Turning waste into climate-friendly energy

THE DANISH ENERGY INDUSTRIES FEDERATION – SpEcIAl ADvERTISING SUpplEmENT
International
branding for green
Copenhagen THE plAN:
Copenhagen has been affiliated
to the Large Cities
Climate Leadership Group
(C40). This will help promote
the Danish capital’s green
initiatives and create growth
nationally.
By Maren Urban Swart
In 2005, the 40 largest cities in the
world forged an agreement to reduce
CO2 emissions by accelerating the introduction
of climate-friendly technologies.
Although Copenhagen is not
among the world’s 40 largest cities,
the capital was selected in 2011, along
with a number of other cities, to be an
associated partner because it excels in
green energy.
”We have been affiliated because we
have good solutions to many of the challenges
that cities face. Across the world,
other cities are impressed with our bicycle
culture, and by the fact that Copenhagen
has bathing quality water in the
harbour. On the more technical side of
The mission is
to reduce CO2
emissions by 20
percent by 2015
compared to the
2005 level. The vision
is to become
the first CO2 neutral
capital in the
world already by
2025. Copenhagen
Municipality
aims to achieve 75
percent of the total
CO2 reduction
from its energy
supply emissions,
corresponding to
375,000 tons of
CO2.
things we have our wind turbines, and
97 percent of our households are connected
to the district heating system,
which utilises energy in an amazingly
efficient way,” says the Lord Mayor of
Copenhagen, Frank Jensen.
Besides the wind turbines and district
heating, Copenhagen also receives
praise for its district cooling, geothermal
energy and the city’s water supply
system, which is very efficient with low
losses. It also has excellent wastewater
treatment plants, as evidenced by the
numerous harbour swimming baths
that are so popular with Copenhageners
and tourists alike during the summer.
Copenhagen also differs from many
other cities in its utilisation of household
waste for energy recovery.
”As part of C40 we gain a unique
opportunity for marketing the solutions
Copenhagen has implemented,
thereby attracting companies and investments
to the city, and perhaps also
helping Danish cleantech firms to gain
further export opportunities,” says
Frank Jensen.
GOING GREEN Is GOOd
FOR BusINEss
A city’s economy is a good place to
start when trying to convince mayors
worldwide to make climate-friendly
investments. Copenhagen has become
the head of a network of cities from
C40 which will explore green growth.
”When we invest in bicycle lanes
in Copenhagen, we do more than just
reduce carbon emissions and improve
air quality. For every kilometre people
in Copenhagen choose to cycle instead
of driving, the city saves around
8 US cents in terms of reduced congestion,
accidents, noise and wear
and tear on infrastructure,” says the
Lord Mayor. ·
”OECD’s calculations show that every 100
green jobs in the capital create 20 extra jobs
in the rest of Denmark, says the Lord Mayor
of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen.
Danish competences
improve water
management in India
Annual revenues and investments
in the water industry
worldwide total a mind-boggling
EUR 337 million. Danish companies
are gaining a slice of this
market on account of the strong
competences and leading position
they have in this area.
By Maren Urban Swart
Since 2009, Danish Water Forum (DWF)
network companies COWI, Danfoss, DHI,
Grundfos, Siemens Turbomachinery and
Water Centre South, together with the Environmental
Protection Agency and the
Danish Embassy in India, have strengthened
cooperation between Denmark and
India on water and environment.
”Our first focus area was wastewater
treatment. As a spin-off from that project,
the Indian authorities have also shown
an interest in our knowledge of how to
handle residual wastewater sludge when
wastewater has been treated,” says Jesper
Goodley Dannisøe of consulting and research
organisation DHI.
With their strong Danish knowledge
base which they jointly promote in India,
the Danish companies have encountered
considerable interest and have created
contacts as well as environmental and
commercial results. The Indian authorities
are not the only ones who have become
aware of Denmark’s strong position
in the water industry; private sector companies
have also made the discovery.
“An Indian contractor is very interested
in collaborating with Danish companies
since they know we have abilities
that they do not yet possess. DWF
has also signed an agreement with India’s
largest industry conglomerate Tata
Group. The nature of the water-related
projects at Tata will be specified at the
beginning of May,” says Dannisøe. ·