Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Geothermal Country Notes

Denmark
With the Government's positive attitude towards the utilisation of the country's low-enthalpy resource, there has been an increased usage during the first years of the 21st century, which is expected to continue. It is estimated that there is a sufficient resource to supply heat to several towns for hundreds of years.

There are presently two district heating plants in operation. The first, at Thisted (northern Jutland) began operating in 1984. In 1988 it was enlarged to 4 MWt and again to 7 MWt in 2000-2001. The second, a 14 MWt plant at Margretheholm, Copenhagen, started operating in 2004.

Additionally, approximately 250 groundwater-based heat pumps and 43 000 other types of pump (about 10%-20% of which are vertical closed-loop), totalling 309 MWt , are in operation.

DONG, the Danish energy company, working in conjunction with the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), has in recent years carried out a re-evaluation of the country's geothermal potential.

With a view to the installation of further district heating plants and geothermal water production, DONG is currently in discussions with potential clients on a co-ownership basis (there is no public funding available for geothermal projects).