Denmark

Index rank 07

Energy Sustainability Index Rankings

 2010  2011  2012  Trend
Energy Performance  9  9  10 
Energy Security  3  5  3 
Social Equity  21  26  28 
Environmental Impact Mitigation  29  28  25 
       
Contextual Performance  3  4  4 
Political Strength  5  2  2 
Societal Strength  6  5  6 
Economic Strength  14  16  18 
       
Overall Rank  8  8  7 
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Fossil Fuel Resources

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Key Metrics

Industrial sector (% of GDP) 19.1
TPEP / TPEC  (net energy exporter) 1.23
Emission intensity (kg CO2 per USD) 0.70
Energy affordability (USD per kWh) 0.36
GDP / capita (PPP, USD); GDP Group 36,166 (A)
Energy intensity (million BTU per USD) 0.01
CO2 emissions (metric tons) / capita) 8.95
Population Access to Electricity (%) 100.0
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Index Commentary

Denmark increases one rank in the Index to rank seven. Environmental impact mitigation slightly improves due to a better quality of air and water when compared to peer countries and due to lower CO2 emissions from electricity and heat generation. Social equity scores decrease slightly driven by higher gasoline prices. Energy security improves due to a better wholesale margin on gasoline, which is however partly offset by a sustained decrease in energy consumption but the reduction is slower than in peer countries. Denmark continues to exhibit strong contextual performance; however economic strength suffers slightly due to high cost of living and a drop in macroeconomic stability.

Trends and Outlook

In March 2012 a new Energy Agreement was reached in Denmark. The Agreement contains a wide range of ambitious initiatives, bringing Denmark closer to reaching the target of 100% renewable energy in the energy and transport sectors by 2050 by committing to large investments up to 2020 in energy efficiency, renewable energy and the overall energy system. Targets to reach by 2020 include approximately 50% of electricity consumption supplied by wind power, and more than 35% of final energy consumption supplied from renewable energy sources. To overcome the challenges and reach its ambitious targets of becoming independent of fossil fuels and reducing CO2 emissions, Danish policymakers are focusing on the implications of being fossil fuel free for the transport sector, the future role of the Danish natural gas grid and the introduction of huge amounts of fluctuating renewable energy in the electricity grid.

Notes

1) Data for shale gas resources not available; 2) As noted by the Danish WEC member committee available data from national sources might differ from data used to calculate the Energy Sustainability Index, e.g., CO2 emissions.