Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy

A future of renewable energy as a primary source for the world’s energy is one that society can no longer continue to ignore. As fossil fuel supplies diminish and the cost of atomic energy continues to rise, while there is no solution to the deposition of nuclear waste, renewable energy can step in to provide feasible alternatives to energy demands. Renewables do pose some challenges, namely, in addressing the fluctuating power supply that is inherent in their nature. Robust, integrated solutions using available, mature technologies have proven to be the solution to the challenges that wind and solar energy pose. Denmark has in the past, and continues to be a leader in integrated renewable energy solutions. In 2010, Denmark with its 5.5 million inhabitants was still on the world top-10 list measured by accumulated wind power capacity. In particular, the use of combined heat and power systems and the implementation of district heating have proven successful for Denmark, and can be transferred elsewhere. This chapter seeks to explore questions surrounding the implementation of sustainable integrated solutions very concretely in relation to energy in general and renewable energy in particular.