Danish biomass

Denmark has a reputation as a global pioneer of renewable energy. Biomass plays an important role in this: more than two thirds of Denmark’s renewable energy comes from biomass, thanks to the important role of agriculture in the country.

FACTS

Percentage of electricity mix

20%

Long-term sustainability target

70% emissions reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels; climate neutral by 2050

Denmark started looking into renewable energy after the oil crisis of 1973. After a significant rise in the use of biomass in the past few decades, bioenergy has become the most widely used renewable energy source in Denmark, with bioenergy accounting for 64% of the consumption of renewable energy, with wood biomass alone accounting for 48%. Bioenergy as a whole plays an integral part in the Danish green transition, and has been essential in reducing the share of power production from fossil fuels from 66% to 20% during the last decade. Biomass alone now accounts for a greater share of Denmark’s energy mix than coal and gas combined.