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Kammersgaardsvej 16,
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By Preben Maegaard, director, Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, Vice-president of EUROSOLAR
Related links
Massive
international feedback on new Danish RE disaster policy
Articles related to new Danish RE disaster policy
On January 29 2002, the new liberal/conservative Danish government
presented the draft budget for 2002 and the coming years. All R&D programmes,
financial support, committees, government agencies etc that for 20 years have
been crucial in the development of renewable energy will immediately be
cancelled or dissolved. The government will spend the money saved (20 million
EURO) on hospitals and senior citizens.
State
Budget Stops Renewables
Below is shown a comparison of the two draft Danish Financial State
Budgets, August 2001 and January 2002. As it appears, all funding of renewable
energy for 2002 onwards has been eliminated.
The new government has the necessary parliamentary majority to
implement its plans.
One consequence is that Folkecenter and its sister organisation,
Forum for Energy and Development, lose their support. But also all national
programmes for solar thermal, biogas, biomass, hydrogen, photovoltaic, wave
energy etc. stop as from January 1, 2002.
Innovation
no longer desireable
Needless to say, it is a disaster for many innovative institutes,
companies, inventors, investors, organisations and journals promoting renewable
energy. They are facing severe problems of survival as well as all the many
independent Energy Offices, Green Guides, conference organisers which all had a
vital function in the ongoing transition to a 100% renewable energy society.
Obviously, only Risų State Laboratory will have public support in
the future. The budget of its wind energy department will be going up from 70
million DKK in 2001 to 112 million DKK in 2002. It should be noticed that the
Danish installation of wind energy dropped from a high 600 MW in 2000 to 10 MW
in 2001.
Off-shore
wind power programme cancelled
The government has just cancelled the plans of large scale off-shore wind
power. The power companies are no longer obliged to continue the off-shore
programme; no public funding or guaranteed tariffs are available.
After having lost over 50% of their market share in power production to
non-utilities (wind power, biogas, small scale CHP) in Western Denmark, it is
considered that the central utilities have lobbied strongly to bring a stop to
the successful decentralized renewable energy development. The government has
followed the desires of the old energy sector that now is promising energy at
low market prices.
Some also indicate that the new government may reintroduce plans of
atomic energy in Denmark, which was removed from our energy planning in 1985.
Denmark has no nuclear power.
Credibility
of EU chairmanship
Denmark is chairing the European Union in the second half of 2002.
Several renewable energy politicians and experts express deep concern about the
role of the new Danish government during the coming Johannesburg Conference. The
Danish government has, in addition to killing the renewable energy sector, also
decided significant reductions in the aid programmes to the developing countries.
It will be difficult for Europe to deliver arguments for strong and
credible action for sustainable solutions with a chairmanship, that has just
closed down its national programmes. The Minister of Finance ignored importance
of renewable energy during a press conference by saying: "There will be
wind power as the wind blows!" Another
government statement is: "Knowledge for the extension of renewable
energy is now sufficient.” It should be remembered that Denmark is number 5
worldwide in terms of CO2-emissions per capita!
Our Board has decided that we shall do our utmost to overcome the
unexpected situation and continue at a reduced level, even if the new government
has taken all subsidies as per January 1, 2002 (1.1 million Euro/year).
The staff will be reduced heavily (with 15 persons). Several have 6
months term of notice.
However, the situation is very critical, for us and all others in the
renewable energy sector. At Folkecenter we have strong political support from
the opposition. Our situation was subject to extensive negotiation in the Danish
Parliament on January 30 by 3 questions from Mr. Ole Vagn Christensen, MP,
(Social Democrats). E-mail address: ole.christensen@ft.dk
Inquiries and protests from other countries always have strong impact in
Denmark. We are heavily dependent on good reputation and export. Wind power is
the third largest single export item next to pork and pharmaceutical products.
You may express your concern and support by writing in your home
newspapers and journals, to the Danish media, and by writing to Danish
politicians responsible for this crusade against renewable energy. This is not
only a matter for us in a small rich country in Northern Europe.
From Folkecenter we ask you strongly
to write to Danish policy makers.
We are confident that appeals and arguments
from our supporters and partners of co-operation worldwide
will make a difference.
The target is to be withdrawn from
the government's fatal "death-list"
so we can continue our 18 years of pioneering
within renewable energy.
The
following list of important politicians may be suggested:
Key persons are:
Danish Parliament
The Danish Liberal Party, Venstre:
Energy political spokesman: Mr. Kim Andersen. E-mail:
vkian@folketinget.dk
Financial political spokesman: Mr. Kristian Jensen. E-mail:
vkrje@folketinget.dk.
The Danish Conservative Party, De Konservative:
Energy political spokesman: Ms. Helle Sjelle. E-mail:
kfhesj@ft.dk
Financial political spokesman: Ms. Gitte Seeberg. E-mail:
kfgise@ft.dk
The Danish Social Democratic Party, Socialdemokratiet:
Energy political spokesman: Mr. Svend Auken. E-mail: ssvau@ft.dk
Financial political spokesman: Ms. Pia Gjellerup. E-mail: spigj@ft.dk
The Danish
Social-Liberal Party, Det Radikale Venstre:
Energy political spokesman: Mr. Martin Lidegaard. E-mail:
rvmali@ft.dk
Financial political spokesman: Mr. Morten Helveg Petersen. E-mail:
rvmohp@ft.dk
The Danish People's Party, Dansk Folkeparti:
Energy political spokesman: Mrs. Aase D. Madsen. E-mail:
dfaadm@ft.dk
Financial political spokesman: Mr. Kristian Thulesen Dahl. E-mail:
dfkrtd@ft.dk
Information on contact points for personal and written addresses may be
obtained from the Administration of the Danish Parliament, Tel. +45 3337 5500,
Fax +45 3332 8536, E-mail: Folketinget@folketinget.dk
Homepage www.folketinget.dk
Important
addresses:
National Newspapers:
Politiken: E-mail: indland@pol.dk
Homepage: www.politiken.dk
Information: E-mail: chefred@information.dk
Homepage: www.information.dk
JyllandsPosten: E-mail jp@jp.dk Homepage www.jp.dk
Berlingske Tidende: E-mail: redaktionen@berlingske.dk
Homepage www.berlingske.dk
Please share your inquirie, comment or protest by sending a copy to support4RE*folkecenter.dk
Two Draft proposals presented
A)
August 2001:
Proposal for the Danish State Financial Budget made by the former Government :
the Danish Social Democratic Party and the Danish Social-Liberal Party.
B)
January 2002:
Proposal for the Danish State Financial Budget made by the present
Government : the Danish Liberal Party and the Danish Conservative Party.
Utilisation of renewable energy and other energy economic projects
| Budget specification: | |||||||
| Million DKK | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
|
Expenditure grant: |
A) August 2001 | 181.0 | 185.7 | 147.6 | 137.4 | 135.0 | 97.6 |
| B) January 2002 | 181.0 | 185.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10. Utilisation of RE and other | |||||||
| energy economic projects | |||||||
| A) August 2001 | 153.5 | 131.0 | 93.8 | 93.6 | 95.0 | 92.6 | |
| B) January 2002 | 153.5 | 131.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20. Folkecenter for Renewable Energy | |||||||
| A) August 2001 | 5.3 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | |
| B) January 2002 | 5.3 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 30.
Pool for new technologies for Renewable Energy |
|||||||
|
A) August 2001 |
10.0 | 35.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 0 | |
|
B) January 2002 |
10.0 | 35.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 40. Forum for Energy & Development | |||||||
| A) August 2001 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 | |
| B) January 2002 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 50. Grant for the hydrogen programme | |||||||
| A) August 2001 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| B) January 2002 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 60.
Grant for development and demonstration of building integrated solar cells |
|||||||
| A) August 2001 | 2.3 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| B) January 2002 | 2.3 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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