Samso, Denmark - 1997
Domain of application: Regional
Status: Existing
Stakeholders:
- Danish government
The Danish island of Samsø was the first island in the world to become completely powered by renewable energy. In 1997, the island won a government sponsored competition to become a model renewable energy community and since then has added 21 wind turbines to fulfill the electricity needs of the approximately 4.000 residents.
The island is 100% powered wind-generated electricity. About 70% of island heating needs are met with renewable energy, and the carbon emissions from transportation energy consumption is 100% compensated by the electricity production from the offshore wind turbines.
There are plans in the works to establish a cooperatively run pig farm-based biogas plant. This biogas will be used to produce electricity, and the excess heat will be used for heating purposes.
Information campaigns promote new neighborhood heating systems and individual solutions. Heat pump systems are now attractive because the island generates a surplus of electricity.
The transportation sector can in part be supplied with canola oil for diesel vehicles, and the island’s gasoline cars can use bioethanol or can be converted to hydrogen and electricity. These will be ready when technological innovation and lower prices make large scale conversion feasible.
