District heating: a golden egg worth billions

The Danish district heating industry beats records in exports. In 2011, the export revenue amounted to 5 billion DKK. And in order to continue the success, Denmark has to work hard, according to the industry as well as government.

A new report states very clearly stated that the district heating industry had great success these years. The 5 billion is an increase of 30 percent compared to 2007.

And forecasts show that the positive curve wil continue.

The direct export earnings will exceed 8 billion in 2015, and in 2020 it is expected that the district heating industry will export worth 15 billion DKK – an increase of 300 percent compared to today. This will give 4,000 more jobs, so that in 2020 there will be 15,000 employed in the district heating industry. Of these, more than 7,600 will be engaged in exports.

This is something that pleases Director of the District Heating Industry DBDH, Lars Hummelmose: “Danish companies have huge success at the international markets because we can deliver comprehensive solutions that are energy efficient and thus saves both CO2 emissions and costs for fuel.”

Still, there is no “time to rest on our laurels”, it was stressed several times at an energy policy conference held at Christiansborg, home to the Danish Parliament.

As Lars Tveen, Divisional President of Danfoss District Energy, warned: “We are faced with a golden egg in our hands, which may one day turn into a golden bird, which later may be turned into a swan. But it can also be pushed out of the nest.”

Listen to interview with Lars Hummelmose on “Radioavisen” 19 March http://www.dr.dk/radio/player/?psdb/radioavis-12329