Self-Sufficient Danish Island Leads The Way In Clean Energy

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Self-Sufficient Danish Island Leads The Way In Clean Energy

Battered by winds in the waters off eastern Denmark, the picturesque island of Samsoe has broken free of its dependence on oil and gas and, thanks to devoted residents, is now powered solely by renewable energies. A former Viking stronghold with rolling hills, small villages and vast golden fields of rapeseed, Samsoe touts itself as a model to follow in the fight against global warming.

The air is "cleaner here," say residents of the 114-square-kilometer (44-square-mile) island.

Samsoe is entirely self-sufficient for its electricity, 100 percent of which is generated by 11 one-megawatt wind turbines installed on land in 2000, while 70 percent of its heating comes from solar panels, hay and biomass.

The island is also "carbon-neutral," which means that it offsets its own carbon dioxide emissions by investing in Kyoto Protocol-style projects that reduce pollution elsewhere.

"We became carbon-neutral in 2003 when we installed 10 offshore wind turbines that generate 2.3 megawatts each, which enabled us to compensate for 140 percent of emissions from transport on the island by offering offshore electricity to the rest of Denmark," said Soeren Hermansen, the head of the project.

The Danish government in 1997 designated Samsoe to become a "sustainable energy island" by 2008, a goal it already achieved in 2003 -- five years ahead of schedule -- by fully involving the 4,200 residents in the ambitious objective.

"The involvement of residents in this adventure from the beginning" has been a crucial aspect of Samsoe's success, said Hermansen, noting that "more than a quarter of them have bought shares in wind turbines."

"People are so involved that sometimes they call me in the middle of the night if they see a wind turbine that is not turning when it is windy," he said.

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