Future energy supply

There is an increasing awareness in Europe of the dependence on foreign fossil fuels – especially from unstable areas such as the Middle East and Russia. The EU green paper on security of supply estimates, that 70% of EU’s energy needs will be covered by imported fuels within 20-30 years compared to 50% today.

When conventional sources are depleted

Some day the fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal will no longer be abundant and cheap. This is also the case in Denmark where the Danish Energy Authority expects the oil- and gas production to peak in 2006/07 resulting in a return to importing oil again from 2011. Having this in mind a Danish main target should be to continue having a netexport of energy, when the oil and gas reserves are diminishing. Expanding wind power generation can be a major contributor in this process.

35% wind power in sight

Today approx. 20% of the Danish electricity consumption is wind power. This is a world record. As a result of the latest Danish energy agreement of 29 March 2004 two offshore wind farms totalling 400 MW will be built. In combination with the continued repowering of older turbines, this will increase the share of wind power to more than 25%. The Danish Wind Industry Association works for a target of 35% wind power in 2015.

New systems suited for wind

Since wind is a resource, which has a natural variation, it is necessary to develop the electricity systems to actively balance the fluctuating wind power production. This includes:

• Conventional power plants based on fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) or biomass (straw, wood chips etc.) should have a clear incentive to regulate production as the wind changes
• Electricity consumption should be flexible benefiting from automatic systems moving consumption to windy periods from less windy periods
• An effective short term market insuring an efficient balancing of wind power in the electricity system

Related links:

Intelligent system solutions is a Danish expertise
Wind as heat supplier
Hydrogen – the long term investment

EWEAs rapport 2005: “Large scale integration of wind energy in the European power supply: analysis, issues and recommendations”