AALBORG: The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities has just informed North Jutland Power Plant that the government will not provide state aid of approximately 400 million DKK for a forced advance of a coal phase-out at North Jutland Power Plant. Lasse Olsen (EL), chairman of Aalborg Power Plant's Energy Division, receives this message with astonishment.
- It is very regrettable, because we want to contribute to Denmark meeting its climate target for 2025. At the same time, I am surprised, because there has been a close dialogue with the ministry, and we had the clear impression that they were very interested in phasing out the use of coal at North Jutland Power Plant earlier than planned, says Lasse Olsen.
The plan is for the North Jutland Power Plant to stop burning coal by the end of 2028. In November 2020, Aalborg Forsyning was contacted by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities with a view to bringing forward the coal stop to 2025, which has subsequently been calculated to cost approximately DKK 400 million. Calculations from the North Jutland Power Plant also show that there will be a reduction in CO2 emissions of at least 3.3 million tonnes by accelerating the phasing out of coal from 2028 to 2025.
- It is not without costs to bring forward large investments, and therefore it has been crucial that the state promised support so that consumers in Aalborg do not have to foot the bill for Denmark to achieve its national climate goal, says Lasse Olsen.
Goes against the Climate Council's recommendation
The Climate Council has also recommended that the government bring forward a coal phase-out at the North Jutland Power Plant, as it is a relatively cheap initiative that can achieve a significant reduction in CO2.
- I am surprised that the government is not listening to the Climate Council, and at the same time I find it difficult to see how Denmark will now achieve its goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 50-54 percent. in 2025, says Lasse Olsen.
He is also surprised that the government one day announces that it is more urgent than ever to replace coal with green energy and provides financial support for coal-intensive countries to reduce the use of coal, just as Denmark supports the goal that all OECD countries must have phased out the use of coal by 2030 and the rest of the world by 2040.
- Shortly afterwards, the government then announces that they will not support a forced coal phase-out at the North Jutland Power Plant. It doesn't make sense, says Lasse Olsen.
He hopes that the negotiations between the parties at Christiansborg will mean that the government changes its mind:
- We are at least still ready to make a quick effort if the politicians agree to advance the phasing out of coal at the North Jutland Power Plant, says Lasse Olsen.
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