Denmark: An intelligent energy system that enables a green and safe transition

Christina Burgos Nittegaard (CBN): The mission for Intelligent Energy is for Denmark to be among the first countries worldwide to transition to an intelligent energy and supply system. We work to achieve the climate targets through flexible energy infrastructure and consumption, paving the way for deep integration of RE production. The road is paved with data-driven solutions that connect sectors to balance the production from wind and sun. We do this by contributing to good frameworks for sector coupling, energy efficiency and a flexible energy market. We bring together a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the Danish value chain: our participants are from the energy and supply sector, technology providers, consultants, municipalities, investors, and knowledge institutions – like universities etc.

CBN: The challenge of such a network is to efficiently balance all power sources on the one side and the users of power on the other side. In Denmark, it is possible to buy electricity at a spot price – whenever there is a lot of green electricity available, it is usually cheap. But if there is no wind or sun, electricity can be quite expensive. If you own an electric vehicle, it can be an efficient system. However, in the future, it can also lead to new problems because when the price is low, the demand for electricity rises exponentially. In the future, the infrastructure can, hence, struggle to handle the intense consumption. We believe market products beyond spot price is part of the answer. Future products should enable both a more efficient use of the capacity in the power grid and balance the electricity market. This should enable an energy system to handle more production and consumption of green electricity more quickly, which moves us faster and more cost-effectively towards climate goals.

CBN: Since 2020, all buildings in Denmark have been equipped with smart meters — digital electricity meters that record hourly consumption. These meters provide utility operators with detailed insights into the electrical grid, enhancing their ability to understand, predict, and optimize based on consumption patterns, further driving innovation across the sector. Similar digital meters are being installed to monitor heating and, in many cases, water usage, enabling additional improvements across multiple utility systems. The Danish government has recently launched a program to explore how data from these and other sources can be securely shared, ensuring privacy while unlocking the full potential for tomorrow’s solutions.

CBN: It’s important to recognize that transitioning to an All-Electric Society won’t automatically solve all challenges, even though it will lead to a more energy-efficient system with significantly reduced or no emissions. There will still be issues, such as limited resources and ensuring safety.