Energy Statistics 2017: Higher renewable energy contribution
Energy consumption increased slightly in 2017. This covers a dramatic fall in coal consumption and increasing consumption of renewable energy. Overall, this led to a considerable drop in CO2 emissions last year. These are some of the results in the Energy Statistics 2017, which were published by the Danish Energy Agency today. Publication is in Danish, whereas Excel files are available in English.
Observed Danish energy consumption increased by 0.5% in 2017 compared with the previous year, ending at 747 PJ. Consumption of oil products increased by 2.2%, and is still the largest contributor to domestic energy consumption at 285 PJ. Consumption of renewable energy and non-renewable waste increased by 11.4% to 262 PJ in 2017, whereas observed consumption of coal and natural gas fell by 25.5% and 4.1%, respectively.
Energy consumption adjusted for fluctuations in climate and fuel consumption linked to foreign trade in electricity increased by 0.3%. In 2017, Danish energy consumption was 5.7% lower than consumption in 1990.
Figure 1: Development in adjusted gross energy consumption and CO2 emissions, 1990-2017. 1990=100
Consumption of renewable energy continues to increase
Observed consumption of renewable energy increased by 12.3% from 2016 to 2017 to 244 PJ. This is partly because of an increase of 17.6 PJ in the consumption of biomass; in particular an increase in wood pellets consumption of 13.1 PJ. In addition, wind power production rose by 15.6%, corresponding to 7.2 PJ, as a result of better wind conditions than in 2016 as well as a small increase in capacity.
Production of electricity based on renewables accounted for 63.7% of Danish domestic electricity supply in 2017. This is an increase of 9.9 percentage points compared with 2016. The largest contribution came from wind power at 43.2%, and biomass at 16.6%.
The percentage of renewable energy in relation to the total adjusted gross energy consumption rose in 2017 to 32.6%. In 2016, the percentage was 29.2%. Calculated according to the EU calculation method, renewable energy was around 34.2% of energy consumption in 2017 against 32.2% in 2016.
Rise in energy production
Danish production of crude oil, natural gas and renewable energy etc. rose by 2.6% in 2017 to 658 PJ. This figure includes a drop in crude oil production of 2.7%, while natural gas production increased by 7.3% and production of renewable energy increased by 7.6%.
Drop in emissions
Observed CO2 emissions from energy consumption fell by 6.0%, while, adjusted for fluctuations in climate and fuel consumption linked to foreign trade in electricity, emissions fell by 6.3%. The drop in emissions is primarily because coal consumption fell in 2017. Since 1990, adjusted CO2 emissions have been reduced by 38.3%.
A preliminary statement of total Danish observed emissions of greenhouse gases shows a drop of 4.4% in 2017 compared with the previous year. Observed emissions of greenhouse gases have been reduced by 31.4% since 1990.
Read 'Energistatistik 2017' (in Danish only but Excel Files are available in English).
Contact:
Special Advisor Jane Rusbjerg, tel. +45 33 92 68 36, e-mail: jru@ens.dk
Head of Media Relations Ture Falbe-Hansen, cell. +45 25 13 78 46, e-mail: tfh@ens.dk
