WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

4.2.1 Denmark
European Small Hydropower Association, Stream Map
Key facts
Population 5,543,453 1
Area 43,094 km 2
Climate Temperate; humid and overcast; mild,
windy winters and cool summers 1
Topography Low and flat to gently rolling plains 1
Rain
Pattern
The average annual precipitation over
land is 712 mm but varies greatly from
year to year and from place to place. On
average, it rains most in the central parts
of Jutland with over 900 mm and least in
the Kattegat and Bornholm with some
500 mm. 2
39.7%
Electricity sector overview
Denmark was the only energy self-sufficient country in
the European Union in 2011 with 40.7 per cent of
electricity coming from renewable energy sources
(figure 1). 3 4 Wind is the most important renewable
energy source in Denmark. Operation of the second
largest hydropower plant (Karlsgårdeværket) has been
suspended until 2016 to allow wetlands restoration.
Thermal power stations provide heat simultaneously for
some district heating networks (i.e 76.3 per cent of
district heating is produced by combined heat and
Biogas 1.0%
Oil 1.8%
Non-Renew able Waste 2.2%
Biomass 11.5%
Natural Gas
16.5%
Wind
28.1%
Coal
power plants). 5
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in Denmark
Source: Danish Energy Agency 5
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
SHP installed
capacity
SHP potential
9.3 MW
9.3 MW
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Denmark
In 2010, Denmark had 35 small hydropower plants with
a total installed capacity of 9.3 MW (28 GWh/year). Due
to environmental constraints, no further hydropower
potential is available, the aim is to maintain the number
of already installed plants. 6
Renewable energy policy
The new Danish Energy Agreement for 2020 includes
the following targets: more than 35 per cent renewable
energy in final energy consumption, 50 per cent of
electricity consumption to be supplied by wind power
and gross energy consumption reduced by 7.6 per cent
in relation to 2010. 4 For 2050, the consumption target is
100 per cent renewable energy in the energy and
transport sectors. Electricity production from renewable
resources is supported through price premiums and
fixed feed-in tariffs. There is a high level of certainty
about future support as the support scheme applies to
the normal lifetime of the plant.
Legislation on small hydropower
There is support available for hydropower stations of
less than 10 MW through the Promotion of Renewable
Energy Act (No. 1392 of 27 December 2008). 7 The
economic support scheme for small hydropower is the
feed-in-tariff of approximately 8 euro cents/kWh. The
additional charge for electricity generated by
hydropower cannot exceed DKK 1.5 million annually
(about US$263,000), from Articles 47 and 48 of the Law
on Renewable Energy. 6
Barriers to small hydropower development
Residual flow requirements are judged individually for
each project. 6
References
1. Central Intelligence Agency (2012). The World
Factbook: Denmark. Available from
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/.
2. Danmarks Meteorologiske Institut (2011).
Precipitation and sun in Denmark. Available from
www.dmi.dk/dmi/en/index/klima/klimaet_indtil_nu/ne
dboer_og_sol_i_danmark.htm.
3. Danish Energy Agency (2012). Renewables now cover
more than 40% of electricity consumption. Available
from www.ens.dk/enus/info/news/news_archives/2012/sider/20120924rene
wablesnowcovermorethan40percent.aspx.
4. Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building,
Danish Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Denmark (2012). Denmark: Our Green
Economy – Lessons, Responsibilities and the Way
Forward. Kopenhagen.
5. Danish Energy Agency (2012). Energistatistik 2011.
Kopenhagen. September 2012.
6. European Small Hydropower Association and
Intelligent Energy Europe (2012). Stream Map for Small
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