Denmark is to reach its 2020 solar energy generation target of 200 megawatt (MW) capacity by the end of 2012, eight years ahead of schedule, according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Every month 36MW of solar energy capacity is being added to Denmark’s grid, meaning the country’s total solar energy capacity will reach 200MW by the end of the year – a capacity 100 times larger than the same period in 2010.
Danish companies DONG Energy, Dansk Energi and Energinet have estimated solar energy capacity could reach 1,000MW by 2020 and 3,400MW by 2030 if similar growth rates continue.
Denmark has a strong commitment to renewable technology in general and earlier this year the government set a target to meet all of its energy needs with renewable energy by 2050. Currently 22% of the nation’s energy comes from renewables.
Kim Schultz, Project Manager at Invest in Denmark said: “The demand for solar cells has increased dramatically since net metering was implemented in 2010. Net metering gives private households and public institutions the possibility of ‘storing’ surplus production in the public grid, which makes solar panels considerably more attractive.”
