THE FORCE OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR WIND POWER

The challenges to wind//
Like every city, Copenhagen faces challenges to wind power:
• Limited space to implement wind energy on a large scale within an urban environment.
• Wind turbines are expensive to build.
• Public resistance to the perceived visual and noise impact of wind turbines in the landscape.

The solution - local ownership//
Our solution was to encourage popular support for wind-power by creating a community -owned facility, and using local skills.

For more specific information about this solution - click here  

THE BENEFITS OF WIND POWER//

• Environmental: Significant contribution to achieving carbon reduction goals: for example, energy production at the Middelgrunden wind farm is estimated to be 89 million kWh of electricity annually. The project eliminates 258 tonnes of sulphur dioxide emissions, 231 tonnes of nitrogen oxide emissions, 76,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and 4,900 tonnes of dust and clink every year.
• Social: Community engagement in delivery of climate change objectives. Jobs were created. The wind industry employs more than 25,000 people in Denmark.
• Economic:
– The City of Copenhagen made a profit out of the sale of its’ first successful wind farm. Revenue has now been recycled back into city projects.
– Green Economy
– through creating strong local demand, the Danish wind turbine industry has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry, achieving growth rates of over 30% per year, with over 350 companies producing turbine towers, blades, generators, gear boxes and control systems. Almost half the world’s wind turbines are now produced by Danish manufacturers.
– Low running costs
– Wind turbines have low running costs following initial investment and expenditure.