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Energy in Denmark
Denmark is well underway with a green transition of its energy production, focussing mostly on wind energy, but with an increasing share of solar energy and other sustainable green technologies.
Denmark has considerable sources of oil and natural gas in the North Sea, but is only ranked as number 57 in the world among net exporters of crude oil, as of 2023. It is a significant drop in recent years, as the country ranked as number 32 in 2008. Denmark expects to be self-sufficient with oil until 2050. However, gas resources are expected to decline, and production may decline below consumption in 2020, making imports necessary. Denmark imports around 12% of its energy (this statistic includes all forms of energy, not just electricity), but is also an exporter.
Denmark has drastically decreased production of electricity from coal. In 2019, coal supplied less than 11% of electricity and production is scheduled to end by 2028.
In February 2011, the Danish government announced the "Energy Strategy 2050" with the aim to be fully independent of fossil fuels by 2050, and a new government repeated the goal in 2015, despite public scepticism. The European Renewables Directive set a mandatory target at 20% share of energy from renewable sources by 2020 (EU combined). In 2012, the Danish government adopted a plan to increase the share of electricity production from wind to 50% by 2020, and to 84% in 2035; this was later changed to a broader 100% renewable electricity by 2030 target.
Denmark's electrical grid is connected by transmission lines to other European countries, and had (according to the World Economic Forum) the best energy security in the EU in 2013, although it soon fell to a number three by 2014. The Nordic countries are longtime top performers in Europe, and globally, when it comes to the energy transition index (ETI): security, sustainability, and equity. Denmark competes continuously with Sweden, Finland, and Norway in the top four, and has generally fallen behind in recent years, as of 2025.
In 1972, 92% of Denmark's energy consumption came from imported oil. The 1973 oil crisis forced Denmark to rethink its energy policy; in 1978 coal contributed 18%, and the Tvind wind turbine was built, along with the creation of a wind turbine industry. The 1979 energy crisis pushed further change, and in 1984 the North Sea natural gas projects began. The North Sea production of oil and gas made Denmark self-sufficient in 1997, peaking in 2005, and decreased below self-sufficiency by 2013. In 2015 Denmark produced 89% of its energy consumption of 720-756 PJ.
The year 2014 was the warmest on record in Denmark, with the lowest number of degree days in history. A normal year has 2,906 while 2014 saw only 2,100 degree days. Since 2000, Denmark has increased Gross National Product and decreased energy consumption.
The 2017 energy plan for the country set a target of achieving at least 50% renewables by 2030. This includes 11.5 GW of onshore and 13 GW of offshore wind power by 2030. This was modified in 2019 to target reducing greenhouse gasses in 2030 by 70%, compared to 1990. The target for 2050 is 100% renewable energy.
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Energy in Denmark
Denmark is well underway with a green transition of its energy production, focussing mostly on wind energy, but with an increasing share of solar energy and other sustainable green technologies.
Denmark has considerable sources of oil and natural gas in the North Sea, but is only ranked as number 57 in the world among net exporters of crude oil, as of 2023. It is a significant drop in recent years, as the country ranked as number 32 in 2008. Denmark expects to be self-sufficient with oil until 2050. However, gas resources are expected to decline, and production may decline below consumption in 2020, making imports necessary. Denmark imports around 12% of its energy (this statistic includes all forms of energy, not just electricity), but is also an exporter.
Denmark has drastically decreased production of electricity from coal. In 2019, coal supplied less than 11% of electricity and production is scheduled to end by 2028.
In February 2011, the Danish government announced the "Energy Strategy 2050" with the aim to be fully independent of fossil fuels by 2050, and a new government repeated the goal in 2015, despite public scepticism. The European Renewables Directive set a mandatory target at 20% share of energy from renewable sources by 2020 (EU combined). In 2012, the Danish government adopted a plan to increase the share of electricity production from wind to 50% by 2020, and to 84% in 2035; this was later changed to a broader 100% renewable electricity by 2030 target.
Denmark's electrical grid is connected by transmission lines to other European countries, and had (according to the World Economic Forum) the best energy security in the EU in 2013, although it soon fell to a number three by 2014. The Nordic countries are longtime top performers in Europe, and globally, when it comes to the energy transition index (ETI): security, sustainability, and equity. Denmark competes continuously with Sweden, Finland, and Norway in the top four, and has generally fallen behind in recent years, as of 2025.
In 1972, 92% of Denmark's energy consumption came from imported oil. The 1973 oil crisis forced Denmark to rethink its energy policy; in 1978 coal contributed 18%, and the Tvind wind turbine was built, along with the creation of a wind turbine industry. The 1979 energy crisis pushed further change, and in 1984 the North Sea natural gas projects began. The North Sea production of oil and gas made Denmark self-sufficient in 1997, peaking in 2005, and decreased below self-sufficiency by 2013. In 2015 Denmark produced 89% of its energy consumption of 720-756 PJ.
The year 2014 was the warmest on record in Denmark, with the lowest number of degree days in history. A normal year has 2,906 while 2014 saw only 2,100 degree days. Since 2000, Denmark has increased Gross National Product and decreased energy consumption.
The 2017 energy plan for the country set a target of achieving at least 50% renewables by 2030. This includes 11.5 GW of onshore and 13 GW of offshore wind power by 2030. This was modified in 2019 to target reducing greenhouse gasses in 2030 by 70%, compared to 1990. The target for 2050 is 100% renewable energy.