Photo: Thorkild Christensen
Photo: Thorkild Christensen
Photo: Thorkild Christensen
Photo: Thorkild Christensen
Photo: Thorkild Christensen
Photo: Thorkild Christensen
Photo: Thorkild Christensen
Photo: Thorkild Christensen

Ministerial discussions on wind energy and eco-friendly fuels of the future

Energy Fuel cells Energy storage Wind energy

On 23 November, the Danish Minister for Energies, Utilities and Climate, Lars Christian Lilleholt, visited DTU Risø—among other things to learn more about how to store energy, and to discuss perspectives of Danish wind energy research.

President Anders Bjarklev welcomed the minister when he visited DTU’s campus in Roskilde to discuss some of the technical research areas that DTU is examining in this connection. The minister was very interested and attentive as he, among other things, was shown some of the heavier research facilities at DTU Energy.

“Danish wind energy and energy storage research is important for Denmark’s future. However, there is a need to highlight the importance of wind power research, so that a wider audience will gain an insight into its large impacts on society. Energy storage is relevant for many sectors, and it is important that Denmark gives priority to the areas where we have key strengths. Today at DTU Energy, I have been shown our capabilities within, e.g., the manufacture of synthetic fuels,” said the Minister For Energies, Utilities and Climate, Lars Christian Lilleholt.

Market leader within energy
At
DTU Energy, Søren Linderoth, Head of Department, told the minister about three major focus areas on the energy front, as viewed by DTU. The three areas are improved battery technologies, energy storage in materials, and last, but not least, the possibility of chemical storage.

The latter area makes it possible to take surplus wind energy, convert it into, e.g., natural gas, and subsequently store it or use it in our existing natural gas grid, something the minister listened to with great interest as it will match the existing Danish infrastructure. He was pleased that Denmark—despite its limited size—is the market leader in several areas of energy research fields.

Looking into the crystal ball
At DTU Wind Energy, Peter Hauge Madsen, Head of Department, showed the minister some of the research areas, which have helped Denmark become a leader in the field of wind energy research. Both in terms of the quality of the research and in relation to the extent of wind power used in the grid.

And even though it is difficult to predict the future, Peter Hauge Madsen also offered the minister a look into the crystal ball and pointed to some of the things that will ensure that Denmark will remain a world leader in wind energy research in the future. For example, the large wind turbines of the future will require larger rotors and slimmer blade profiles and more research on off-shore technologies.

In addition, mapping of noise is one of the areas that will be our focus in the future. Not only to be able to place the wind turbines to avoid noise nuisances, but also to achieve a wind turbine design that ensures less noise.