Fyn District Heating Company reduces Denmark’s CO2 emission by almost one percent by phasing out large coal fired plant by 2022

By 2022, coal will no longer be used at District Heating Fyn , and customers can look forward to even more green heat in the pipes. This is a reality with District Heatings Fyns’ new plan for green conversion. The phase-out of coal reduces the annual Danish CO2 emissions by almost one per cent and thus contributes significantly to the national goal of a CO2 reduction of 70 per cent by 2030.
– We have an ambition to make Odense CO2 neutral, and as we now shovel the coal away, we save the climate for hundreds of thousands of tons of CO2. This is an important step locally and can be clearly seen in the national CO2 accounts, which are reduced by almost one per cent emission. This shows that Odense will be at the forefront in the fight for a better climate, says Peter Rahbæk Juel, mayor of Odense Municipality.

From the government, Minister of Climate, Energy and Supply Minister Dan Jørgensen welcomes the fact that the coal is to be in the past.
– I am very happy with the decision made in Odense today. It shows a tremendous visionary commitment to the green transition that can be read in Denmark’s national CO2 accounts. Coal is one of the worst for the climate, so it is decisions like this that make a difference. The government has been in close dialogue with the Municipality of Odense on the decision on a continuous basis and fully supports the result of the great work, the minister said.

Satisfied gardeners
District heating Fyns’ plan advances the phasing out of coal from 2025 to the summer of 2022 and means that the climate is saved from a total of about 900,000 tonnes of CO2, which would otherwise have been emitted in the three years. The annual reduction is equivalent to replacing 200,000 petrol and diesel cars in the Danish car park with electric cars in one stroke.
It has been crucial for Odense’s mayor and the other parties to ensure good conditions for companies and jobs in Fyn. As an element of the plan, an agreement has been entered into with the Gardeners District Heating Companies on competitive heat supply for the Fyn gardeners, which purchases approximately 16 per cent of the heat from District Fyn.
– We have had a good dialogue with District Heating Fyn and fully support the green transition, which will also be an asset to the horticultural industry. However, as a process customer, the heating price is crucial, and we are therefore pleased that the heating price will continue to be competitive, says Mikael Petersen, director of the Horticultural District Heating Companies.

Still cheap heat
For private customers, the conversion will mean an expected maximum price increase of DKK 25 per month for an average household. District heating Fyn will therefore still be one of Denmark’s cheapest district heating companies compared to other large district heating supplies.
– It has been a pleasure to participate in District Heating Fyns’ development and choice of green solutions that benefit both customers in Odense and for the climate, says Anker Boye, Chairman of the Board of District Heating Fyn.

Since 2018, coal has accounted for about one-third of the heat supply at District Heating Fyn, while two-thirds have come from incineration of waste, straw and wood chips. In the coming years, new solutions will represent an increasing proportion, for example heat pumps, electric kettles and Denmark’s largest steam heat storage.

Leading climate-friendly technology
– We are taking an important step today towards a CO2-neutral Odense in 2030, and at the same time we secure the 5000 jobs in the horticultural industries. District heating Fyns’ solution ensures a good balance between known and new technology and enables a further phase-in of CO2-neutral technologies as they mature, says Christoffer Lilleholt, Vice President of District Heating Fun, supplemented by CEO and chairman of DBDH Jan Strømvig:
– We use the leading climate-friendly technology in the green transition and utilize resources that would otherwise be wasted. At the same time, we can still offer business and household heating prices among Denmark’s lowest. All in all, this means that we have found some good and robust solutions for the phasing out of the coal.

The phase-out of coal in 2022 will be made with an investment of approximately DKK 875 million out of a total investment of just under DKK 2 billion.