BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SDG 7

Denmark is widely regarded as a global pioneer in renewable energy, particularly in wind power. It was the first country in the world to develop an offshore wind farm, Vindeby, in 1991, and has since become an international leader in offshore-wind technology, deployment and regulation. In 2024, renewable sources supplied approximately 79.7% of Danish electricity consumption, demonstrating how extensively renewables have been integrated into the national energy system (Danish Energy Agency [DEA], 2025a). 

Wind power is at the centre of this success. In 2024, wind alone generated approximately 58.2% of Denmark’s electricity, while solar, biomass and other renewable sources further increased the renewable share. Denmark’s experience demonstrates how long-term government policy, technological innovation and public-private cooperation can transform the electricity system of an advanced economy, making it an important model for the implementation of SDG 7 (Statistics Denmark, 2026; International Energy Agency [IEA], 2023). 

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 

Denmark’s main challenge is now moving from being an early renewable-energy pioneer to operating an electricity system capable of accommodating even larger quantities of variable wind and solar power. This requires major investment in electricity grids, interconnections, storage and system flexibility. Permitting barriers and insufficient grid expansion have also slowed some renewable projects, while transport, agriculture and industry remain more difficult to decarbonise than electricity generation (IEA, 2023). 

Offshore wind nevertheless remains central to Denmark’s future strategy. After a 2024 offshore-wind tender failed to attract bids because of rising costs and market uncertainty, Denmark redesigned its approach and in November 2025 launched tenders for at least 2.8 GW of new offshore wind capacity. Denmark is therefore not only an historical renewable-energy pioneer but also an important test of how mature renewable markets can overcome investment, infrastructure and cost challenges while continuing their transition away from fossil fuels (DEA, 2025b; IEA, 2023). 

LIST OF REFERENCES

Danish Energy Agency. (2025a). Key Figures - Denmark 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://ens.dk/en/analyses-and-statistics/key-figures

Danish Energy Agency. (2025b, November 20). The Danish Energy Agency Opens Tender for Three New Danish Offshore Wind Farms. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://ens.dk/en/press/danish-energy-agency-opens-tenders-three-new-danish-offshore-wind-farms

Danish Energy Agency. (n.d.). Facts about Offshore Wind Power. Retrieved October 20, 2025 from https://ens.dk/en/energy-sources/offshore-wind-power/facts-about-offshore-wind-power

International Energy Agency. (2023). Denmark 2023: Energy Policy Review. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/9af8f6a2-31e7-4136-94a6-fe3aa518ec7d/Denmark_2023.pdf

Statistics Denmark. (2026). The Danish Sustainability Indicators. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://www.dst.dk/en/Statistik/temaer/SDG/danske-maalepunkter