Aarhus – Capital of Wind Energy - Aarhus.dk

#6Aarhus is bound for a positionas the leading global knowledgecentre of wind energy.Cross-sector cooperation is thekey to success.A knowledge Brokerin the Green Economy• Access to knowledge is crucial to the wind industry• Designing the sustainable energy systems of the future requires close cooperation between skillsclusters and universities• Aarhus is launching a number of initiatives to become a leading global knowledge centreThings are really heating up in Central Denmark’s research,innovation, and business environments. In Aarhus’educational and research institutions, in the city administrationand in the business world, everybody is well-awareof the rapid development in the wind industry. A numberof initiatives are underway to consolidate the region’sstrong position as an incubator for global wind energy development.They revolve, of course, around the region’s major windturbine manufacturers and the closely knit network ofsuppliers surrounding them. It is widely recognized thata crucial condition for the success of the industry is theaccess to a highly skilled workforce and specialised knowledgeabout wind technology – especially concerning howto adapt technology to the intelligent and cross-border energysystems of the future.This knowledge does not rest with individual companies,research institutions or public authorities. It must beattained, processed and utilised through a close cooperationbetween them – and other skill clusters around theworld.The City of Aarhus has decided to take a central rolein this process. As mayor Nicolai Wammen and aldermanLaura Hay put it: “It is our shared ambition that Aarhusshould be the world’s capital of wind energy: The most importantglobal gathering point and skills centre for the developmentof the sustainable energy systems of the future.”Within the next few years, four initiatives in particular willaim to fulfill that vision:• AN AMBITIOUS CLIMATE STRATEGY: The City Councilhas committed itself to obtain carbon neutrality by2030. Supporting wind power and the regional windindustry has been singled out as a key priority. Onemeasure is the erection of an off-shore wind turbinepark in Aarhus Bay. It will supply green electricity tothe entire Aarhus area, work as a testing ground fornew wind turbine design and hopefully be attractiveto wind companies around the world. The Council isalso supporting research and business partnershipswhich will improve the ability to exploit wind energyand seeks to establish more public-private development,demonstration, and implementation partnershipsbetween authorities, companies and scientificinstitutions specialised in energy and climate technologies.Se page 48 on Aarhus’ climate strategy.• AN INNOVATION CENTRE FOR ENERGY. To ensure internationalimpact, a new international power centrefor energy and energy technology will commenceconstruction on Aarhus Harbour in 2011. The planis to create an open, creative innovation environment42 Mondaymorning Aarhus – Capital of Wind Energy 43