Embracing the Wind: Denmark's Recipe for a Model Democracy

[sysop]

Hailed as a "miracle of modern politics," Denmark consistently earns top marks for its efficient governance, innovation and transparency. Nowhere is this more apparent than with its successful embrace of wind power, making it a role model for the world.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...849227,00.html

[patfla]

This

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/7215

confirms what I'd read elsewhere which is that Denmark has, by far, the highest cost of electricity in the OECD. Much of this is in taxes but the article confirms that the taxes are necessary to support the all-wind model.

Moreover the article also showed me, for the first time, that all of the burden is paid by consumers and none by industry. Danish industy's price is inline with the rest of the OECD.

Denmark made an enormous bet on wind power - maybe only a very small country could do this. It isn't clear to me (quite the contrary) that the bet has paid off.

In general comparisons between very small countries like Denmark and larger countries like Germany are ill-founded. Hong Kong can do things that China can't. And visa-versa of course but the two categories are not the same.

[BTraven]

Originally Posted by patfla

This

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/7215

confirms what I'd read elsewhere which is that Denmark has, by far, the highest cost of electricity in the OECD. Much of this is in taxes but the article confirms that the taxes are necessary to support the all-wind model.

Moreover the article also showed me, for the first time, that all of the burden is paid by consumers and none by industry. Danish industy's price is inline with the rest of the OECD.

Denmark made an enormous bet on wind power - maybe only a very small country could do this. It isn't clear to me (quite the contrary) that the bet has paid off.

In general comparisons between very small countries like Denmark and larger countries like Germany are ill-founded. Hong Kong can do things that China can't. And visa-versa of course but the two categories are not the same.

The figures are interesting, indeed. Above all, they support those who defend that companies which need a lot of energy – the Germans have invented a word for it, of course, “energy-intensive” – should pay much less than an ordinary consumer will be confirmed in their opinion. Knowing it I will watch the last episodes of the series “The Killing” (part 1) with different eyes. I have thought so far the reason why the rooms are so sparsely illuminated is to increase the tension. But it reflects the reality. Danes are really so thrifty. I can perfectly understand it.