RNE reports that Danish wind power generation is getting close to power demand on good days - Graph of the Day: Danish wind nears 100% of demand over weekend.

Wind energy had a good run in Denmark over the weekend, with the nation’s wind farms at times generating enough electricity to meet demand over the course of Saturday, November 26. ...

Denmark – a world leader in both onshore and offshore wind power development – aims to have wind supply 50 per cent of electricity consumption by 2020. In 2015, wind energy supplied 42 per cent of domestic electricity consumption.

Since installing the world’s first offshore wind farm in 1991, the country has installed a total of 1,271MW offshore wind, which combined with its onshore wind capacity amounted to 5,070MW as at January 2016.

Reuters has a report on Denmark's plans to switch to renewable energy - Denmark aims for 100 percent renewable energy in 2050.

Danish government proposals on Friday called for sourcing just over half of its electricity from wind turbines by 2020 and all of its energy from renewable sources in 2050. ...

Denmark will take over the presidency of the European Union for six months from January 1 and aims to promote ambitious climate and energy goals for Europe. It is already the world leader in wind power, getting a fifth of its power from wind turbines. ...

The portion of Denmark's electricity from wind and other renewables would rise to 52 percent by 2020 under the new plan, topping a 50 percent target in a government policy program adopted last month.

Despite Denmark's green credentials in wind energy, the country has virtually no hydropower and no nuclear installations, making it still heavily dependent on coal. In 2010, coal accounted for nearly 44 percent of total Danish power generation and fossil fuels altogether for two thirds, while renewables accounted for one third.

The government's proposal called for coal-fired power plants and oil-fired heating to be phased out by 2030. Coal heating, which now accounts for 11 percent of the total heat supply, would be replaced by biomass.

SmartMeters.com has a post on the progress of smart grids in Denmark - Denmark Embraces the Smart Grid.

Denmark has quietly become one of the world’s smart grid leaders. With nearly twice the variable energy on the grid than any other country, Denmark has developed the prototype for a flexible, intelligent electricity system, thanks to the work of Danish technology companies, investors, system integrators, utilities, and researchers. Denmark currently integrates 34 percent renewables into the grid. …

The high penetration of wind power in the electric grid makes Denmark an ideal testing ground for optimizing power consumption of intermittent power sources. This has resulted in several projects and partnerships, such as Danish utility DONG Energy’s equity participation in California based Project Better Place’s franchise in Denmark, the first in Europe. In late 2011, the partners will launch a commercial, nationwide network of EV charging and battery swap stations.

DONG Energy consultant Torben V. Holm, explains, “We can now combine the existing electric infrastructure with batteries in electric vehicles to harvest and store wind-generated power when it is in excess supply and have it available for value creating transportation purposes when needed."

EcoGrid EU, also launching in 2001, is the largest European smart grid demonstration project, which is being implemented on the Danish island of Bornholm, where 10 percent of households will participate. By changing load pattern, the households will participate in keeping the power system stable, even though more than 50 percent of power is produced from decentralized and renewable sources. ...

Denmark’s goal is to incorporate 50 percent of electricity from wind by 2025, and to be completely fossil fuel free by 2050.

The SMH reports that Better Place has unveiled pricing for their battery and eletric vehicle offering in Israel - Israeli electric car pioneer unveils price plans.

Electric car company Better Place has unveiled the pricing of its subscription packages ahead of the rollout of the world's first nationwide battery-charging grid. The company said Tuesday the base price for its flagship Renault Fluence Z.E. electric car will be 123,000 shekels, or $34,670.

It will offer various subscriptions depending on how much a user drives. Monthly costs will range from 1,090 shekels ($310) for 12,000 miles (20,000 kilometers) a year up to $450 for 20,000 miles (30,000 kilometers) a year. The company said it will also be offering a three-year package offering unlimited mileage for 157,500 shekels ($44,530). The company says the overall costs are up to 20 percent lower than a gasoline-powered car.

The Renault cars are to go on sale in Israel in August.

Better Place opened today, together with its partner Renault, Europe’s first Better Place center. Visitors will now be able to experience sustainable mobility and will have the opportunity to place an order for a Renault Fluence Z.E. with the Renault staff and sign up with the Better Place team for a subscription of mobility services – conveniently packaged for consumers, fleet managers and the public sector.

The Fluence Z.E. “Prime Time” launched in Denmark from 205.000 DKK (€27.496), including VAT, and Better Place will offer consumers a choice of five, fixed-price, packages based on kilometers driven. For drivers who drive more than 40.000 kilometers per year, Better Place offers a fixed-price package of ‘all you can drive’ kilometers for 2.995 DKK (€399) per month, effectively giving drivers of the switchable-battery Fluence Z.E. unlimited driving range and unlimited kilometers in Denmark in an era when oil prices are at a two-year peak and rising.

For drivers who drive fewer than 20.000 kilometers per year, the fixed monthly price offer ranges from 1.495 DKK (€199) to 1.895 DKK (€249). Each subscription includes a one-time fee of 9.995 DKK (€1.341) for the installation of a private charge spot so that drivers can safely plug in at home. Initial delivery of the Renault Fluence Z.E. with Better Place mobility services will occur in the fourth quarter of this year.

The Renault Fluence Z.E. “Prime Time” will include, as standard features, climate control, navigation and energy management services via the in-car software system, radio-CD, alloy wheels, electric mirrors, 4 electric windows, central locking, a state-of-the-art lithium-ion switchable battery and many more equipments.

The car will offer Danish drivers a range of up to 185 kilometers, measured on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) with a fully charged battery. Actual range is virtually “unlimited,” thanks to the convenience of switchable battery technology that will enable drivers to “refuel” their Fluence Z.E. in under five minutes in the Better Place network of battery switch stations.

The Guardian has a report on Denmark's plan to free itself from fossil fuels - Wind will power fossil fuel-free Denmark in 2050, report predicts. Scotland is pursuing a similar goal - Wind will power fossil fuel-free Denmark in 2050, report predicts.

The falling cost of renewable energy and rising cost of oil and gas will allow Denmark to develop an energy network entirely free of fossil fuels by 2050, according to a report published by the government's climate commission.

The committee predicted that wind and biomass energy could meet the bulk of the country's energy requirements.

It also argued that switching to renewables would be cheaper than continuing to use fossil fuels, particularly if predictions of soaring oil and gas prices are borne out.

The report was welcomed by Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas, which said the research could help further bolster the country's position as a leading generator of onshore wind energy.

"The report will also send a very clear and important signal to other countries that wind is a sustainable source of energy for future development," said Vestas chief executive Ditlev Engel. "This is a great opportunity to solidify Denmark's reputation as a laboratory for green, CO2-free power technology solutions that are globally required."

The report recommended that the government immediately start devoting 0.5 per cent of the country's annual GDP to renewable energy investment in order to help achieve the 2050 target, resulting in a total spend of 17bn kroner (£1.9bn) by 2050.

Inhabitat has a post on the commissioning of the world's largest offshore wind farm - the 209 MW Horns Rev 2 plant off Denmark - Denmark Brings World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Online.

With a price tag of $1 billion, Horns Rev isn’t cheap. But the project could offset some serious carbon emissions and help Europe achieve its goal of getting 20% of its power from renewable sources by 2020. If offshore wind projects continue, the European Wind Energy Association predicts that offshore turbines could produce as much as 10% of the EU’s power in the next 11 years.

The US has been reluctant to get on board with offshore wind power, mostly because of the increased cost of offshore energy, maintenance concerns, and naysayers who think the turbines are unsightly. But with Europe expecting offshore wind to provide up to 200,000 new jobs by 2025, perhaps the US should think twice before dismissing the technology.

After Gutenberg has a post on Denmark's version of Better Place electric vehicles + renewable energy project - EV Program Underway in Denmark.

This blog previously noted the release of a comprehensive and credible federal report on wind power. Although studiously ignored by mainstream media, it would seem that the idea of renewable energy for electric propulsion is gaining credence in the United States. Hawaii may be a possible site for testing on a large scale.

Also a research institute conducted a study as to whether in the UK (United Kingdom) electric vehicles have the potential to produce significant greenhouse gas emission reductions compared to conventional vehicles over the full life-cycle. Again the conclusion was favorable.

Meanwhile, Denmark, long a world-leader in wind energy, already has initiated a program to use wind power to charge new electric vehicles. The entire country, reports reports "Copenhagenize the Planet", “will act as a laboratory” for development of an infrastructure that can support electric car usage. The plan is to have 100,000 electric cars running on wind power in 2013.

The main reason is that in five years Denmark will have wind turbine capacity enough for 1 million homes. This goal will be reached when the world’s largest offshore wind turbine farm opens in 2012, between Anholt and Djursland. The colossal amounts of energy generated will also be used to power cars, in order to exploit the wind energy as best possible. The energy generated at night, when usage is low, will be used to charge the cars for use the next day.

The island of Bornholm will be the first test area and Peder Andersen of Energinet.dk believes there will be 100,000 electric cars in Denmark in five years.

It will be considerably cheaper to own an electric car. Among the test cars is an electric version of the Renault Megane with a top speed of 160 km/h. It will cost about 2 kroner for 8-10 km of driving. That’s a third of the price for petrol [gas].

The first cars will be presented at the Global Climate Conference in 2009. A number of energy players are involved in the project, including Danish Oil & Natural Gas, Ens.dk and energinet.dk.

TreeHugger has a post on a raft of Danish wave power experimental projects - Three Wacky Danish Wave Power Projects.

Portugal gets the distinction of having both the world's first commercial wave power plant, Aguçadoura Wave Park, which officially opened last month and is expected to grow to 21 MW of capacity - it currently has 2.25 MW of capacity or about enough to power 1,500 homes.

But the Danes, who pride themselves on being leaders in both using wind energy (more than 20 percent of their electricity is wind-generated) and in wind technologies, are trying to catch up with some wave energy (and even a unique combined wave-wind energy project). Currently the Danes have 12 "active" wave power projects. Hit the jump to see the Wave Dragon, Poseidon's Organ and the Wave Star.

1. Wave Dragon

The Wave Dragon, which looks like an extended ski jump ramp, is a wave power demonstration project on 1/4 the scale the developers eventually hope to achieve. Wave Dragon uses a hydro power concept: wave "reflectors" direct waves toward a ramp, behind which is a reservoir that stores the water until it is flowed over hydro turbines. The test site in Danish waters has been running for 20,000 hours - a 7 MW project is now planned off the coast of Wales. Because of the Portuguese government's proactive stance on wave power, a 50 MW project is planned there as well.

2. Poseidon's Organ

Since the spring of 2007, this 37-meter long wave power transformer (sans the turbines) has been under construction at Lolland in Southern Denmark, close to shore. It launched in August 2008. Floating Power Plant is now trying to get investors for a 230-meter-long platform that in addition to the oscillating water columns producing wave energy would also support three wind turbines, together to make enough electricity to support 12,500 households annually. Amazingly, Floating Power Plant is also hoping to put the first platform at a location in Portugal.

3. Wave Star

Though Wave Star is the hardest of the three to visualize, it may hold the most promise. A Wave Star platform cuts at a right angle into the wave motion, with floats partially submerged in the water. When a wave rolls in, the floats are lifted up one by one until the wave subsides. The rising float drives a piston which in turn powers a hydraulic motor connected to a generator. Wave Star's inventors believes this wave solution will be comparable in price to wind turbines and entail less materials use. Wave Star's prototype is installed on Denmark's northwest coast and has over 6,000 hours of operation - the next step is a 3 MW model.

The LA Times has a post on cargo bikes in Denmark - Carrying Copenhagen: the wonders of the cargo bike.

The transportation of goods and children through an urban landscape is a universal need. In Copenhagen many our of citizens choose the self-propelled transport option and cycle to work, school and on errands.

On any given day you'll see people moving things about on their bikes. A ladder, a newly-purchased bean bag for the living room, heavy bags of groceries dangling from the handlebars. It's what we do.

In Copenhagen, however, we have our own version of the SUV. We call it 'ladcyklen' or 'the cargo bike'. Often there are goods too large or cumbersome for convenient bicycle transport and if you have a child or two or three, they have places to go and things to do and you are the one who has to get them there.

In Denmark the three-wheeled cargo bike is the vehicle of choice for moving things about and the cargo bike market here continues to enjoy steady growth. A cargo bike is a generic term for any bicycle that is designed to carry 'stuff,' whether it has two wheels or three.

The necessity for cargo bikes is as old as bike culture itself. Since the early part of the last century, cargo bikes have moved things around the city. A little sub-cultural group formed rather quickly in cities, namely 'svejerne'. They muscled their heavily-laden cargo bikes through the streets and were known for their rowdy tone and for whistling at girls. Half a century before the modern bike messengers.

My Dad was a messenger boy during World War II, fetching fruit and vegetables from the market and transporting them back to the green grocer's where he worked. The two most widespread bikes were the Long John and the Short John - or Chimney Sweep bike. Both designs are almost a century old.

Since then, the Danes have expanded their fleet of cargo bikes and there are currently a dozen or so different brands competing for a market share and Denmark has rightfully become the Cargo Bike Capital of the world.

It was in the early 1970's that the first cargo bike of the modern era was developed. It is called the Christiania Bike and named after an abandoned military area which became Europe's largest anarchist town. Large, chunky and functional, with a big box placed in front of the cyclist, the Christiania bike quickly became a generic name for cargo bikes in Denmark.

Inevitably, other brands started to pop up and today the list is long and it includes; Nihola, Sorte Jernhest [Black Iron Horse], Bellabike, Triobike, Esimex, Larry vs. Harry, Long John, Short John and Kangaroo Bike.

At any daycare in the city you'll see parents dropping off and picking up their kids in cargo bikes, with the cargo bays equipped with small benches to sit on. There's room for groceries, too. Deejays and musicians use cargo bikes for transporting gear, kindergartens have them for taking kids on outings and companies use them for moving goods about.

Amazingly, only about 40 percent of Copenhageners own cars, even though this is the capital city of one of the richest countries in the world. Sure, vehicles are taxed heavily but the reason is simply because we have the infrastructure in place for bicycles and we have a rather good public transport system. Even 50 percent of the citizens of Berlin do not own a vehicle, for the same reasons. Fifty eight percent of Copenhageners, when polled, say that they ride their bike because it is easy and fast. Only one percent say they do in order to help the environment. Basically, we're not environmentalists. We're just people who need to get around the city, like anywhere else.