Denmark sets another wind record: turbines produced 42 per cent of country’s electricity in 2015
by Cleantech Canada Staff
Though trailing well behind the leader, Canada continued to add to its wind fleet as well, producing five per cent of country's electricity
Middelgrunden Wind Farm off the shore of Copenhagen, Denmark. PHOTO: Kim Hansen, via Wikimedia Commons
COPENHAGEN, Denmark—The small nation of Denmark, which occupies a relatively narrow band of land between the North and Baltic seas, continues to lead the world in wind power.
Throughout 2015, wind turbines across the country and offshore generated the equivalent of 42 per cent of the country’s electricity—a new record for Denmark, as well as for any individual country.
Denmark is currently the undisputed champion of wind power, one-upping its record-setting 2014, during which wind generated 39 per cent of the country’s electricity.
Though taking nothing away from the accomplishment, it is important to note, the figures are equivalents. Because the country trades its electricity with neighbouring regions, some Denmark’s wind energy was exported and never made it to its residents’ sockets. Energinet, the country’s state-owned utility, noted wind power accounted directly for 39 per cent of the electricity the country’s grid used throughout the year, while the surplus was sold to its European neighbours.
Though trailing well behind the leader, Canada has added significantly to its fleet of wind turbines in 2015 as well. According to the Canadian Wind Energy Association, the industry added 1,506 megawatts of wind power capacity throughout the year, bringing the total capacity to 11,205 MW. CanWEA says Canada now gets approximately five per cent of its electricity from wind power plants, or enough to power three million homes.
With evolving provincial policies, Canada is expected to continue adding to its fleet. CanWEA anticipates a minimum of 1,000 MW of wind power projects will be commissioned in 2016.
