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Empowering Washington D. C.’s Green Transition through Danish Solutions

Wednesday October 25, Danish Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate, Lars Chr. Lilleholt signed a cooperation agreement with Tommy Wells, the director of the Department of Energy & Environment in Washington D.C. As a part of the agreement, the Danish Energy Agency will exchange Danish experiences within district heating and sustainable energy planning with Washington. Besides district heating and energy planning solutions, there will also be focus on energy regulation and the potential for offshore wind power.

- It is incredibly important that cities like Washington D.C. are at the forefront of the energy and climate agenda and that they support the green transition and lead by example. We have experience and green solutions that can help the green transition in cities such as Washington D.C. We [The Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate] want to support this cause, which is why we have signed this agreement, says the Danish Minister.

Washington D.C. is one of the most ambitious cities in North America when it comes to reducing COemissions. The city's goal is to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases with 50 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2050 compared with 2006. The city is currently finalizing its energy and climate plan, which identifies tangible initiatives to reach its ambitious climate goals. Denmark’s experiences serve as an important source of inspiration in this endeavour.

- Related news: Danish Companies to Map Groundwater in California

The agreement will further the export opportunities for Danish companies
The agreement is a part of the export scheme, which was launched along with the Danish government’s export strategy for energy technology in the spring. As part of the scheme, the Danish Energy Agency is collaborating with different public authorities, including authorities in the United States, in order to propagate the knowledge and know-how that Denmark has acquired through its green transition. This will help create a platform and a window display for Danish green technologies.

The new cooperation with Washington D.C. opens up a great deal of opportunities for Danish companies to showcase their green solutions in order to help Washington realise its extensive energy and climate ambitions.

Some of the issues that Washington D.C. is looking into is the possibility of adapting to more power planted heat and, in turn, relying less on the city’s district heating network. Danish companies may be of assistance in this matter as district heating is a particular area of expertise in Denmark.  

- Related news: P4G Initiative Launches to Accelerate Sustainable Growth Through Innovative Partnerships

The new cooperation between the Danish Energy Agency and Washington D.C. is an initiative which builds on an existing cooperation between Washington and the City of Copenhagen in which they exchange experiences and knowledge related to energy and climate challenges. By bringing the Danish Energy Agency‘s experience with energy regulation and planning together with specific green solutions in Copenhagen, the US capital will get an insight into all the positions of strength within the Danish energy model.

The relations between the Danish Embassy and the Trade Council in Washington D. C. and the city’s Department of Energy & Environment has made the collaboration possible. The Danish Embassy also serves as the main point of contact and entry for Danish companies wanting to know more about the opportunities for export of energy technologies to the US market.

- Related news: New Danish Export Strategy for Energy Technology

Facts

  • “The Export Strategy for Energy Technology” was launched in Denmark in the spring of 2017 with a vision to maintain Denmark’s position as a green pioneer and to use this position of strength to double the export of energy technology from approximately DKK 70 billion in 2015 to over DKK 140 billion in 2030.
  • As part of the export strategy, a public authority-to-authority agreement was made. In this, the Danish Energy Agency collaborates with other authorities in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom in order to spread the knowledge of Danish energy technology solutions.
  • The agreement consists of a close cooperation between the Danish Energy Agency, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Danish energy industry. Advisers from the Danish Energy Agency, as well as advisers from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who are specialised in different sectors, at the Danish embassies in the three countries have also been assigned to the project.
  • In 2016, Danish export of energy technology to the United States amounted to DKK 4.4 billion. The US market is therefore the second largest market for Danish export of energy technology.

 - Source: The Danish Energy Agency

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