Wind farms across Denmark, both on land and those in Danish waters, broke record in 2017 by producing electricity equivalent to 43.6% of the country’s total consumption. Until the end of 2017, the record year was 2015, when wind power delivered an equivalent of 42% of Danish electricity consumption, according to Dansk Energi.
Throughout 2017, which ended with a stormy December in Denmark, the country’s wind turbines reached a total output of about 14,700GWh, Dansk Energi stated referring to Energinet.dk data.
The record production is shined with even greater light considering the number of installed wind turbines in Denmark is now 20% lower than in 2001, when the number of wind turbines peaked.
Since 2001, wind turbines have become bigger and more efficient and, in addition, most of Denmark’s offshore wind turbines have been installed since then. The country’s installed capacity has thus more than doubled since 2001. Denmark today has 5.3GW of installed onshore and offshore wind capacity.
By 2020, wind is expected to provide for around 50% of Denmark’s electricity consumption and renewable energy, including solar and sustainable biomass, will cover 80% of Danish electricity consumption.