Europe's Renewable Energy Isle
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Reinventing Europe through Local Initiative Samsø: Europe’s Renewable Energy Isle 21/01/2014 Citizens of the central Denmark island of Samsø have fulfilled their goals of becoming energy self-sufficient: All of their electricity comes from wind turbines; while more than 70% of their heating needs are met using renewable technologies. In 1997, the island, whose population water that in turns warms the villages’ sector, including powering motor vehicles numbers just over 3,000 inhabitants, was homes. A woodchip burner that uses waste with rapeseed oil and hydrogen fuel. Some named Denmark’s ’renewable energy island’, wood from Samsø’s Brattingsborg Forest foresee a future where cars and trucks will based on ambitious goals to become energy backs up the solar heating system. On the be powered by hydrogen generated by wind self-sufficient by 2008. Two years earlier than southern side of the island, the towns of turbines. In the meantime, the majority of envisaged, i.e. in 2006, using 11 onshore wind Tranebjerg, Onsbjerg, Brundby and Ballen island vehicles consume traditional petro- turbines this target had already been reached. are heated by district heating plants. More- leum-based fuels, but these emissions are The network of turbines generate enough over, a number of private homeowners have offset by the offshore turbines, including for clean energy annually to meet the Samsø replaced their oil burners with solar panels, the three ferries that connect the island to community’s entire electricity requirements: ground-source heating and woodchip and the country’s mainland. On still-wind days, when the turbines can’t pellet stoves. Altogether, these efforts have generate enough electricity, energy flows replaced more than 70% of heat generation from Denmark’s main energy grid to the with renewable technologies. island’s network. Renewable Energy Island Energy Academy (Samsø, Denmark) Net electricity balance The innovative islanders also have their own Contact: Søren Hermansen In turn, on windy days Samsø exports Energy Academy and energy office which Website: www.energiakademiet.dk wind-generated energy to the national main provide them and visitors with information system. Indeed, the island has a positive on renewable energy technologies and annual net electricity balance, as it exports energy savings. Samsø has received far more energy to the mainland than it several awards for its achievements in receives. (Each turbine produces enough switching to renewable energy. Currently, electricity to power 2,000 homes per year.) a trial project is underway at the academy investigating the use of rapeseed and Meanwhile, homes and businesses in the elephant grass for heating purposes. larger towns draw their heat and hot water from renewably-fuelled district heating The growing trend towards more sustainable systems. On the northern end of the island, solutions doesn’t just concern renewable between the villages of Nordby and Maarup, energy, as the academy is also investigating a system of 2,500 m2 of solar panels heats greener technologies for the transport .