Bioenergy in Denmark: A Model for Sustainable Progress

Bioenergy, encompassing biomass and biogas, is a vital part of Denmark’s renewable energy supply, making up over two-thirds of its total renewable energy use.​

This significant reliance on bioenergy has been a key factor in Denmark’s move away from coal. Biogas, specifically, is increasingly contributing to Danish gas consumption, produced from livestock manure and organic waste from industries and homes in biogas plants.

Biogas has diverse applications. Solid biomass, like wood pellets and straw, generates electricity and heat for district heating. Biogas, derived from manure and wet organic waste, can be upgraded for the gas grid or used for electricity. Biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol power vehicles, with a certain percentage often blended into petrol and diesel sold in Denmark. Additionally, biogas production enhances the fertilising value of livestock manure, reduces nutrient runoff into water bodies, and significantly lessens the odour of digested biomass compared to raw slurry when used on crops.

Biogas is produced through a process called anaerobic digestion, where organic materials are broken down in oxygen-free biogas tanks, forming methane and carbon dioxide. Roughly half of the carbon is broken down during this process, leaving behind digested biomass that serves as a nutrient-rich fertiliser for fields, promoting the recirculation of nutrients. Biogas Danmark anticipates that biogas could fully replace natural gas consumption in Denmark as early as 2027.

Amager Bakke waste-to-energy plant in Copenhagen

The two most impressive Danish power plants are forerunners in their field:

• Vinkel Bioenergi: This is Denmark’s largest biogas plant, designed to process 430,000 tonnes of biomass annually. It supplies biomethane to approximately 25,000 households and feeds up to 6,000 Nm³ of biomethane per hour into the Danish natural gas grid, totalling over 52,000,000 Nm³ per year.
• Amager Bakke (CopenHill): Located in Copenhagen, this state-of-the-art waste-to-energy plant boasts an energy efficiency of 107%. It provides low-carbon electricity to 550,000 people and district heating to 140,000 households in the capital region. Beyond its energy production, Amager Bakke is an iconic landmark featuring an artificial mountain with a nearly 1,500-foot ski slope, hiking trails, a restaurant, and a kids’ area, open to the public year-round, transforming industrial infrastructure into a profitable social and environmental destination.

Denmark is actively working to boost its renewable energy output, especially in the area of bioenergy, as part of its plan to lessen its reliance on fossil fuels.​ This commitment highlights a national drive towards a greener and more self-sufficient energy future.

The country has seen a significant rise in biogas production, with a growing number of biogas plants being established. This expansion demonstrates a clear progression in scaling up sustainable energy solutions and integrating them into the national grid.

Looking ahead, Denmark is dedicated to refining its bioenergy sector by developing more efficient and environmentally friendly methods for both producing and utilising bioenergy. This ongoing innovation ensures that their approach to renewable energy remains at the forefront of sustainability.