The Danish government aims to quadruple energy production from solar cells and onshore wind turbines by 2030, said the Ministry of Energy, Climate and Utilities on Tuesday.
Presenting the energy reform proposal "Denmark can do more II", the ministry said the country must reduce its consumption of natural gas in order to become independent of Russian energy as soon as possible.
According to the proposal, approximately 400,000 homeowners with fossil heating will have to switch to another heat source. The district heating network must be expanded so that even more households can get green and cheap heat. The government's goal is for the last district heating projects to be completed by 2028.
In terms of offshore wind, it is estimated that there is potential for utilizing 35 gigawatt (GW) offshore wind in Denmark by 2050, and the government wants to reap that potential to the full. The 35 GW offshore wind is 15 times the country's current offshore wind capacity, said the ministry.
According to the proposal, such a significant increase in green energy should be accomplished without "significant costs" to consumers and businesses, while also enabling Denmark to become a net exporter of green energy to the rest of Europe by 2030.
Meanwhile, the proposal outlined a green tax reform that would "pave the way for an ambitious green transformation of industry" by increasing the cost of future use of oil, coal, and gas via a more uniform carbon emission tax.
"The government is proposing a green tax reform that will be a primary driver of the green transition. The reform includes a uniform carbon emission tax as well as green support for Danish employers," according to a press release from the ministry.
Editor: Galia
