It should be right up your alley, thought civil engineer Svend Erik Tønder Degn Hansen on early retirement. He is a committed member of the board of directors of Brøns CHP who works methodically.
That is why he and the rest of the board were also ready when the Danish Energy Agency opened up direct lines outside the public electricity grid and increased grid tariffs between renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and district heating plants at the beginning of 2023. The plan was to make district heating in the small southern Jutland village of Brøns both greener and cheaper for the 138 district heating customers in the town with approximately 400 residents.
- We have one of the most expensive district heating prices in the country because we have a gas boiler, wood chip stove and a gas engine. This means that it costs around DKK 23,500 to heat a standard house, says Svend Erik Tønder Degn Hansen.
But the new rules made it possible for district heating in Brøns to become much, much cheaper and even much greener. Just outside Brøns there are three existing 400 kW Micon turbines from 1992, which Brøns CHP was able to buy cheaply. The original experimental turbines are still in good condition and would be able to deliver a total of 1.2 MW of locally produced electricity.
- The turbines are from 1992 and should have been dismantled two years ago, but we have had the turbines inspected. They can run for many more years if they are serviced, he explains, and at the same time states:
- It is a chance for our small village to become greener, but it is now or never.
The beach despite all reason
After the Danish Energy Agency opened up the possibility of direct line construction, Brøns CHP applied for the establishment. In June, the plant received a commitment to establish the line, but the joy in Brøns was to be extremely short-lived.
- We received a computer-generated permit from the Danish Energy Agency, but the following day the agency withdrew the permit, explains Svend Erik Tønder Degn Hansen and states:
- You shake your head at this. It's crazy when we have three functioning turbines that we are not allowed to use.
Brøns Kraftvarmeværk has appealed the decision, which is now with the Energy Complaints Board in Viborg.
- There is a one-year case processing time at the Energy Complaints Board, and we expect a response on August 13, 2025, he says.
Not even an inquiry to the Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities Lars Aagaard (M) has helped.
- Lars Aagaard could grant a dispensation - but he does not. The reason is that there is an ongoing appeal case, explains Svend Erik Tønder Degn Hansen, who has tried to call out the minister in several ways.
Nationally, Hvide Sande Fjernvarme is known for having the cheapest district heating prices in Denmark, and that is precisely with electricity from wind turbines. The difference in the distance between the wind turbines and the district heating plant in Hvide Sande and Brøns is minimal, however.
- In our area there are 1064 meters as the crow flies, and as far as I can see, there are 910 meters in Hvide Sande, explains Svend Erik Tønder Degn Hansen and adds:
- This needs to be put out so people can see how crazy it is.
The rotten banana is calling Christiansborg
Svend Erik Tønder Degn Hansen has also written to several members of the Climate, Energy and Utilities Committee, but he has only received a response from Morten Messerschmidt (DF).
In the local community, retired chief physician Solveig Busch also supports the goal of the direct route. She owns the land where the wind turbines stand, but she does not want any rental income if Brøns CHP takes over the turbines. As someone who moved from Copenhagen, she does see a trend.
- When you sit in Christiansborg, it's important to know what's happening far out in the rotten banana, says Solveig Busch, and Svend Erik Tønder Degn Hansen adds:
- They sit there with their fine educations, but they need to go out and see it so they understand it.
Energy Agency: Error in the application
DOI.dk has received the following written comment from the Energy Agency on the matter of direct line routing from the wind turbines to Brøns Combined Heat and Power Plant.
"On 27 June 2023, Brøns Combined Heat and Power Plant applied for permission to establish a direct line between the combined heat and power plant's heat pump and a production plant consisting of three wind turbines through the Energy Agency's automatic application portal. During a manual fact check, the Energy Agency became aware that there were errors in the information entered that formed the basis for the automatic approval. The Danish Energy Agency therefore withdrew the approval and asked Brøns for additional information.
On July 12, supplementary and detailed comments were submitted to the original application.
It appears from the supplementary comments to the original application that the applied project does not meet the scheme's distance criterion, and that there were no system or network technical considerations that would justify an exemption from the criterion. Therefore, the Danish Energy Agency could not approve the establishment of a direct line."
DOI.dk has received the following comment from the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities.
- Questions about exemptions have been delegated to the Danish Energy Agency. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities does not have any comments on a case that is under consideration in an appeals board.
Updated 09.01.25. at 21:05.
Graphics: Christians Sennels - DK Creative.
According to Svend Erik Tønder Degn Hansen, the distance between the wind turbines and the district heating plant is 1064 meters as the crow flies.
Factbox: Direct line routing
On May 1, 2023, the Danish Energy Agency opened applications for direct lines. They became possible with the adoption by the Danish Parliament of a revised Electricity Supply Act (L37).
A direct line connects electricity production and consumption directly, bypassing the collective electricity supply grid. This can increase the use of renewable energy and green technologies such as PtX and heat pumps, as well as relieve the electricity grid in areas with large production of green electricity.
The rules for direct lines are intended to promote the green transition and make the energy system more efficient.
The Danish Energy Agency informs DOI.dk that the agency has received six applications since the rules came into force. Three applications have been approved, one application has been rejected, and another has been withdrawn, while one application is still under processing.
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