Denmark Aims to Generate 50% of Electricity from Wind by 2020

July 26th, 2012 by Joshua S Hill

After already generating a massive 26 percent of its energy requirements from wind power, Denmark is increasing its commitment to a greener future by planning to produce 50 percent of its electricity generation from wind power by 2020.

This comes as part of the country’s plans to phase out total use of fossil fuels by 2050, and will work alongside a second target to increase carbon dioxide cuts to 40 percent by 2020.

You’d think that maybe the populous wouldn’t be so happy; that’s certainly the case in other countries, like Australia and the United States. But you’d be wrong. 91 percent of respondents to a public opinion survey conducted by the Danish Wind Industry Association said that the country should expand its use of wind power, and 85 percent of those surveyed said it should happen in their own local area.

Good job, Denmark!

Source: Reve
Image Source: Nathan Siemers

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Tags: 2020, Denmark, denmark clean energy, denmark renewable energy, denmark wind, denmark wind 2020, denmark wind energy, denmark wind target, quickies

About the Author

Joshua S Hill I'm a Christian, a nerd, a geek, and I believe that we're pretty quickly directing planet-Earth into hell in a handbasket! I also write for Fantasy Book Review (.co.uk), and can be found writing articles for a variety of other sites. Check me out at about.me for more.

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Anne

In the mean time in The Netherlands, the province of North Holland has completely banned all new wind project effective immediately. North Holland of all places! The birthplace of modern windmills. Where they once filled the entire Zaanstreek (which is now one of the main tourist attractions), and processed the commodities shipped to Amsterdam from around the world and powered Holland into it’s Golden Century. We are betraying our heritage.
- Ross
  
  Are there any mitigating circumstances? Or is that as stupid as it sounds.
- http://cleantechnica.com/ Zachary Shahan
  
  Oh, my. Yes, this is shocking! What the heck is going on in the world today?
  - Dave2020
    
    Hi Zach, it probably stems from the same problem that we suffer in Britain. i.e. the resource curse:-
    
    “A commonly cited example of the resource curse is the Dutch disease, a situation which occurred in the Netherlands following a large natural gas find. The steps of the Dutch disease include:
    
    1. A nation finds ample natural resource reserves
    
    2. Economic focus begins to target this high-income industry
    
    3. Skilled workers from other sectors transfer to the resource sector
    
    4. Higher wages make the national currency less competitive
    
    5. Other industries, especially the manufacturing sector, begin to suffer.
    
    Both, the Dutch disease and the resource curse have a paradoxical impact on the overall economy following the discovery of large natural resource reserves.”
    
    http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/resource-curse.asp#ixzz2GdecTCwV
    
    Now the British version of the disease manifests itself yet again with an enthusiasm for gas fracking!! Our manufacturing sector declined so far, I doubt it will ever recover, so we rely on foreign investment to develop our green industries.
    
    In contrast, the Danes have a long history of community involvement:-
    
    http://www.ewea.org/blog/2012/10/local-communities-invest-in-danish-wind-energy/#more-4041
    
    Happy New Year.