Danish minister on export drive in Germany

Germany wants to transform its energy sector, and the German Government has set a number of ambitious energy and climate goals. CO2 emissions must be reduced by at least 80 % by 2050 and 40-45 % of the energy has to come from renewable energy sources by 2025.

“With the German energy transition, the co-called Energiewende, Germany must invest EUR 550 billion by 2050. This has great potential for export in Denmark, and we must do everything we can to ensure that the Danish energy industry can benefit from this. We have many of the technologies and solutions that can help the Germans achieve their ambitious goals. For example, in the sectors of district heating, energy efficiency, and offshore wind turbines in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea”, says Minister of Energy, Utilities and Climate, Lars Chr. Lilleholt.

Together with the Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs, Lars Chr. Lilleholt presented a new export strategy for Danish energy technologies at a press conference in Copenhagen. One of the points of the strategy is an intensified export focus on Germany. “With the export strategy, we focus on creating the best possible frameworks for Danish energy companies that want to export to Germany. It is not only positive for creating Danish jobs, growth and welfare but it is also positive for the climate and the green transition – which the whole world must be a part of due to the Paris Agreement”.

Following an explanation of the Danish export strategy to expand energy technology to the German market, the Minister of Energy, Utilities and Climate gave a brief presentation of the Danish Government’ Germany Strategy from 2016 – a strategy which aims to further cooperation and trade with Germany.

In Berlin, the Minister Lars Chr. Lilleholt met with his German ministerial colleague, the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Barbara Hendricks as well as representatives from the big German state Baden-Wurttemberg.

During the energy conference Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue 2017, the minister also held a speech on Danish experiences related to the transformation of the energy sector.

Facts

• In 2015, almost 35 % of exports of Danish energy technology went to Germany
• The German energy transition will require investments of up to EUR 550 billion by 2050
• The vision is to maintain Denmark’s position as a frontrunner and utilise its strongholds in the area of energy in order to at least double the export of energy technology from around DKK 70 billion in 2015 to over DKK 140 billion in 2030. The vision is also to maintain Denmark’s position as the leading country in Europe in terms of exporting energy technology.

In relation to the strategy, a list of new initiatives will be initiated just as a number of existing initiatives will continue and have its focus on:

• Initiative in Brussels: DK – EU Energy Alliance
• Increased staffing to manage work with the energy union in Brussels
• Export scheme for Germany, UK and USA
• Growth advisor for the energy area in India
• Advisory service from the Danish Energy Agency through the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Project development facilitaty aimed at public infrastructure under Danish Business Finance
• Extension of support for State of Green
• Extension of bilateral energy and climate cooperation with China, Mexico, South Africa, Vietnam and new cooperation with Ethiopia
• Continuation of energy efficiency hub at the UN City in Copenhagen
• Strengthening of the EUDP programme as part of Denmark’s participation in “Mission Innovation”.

To download the information and fact sheets behind the export strategy, please visit the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate (in Danish).

Source: The Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate