande’s footsteps. With access to strong coastal winds and increasing potential for solar energy generation, many of these communities could benefit from building their own renewable-powered district heating systems.
By investing in large-scale wind turbines, solar parks, and thermal storage, UK towns could decouple their energy supply from demand, just as Hvide Sande has done. The addition of backup gas CHP or similar technology would provide a safety net during periods of low renewable production while also offering a revenue stream to keep heating prices even lower.
Hvide Sande’s success demonstrates that renewable energy can not only reduce carbon emissions but also lead to significantly lower heating costs for consumers.