Danish Energy Authority

Background and Status

Established in 1976, the Danish Energy Authority (DEA) has been an integral part of the Danish Ministry for Environment and Energy since 1994. The Danish Energy Authority is responsible for designing and preparing main energy policies, including legislation and planning, implementing the adopted energy legislation, managing energy programmes, and Danish participation in international multi- and bilateral energy relations. DEA is also responsible for energy efficiency, electricity, heat supply, hydrocarbon activities and associated activities in the North Sea, natural gas supply, renewable energy sources, environmental aspects of energy policy, and energy research and development.

Expertise

Total staff amounts to some 280 persons. The Danish Energy Authority is involved in all major sectors in the field of energy. Main areas of expertise include:

• integrated energy planning
• economic instruments in energy policy making, including green taxes
• CHP
• renewable energy sources including wind turbines and bio-mass
• heat planning
• district heating
• environmental aspects of energy policies
• energy efficiency in buildings, industry, electrical appliances and equipment, and services
• electricity generation, transmission and distribution
• natural gas supply and distribution
• hydrocarbon exploration and production.

Services

An integral part of the Danish central administration, the Danish Energy Authority traditionally offers services associated with the particular experience and expertise acquired during the construction of past and present energy policy in Denmark. These services include:

• energy planning
• organisational design
• management systems in the energy field
• programme design and management
• specific assistance in the fields of expertise mentioned under the section “expertise”.

Customers/Clients

Principal clients of Danish Energy Authority include:

• Dansk Olie og Naturgas (DONG) - State owned Danish Oil and Natural Gas Company
• regional natural gas companies
• electrical utilities
• heat supply companies
• oil companies
• local and regional authorities
• industry in the energy field
• industry, agriculture, trade and service
• research institutions.

Skills - Strategic Studies

The Danish Energy Authority has a long experience in strategic policy analysis. Since mid 1970’s, the Danish Energy Authority has elaborated a vast number of strategic policy studies ranging from overall national energy plans to specific and strategy studies in major areas to strategy analysis in limited fields. The Danish Energy Authority has also developed methodologies and techniques of analysis and forecasting in the energy field. Strategic thinking, planning and programming in the energy sector is an asset of prime importance of the Danish Energy Authority.

Skills - Technical Assessment and Programme Management

The Danish Energy Authority has developed and managed a number of national energy programmes, including energy efficiency programmes, programmes for energy efficiency in the building sector, programmes for energy efficiency in industry, energy efficiency of electrical appliances and equipment, promotion of and support for renewable energy technologies, and environmental programmes.

Skills - Technology Transfer and Dissemination

The Danish Energy Authority is involved in co-operation programmes with Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS, as well as co-operation with developing countries through the Danish Co-operation for Environment and Development (DANCED). These programmes also contain technology transfer and dissemination in the receiver countries. Moreover, the Danish Energy Authority is the contact point for activities in the framework of the ALTENER programme.

Contact Point

Jorgen Bjelskou Danish Energy Authority, Amaliegade 44, DK-1256 Copenhagen K Tel: +45 33 92 67 28, Fax: +45 33 92 68 67, E-mail: jbj@ens.dk