Sustainable Energy in
The Triangle Region

Gas tanks from biogas plant in the Triangle Region (Source: Triangle Region)

Triangle Region is located in the south east part of Jytland and west of the island Funen. It is a central region a short distance from Copenhagen (capital of Denmark) and Aarhus (the second largest city in Denmark), northern Denmark and the German border. It consists of the 6 municipalities, Billund, Fredericia, Kolding, Middelfart, Vejen and Vejle. Together (geographically), the municipalities forms a triangle, hence the name of the region. The region is characterized by both big cities with industries and many jobs and rural areas with a high concentration of animal and food production.

Kolding, Vejle and Fredericia are the biggest cities in the region where 42% of the inhabitants are located. The main concentration of jobs, education possibilities, culture and trade is also located in these cities.

The region has the third largest growth rate in Denmark after Copenhagen and Aarhus. Together with Aarhus and other cities on the eastcoast of Jytland, the Triangle Region forms a growth center of Denmark which will be the center of growth in Denmark, together with Copenhagen and the cities around capital.   

Commercially, the region is characterized as an industrial and agriculture region. In the last couple of years (2009/10), the region has had more focus on innovation and development of new technologies, which has begun to switch the region to more innovative industries, with Lego as the most visible.

In the region, there is also a concentration of energy companies. The two largest energy companies operating in Denmark are located here; also Energinet.dk (which owns the transmission net for gas and electricity in Denmark) is located in the region.   

Politically, the Triangle Region Denmark is formed as a voluntary association of the municipalities. The region itself does not have any authority. Nevertheless the region has made a common plan for development of the region, where  the Triangle Region Denmark assists this development.

The Danish energy infrastructure is based on free competition, except from the distribution system. This means that pipelines for oil and gas and the infrastructure for electricity is owned by the state through Energinet.dk. Energinet.dk is responsible for providing the transmission of energy and the integration of wind energy into the Danish energy system.

In general, electricity production in Denmark is characterized with a few central power plants, a number of decentralized combined heat and power plants (CHP) and windtubines. The local supply companies buys electricity from the producers and sells it to the consumers. This is also the case in the Triangle Region.

The heat production is for 60% distributed by district heat systems (60.000 km pipelines), the rest is individual heat systems (oil and gas burners and renewables). The district heat mainly comes from CHP or heat plants. The production in Denmark is renewables (46,2%), natural gas (27,8%), coal (22%) and oil (3,8%).

In the Triangle Region, heat is mainly destributed by the transmission company, TVIS (Triangle heat transmission company I/S). They deliver heat to 55.000 households in the region through 80 km main pipelines. The heat comes from surplus heat from a local powerplant, a Shell refinery, industries and a waste incineration plant.  

The heat is sold to the consumer through 8 local district heat companies.

Triangle Area will contribute to:

• use of fossil fuels reduced by 15% by 2025
• proportion of renewable energy increased at least 30% of energy consumption up to 2025
• saving initiatives increased to 1.25% annually in 2020
• promotion projects to develop and promote sustainable energy

Triangle Region will focus on the consequences of climate change and integrate climate adaptation into future planning and administration.

Planned activities:

• Focus on CO₂ emissions for renovation for existing buildings
• Planning for establishment of wind turbines, which can help to cover 30% of the energy consumption in 2020
• Cooperate on the project “Energy step” (www.energystep.dk), that is developing local energy systems for future business potential
• Promote the use of biomass for energy production

Goals:

• CO₂ emissions reduced by more than 20% by 2020
• use of fossil fuels reduced by 15% by 2025
• proportion of renewable energy increased by at least 30% of energy consumption up to 2025
• saving initiatives increased to 1.25% annually in 2020

For the region as a whole, the Triangle Region Denmark is a member of the Covenant of Mayors, through which it has developed a Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP). This regional SEAP is based on the SEAPs of the individual municipalities. The actions are therefore mainly concentrated in the municipalities, except  for  a few crossborder actions such as promotion of the use of biomass in energy production (biogas from animal manure and waste) and planning for establishment of wind turbines. Crossborder action will be developed when appropriate.

Each municipality in the Triangle Region has its own, or is developing its own, SEAP.

In action:

• Municipality of Kolding
• Municipality of Vejle: approved 30^th of June 2010.
• Municipality of Middelfart

In development:

• Municipality of Billund
• Municipality of Fredericia (anticipated for Autumn 2011)
• Municipality of Vejen

Interaction with other initiatives at the Regional, National or European level:

• www.energystep.dk (in Danish)
• The ENNEREG Project's Regions 202020 Network (this website)
• North Sea Sustainable Energy Planning (only 4 municipalities from the region – through www.greennetwork.dk)