Biofuels play a major part in the renewable energy strategy of Denmark towards moving to its target of using 100 percent renewable energy for all its energy uses by 2050. Of all the renewable energy sources in Denmark they provide the largest share when considering all sectors of energy demand, even with Denmark's highly develop renewable energy resources in other areas. During 2014 in the heating and cooling sector they provided an estimated 35.3% of domestic energy demand, in the electricity sector they provided 12.7% of demand and in the transport sector approximately 5.3% of demand.
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Biofuels have the potential to provide environmental and economic benefits but they must be carefully managed to ensure that they are truly sustainable resources as there is the potential to damage the economy and environment if they are not used responsibly. Biofuel use in Europe is certified by the EU commission before they can be recorded as sustainable resources and used for national renewable energy targets. The main sources of biofuels in Denmark include wood and wood products, energy from waste, straw, biogas, biodiesel and bioethanol.
Denmark has been highly innovative in its energy strategy and has greatly increased energy efficiency by using combined heat and power plants (CHP plants). These plants generate both electricity whilst the waste heat is extracted to provide energy to district heating networks with several plants operating at world record levels of energy efficiency. CHP plants in Denmark are being converted to be powered by biofuels and this provides not only energy efficiency but also local markets and sources of income to local communities. Farmers are able to sell waste straw and biogas produced from manure, municipal authorities can provide waste products to heat and power generators. The country has a target of quadrupling energy from biogas by 2020 with the target of using 50% of manure in the country with the gas produced being injected directly into the national gas supply or used for electricity generation. The small country of Denmark with just 5.7 million people is now being asked to lend its expertise to China to advise it on how to develop fuel flexibility and CHP power and heat generation and associated initiatives to improves the country's vast energy requirements as the workshop of the world.
Heating and cooling sector
*Estimated percentage based on proportion of total data submitted in the progress report.
In 2014 biofuels combined to provide 99,082 TJ of energy for Denmarks large heating and cooling sector. This equated to approximately 35.33% of the sector in that year.
Electricity sector
Total generation from biofuel sources in Denmark amounted to 3,871 GWh in 2014. Using the IEA unit converter this equates to 13,936 Tj of energy per year and accounted for 12.7% of electricity generated in that year.
Transport sector
*Estimated percentage based on proportion of total data submitted in the progress report.
Biodiesel and Biethanol provided the transport sector with 9,608 Tj of energy in 2014. This was the equivalent of approximately 5.27% of the sector in that year.