Denmark Tariffs

The Danish government has set a goal of reaching 30% of renewable energy capacity by 2020, with overall energy independence to be gained by 2050.

Updates

Update Nov 01, 2013

Changes to renewable energy subsidy laws were made in the first half of 2013, aimed at curbing the rise of PV installations after Denmark's installed PV capacity increased by over 200MW in 2012 from around just 17.5MW installed by the end of 2011. Denmark had originally set a target of 800MW by 2020, with subsidies to be revised annually after 2018.

The success of the scheme in encouraging installations meant that, according to climate minister Martin Lidegaard, it was costing the government around €270 million (US$365 million) annually, which the country could not afford.

However, the Danish national audit office launched an investigation in June 2013 into loopholes in the new solar subsidy laws. Loopholes included large subsidised installations being allowed in agricultural fields and businesses being permitted to fit rooftop installations. There were concerns that high level figures including the climate minister knew about the flaws before the law was changed. Controversy followed as prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and three leading cabinet ministers sent a letter to the speaker of parliament  which appeared to display a refusal to cooperate with auditors. The speaker, Mogens Lykketoft wrote a reply in which he stated that he had no jurisdiction over the public accounting office or national audit office and that the government could therefore not prevent the investigation from taking place.

Prime minister Thorning-Schmidt said after sending the letter that it was not meant to obscure facts or prevent the investigation but was instead requesting discussions to take place on whether or not the auditor should have access to work that went into drafting the legislation.

Update Sep 01, 2012

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has announced favourable government incentives which help to reach country's goal of 200MW by 2020. 36MW is said to being installed every month.

Presented to the Folketing, Denmark’s parliament, Lidegaard’s draft bill has laid out plans to abolish the current ceiling of 6kW for solar power plants in order to encourage larger developments.
The proposal also includes cutting financial incentives by more than 50%.

The Danish government has set a goal of reaching 30% of renewable energy capacity by 2020, with overall energy independence to be gained by 2050.

Solar PV has not made a massive dent in Denmark’s renewables market. Small solar PV residential systems less than 6kW although not eligible for any FiTs are exempt from any energy taxes.

Energinet.dk has launched a research programme ForskVE, introduced in 2008, with the aim of supporting the growth and development of solar PV, wave power and biogasification. It has an annual funding budget of DKK 25 million (US$4.6 million).

For 2012, the future of ForskVE is undecided but the budget proposed has been set at US$23.5 million.