A recently published study has revealed that the Danish bioenergy sector is a major export earner.
Published in February, the study “Kortlægning af den danske bioenergiklynge” is a joint effort by DI Bioenergi (Danish Bioenergy Association), FORCE Technology and Technology and Innovation Network for Biomass (INBIOM). According to Michael Persson, Head of Secretariat, DI Bioenergi who presented key findings of the report at the Nordic-Baltic Bioenergy conference in Helsinki last month, it is the first time that a comprehensive attempt to quantify the economic impact of the Danish bioenergy industry has been made.
Largest renewable energy source, second largest export earner
According to the Danish Energy Agency (Energistyrelsen), renewable energy accounted for 23 percent (≈157 PJ) of the primary energy production 2015. Of this, over 60 percent was bioenergy, which includes wood, straw, biogas and the bio-component of municipal solid waste (MSW).
According to the study, some 1 200 companies supporting 11 500 jobs are engaged in the bioenergy sector in Denmark. Together these companies had a combined turnover of DKK 25 billion (≈EUR 3.36 billion) in 2014 of which an estimated DKK 8 billion (≈EUR 1.07 billion) was in export earnings.
The entire value of Danish “green” energy technology and allied service export is estimated to have been worth around DKK 43.6 billion (≈EUR 5.86 billion) in 2014 of which wind power, the second largest renewable source in Denmark, was the largest export earner followed by bioenergy.
– Bioenergy’s significance as an export earner may come as a surprise to many not least in Denmark. The industry is characterised by many small and medium-sized enterprises and unlike wind power, it has no global household names. This may explain why many do not associate bioenergy as an export industry, commented Michael Persson during the conference.
