2012 budget reinvigorates energy research

Total funding for energy research in the budget is DKK 1.2 billion kroner, the same level as last year.

The Government has chosen to increase the total funding for public research compared with the previous government’s budget proposal for 2012. Among the programmes benefitting from the funding are those focusing on research and development of new energy technologies.

Martin Lidegaard, the Minister for Climate, Energy and Building, says:

“The Government’s proposed budget prevents dramatic cuts from being made in energy research funding. We have chosen to allocate almost half a billion kroner more than the previous government’s minimum level of funding. Eventually, the Government would like to increase funding for the research and development of green-energy technologies, but I think that, as a rescue action in an economically difficult period, next year’s budget sets aside a decent amount.”

In its 2012 budget, the Government proposes allocating over a billion kroner in subsidies for energy research, development and demonstration. With the increase, and with the expected level of EU energy-research funds, the total amount of funding for energy research would be 1.242 billion.

The funding surpasses the level set aside by the previous government. The Government proposes that funding for the Energy Technological Development and Demonstration Programme be increased by DKK 321 billion in 2012, bringing its total budget to DKK 371 million. The Danish Council for Strategic Re-search will also see its budget increase significantly. The Council will receive an additional DKK 113 million kroner in 2013, increasing its total funding to DKK 215 million.

“The new Government wants to ensure that climate and energy research contributes to the enormous potential of green growth and new energy technology. Energy research makes it possible for researchers and com-panies to develop new technologies that can be used domestically or can be sold on the growing international market.”