59 MARTINDALE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE Denmark relies heavily on imported biomass, and, as of 2018, nearly 43% of its biomass was imported from other countries. Denmark’s high dependence on imported biomass brings potential challenges in mitigating emissions from transportation. However, Denmark imports biomatter primarily from Estonia, Latvia, and neighboring Scandinavian nations whose locations are relatively close to Denmark. These short distances keep carbon emissions from transportation relatively low. Additionally, Denmark can take advantage of its high imports of biomass products by importing from nations with more unused land. This would prevent biomass production from displacing more nutritionally and socially valuable agriculture (Danish Council on Climate Change, 2018). Even though replacing fossil fuels with biomass has proved to reduce emissions by 74% to 98%, the combustion process will still emit some carbon into the atmosphere. To bring emissions to zero by 2050, Denmark must continue to invest in carbon capture technology. The Danish Council on Climate Change 2018 report mentions reforestation and the creation of forest carbon sinks as forms of natural carbon capture. Denmark’s ability to invest in and develop carbon capture technology domestically will allow the nation to offset the emissions created by biomass electricity production and biogas (Danish Council on Climate Change, 2020). Bioenergy as a bridge to the future Energy derived from biomass should be viewed as a strong component in the Danish energy strategy for the 2020s. Although the process of energy production from biomass is not completely carbon neutral, it is still a much cleaner alternative compared to burning fossil fuels, with a potential reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of at least 74%. Therefore, using biomass energy can be considered a positive step toward reducing carbon emissions from the energy sector. Denmark, however, must view bioenergy for electricity production only as transitory. Biogas used for replacing fossil fuels in heavy vehicles and machinery will be more permanent, but biomass combustion for electricity must be utilized in a high quantity while the nation lacks more sustainable sources of electricity. Long term, the country must continue to invest in additional wind turbines, as currently they produce only 48.0% of the nation’s renewable electricity. Wind turbines produced nearly 59 PJ of energy in 2020, a 2576% increase from 1990. In 2020, the nation was operating 6217 wind turbines, and this number must continue to increase (Danish Energy Agency, 2020a). Eventually, net-zero energy sources, primarily wind power, will provide almost all the domestic electricity. This will allow the nation to effectively phase out biomass used for electricity and further reduce the carbon output of the nation as Denmark approaches its net-zero goals by 2050. Bioenergy in a global context It is well known that the climate change emergency is a global issue. Within that global framework, Denmark is a relatively small nation with unique geographic and demographic features. Its population of fewer than six million people is almost negligible in relation to the eight billion people who live on planet Earth. Consequently, Danish carbon emission reduction is also almost negligible in comparison to global emissions. Denmark’s diminutive size has shaped the nation’s climate strategy by prioritizing both the development of wind and bioenergy for domestic consumption and the exportation of Danish green technologies on a global basis. Denmark believes its climate strategies and successes should be disseminated abroad either directly where applicable or as a model displaying the commitment necessary to combat the global crisis. Large high-emission, high-population nations like India, China, and the US will have to play important roles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Those nations cannot expect to duplicate Danish climate efforts and successes, as their climate strategies and energy mix will be different, based on their own resources and energy demands. These countries will face a variety of challenges as they plan to decarbonize. Biomass energy represents one of these. Denmark’s use of biomass in the transition to wind energy is prudent, but Danish consumption per capita is nearly three times the world potential for a sustainable supply of biomass-based energy globally (Danish Council on Climate Change, 2018). Almost every other country on a global scale is just too big to rely on bioenergy for such a large source of renewable electricity production. Denmark must continue to export solutions from its world-leading climate strategy, but bioenergy’s role must not be included. This means that the climate strategies and energy mix for the rest of the globe will need to be different. These nations must create specialized energy plans for their own countries based on their unique resources and energy demands. Nonetheless, Denmark’s demonstration of the feasibility of decarbonization is crucial for inspiring similar action around the world, thereby serving as a beacon of hope. Conclusion Denmark has committed itself to following an aggressive path to carbon emission reductions in the
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