Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Minister, Denmark possesses a self-sufficient energy system. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the today’s energy security system of Denmark and EU in general? 

Rasmus Helveg Petersen, Minister of Climate, Energy and Building of Denmark: The active Danish energy policy was shaped in the aftermath of the oil crises of the 1970’s. A crisis which hit Denmark hard due to an energy system which was by the early 1970’s almost entirely dependent on imported energy. Denmark chose early on to prioritize energy saving and a diversified energy supply in order to increase its security of supply. A broad array of notable energy-policy initiatives was launched, including a focus on combined heat and electricity production, municipal heat planning and on establishing a more or less nation-wide natural gas grid. More or less simultaneously the Danish oil and gas production in the North Sea began. Furthermore, Denmark extensively improved the efficiency of energy use. The improvements of energy consumption were aimed at both industry and the household sector, among other things using green taxes as a powerful instrument. On the supply side Denmark launched support for the research, development and increased use of renewable energy as well as other environmentally friendly energy technologies. 

 The combination of these initiatives have meant that Denmark until recently (as the only EU member country) was a net-exporter of energy, enjoying a very high level of energy security of supply. 

However in order to secure the energy supply on a European level more needs to be done. The Danish transformation of the energy system can to some extent serve as an example of how to increase the European security of supply. The key elements are diversification of the energy supply to renewable energy resources and increasing the level of energy efficiency. Denmark will continue to encourage its fellow European countries to transform their energy systems and to push for ambitious EU targets related to both use of renewable energy and increased energy efficiency. Furthermore using these elements is in sync with reaching the long term climate goals toward 2050. Of course the increasing importance of renewable energy in the energy-mix is associated with some issues due to the variable nature of these.  A continued focus on integration and liberalization of European energy markets is necessary in order to address this issue and thereby making sure that the increasing use of renewables goes hand in hand with greater energy security of supply.