Research

Greener and smarter energy system to secure future energy needs

Denmark must be independent of coal, oil and gas by 2050. This means that renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power must be able to cover the country's entire energy consumption, which is steadily increasing.

That's why our entire energy system needs to be smartly designed to handle the fact that energy production and consumption don't always go hand in hand. This requires us to develop technologies to store renewable energy.

And we need to optimize the extraction of wind energy, for example by establishing energy islands, which in itself is a huge technological challenge.

At the same time, we need to find green alternatives to fossil fuels, for example through power-to-x. And we need to think about our energy solutions together so that we can, for example, utilize surplus heat from companies to heat homes.

At DTU, we have the latest knowledge about technologies in areas such as:

• Wind and solar energy
• Energy islands
• Smart energy systems
• Green fuels, e.g. power-to-x
• CO2 capture
• Fusion and fission energy

Biosolutions is a tool for developing sustainable solutions

Biosolutions stems from traditional biotechnology research, but is concerned with how we can invent and produce more sustainable products and solutions. By utilizing, e.g., bacteria, enzymes and fermentation, biosolutions can replace traditional fossil-based products and methods with bio-based alternatives such as bioplastics, plant-based foods and green fuels.

Common to all bio-based technologies is that they can help to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in other industries' manufacturing processes and end products.

In Denmark, biosolutions are esprecially used in advanced foods, where companies and research environments have extensive knowledge of, for example, ingredients and fermentation technology used in the production of beer and cheese. However, biosolutions has the potential to be much more than that.

At DTU, we have the latest knowledge about biosolutions in areas such as:

• Development of green proteins
• Development and use of microorganisms for e.g. production of green fuels
• Development of new pharmaceuticals
• Development of bio-based pesticides for agriculture

Read more under the research area 'Biotechnology'.

Circular economy and sustainable materials in the construction industry

The construction sector currently accounts for 22% of Denmark's carbon footprint, 33% of our total material consumption and 40% of our total waste. In 2021 alone, cement production emitted 2.9 billion tons of CO2, more than 7% of total global CO2 emissions, according to IEA calculations.

The construction sector is therefore a key player in the green transition, and if Denmark is to achieve its goals, we must act now.

We can and must develop new building materials with a lower climate footprint. And we must develop new ways to recycle materials and waste from the construction sector and research how to exploit synergies with other sectors such as forestry, agriculture, waste, etc.

 At DTU we have the latest knowledge about technologies in areas such as:

• Development and testing of new, sustainable building materials
• Recycling and reuse of building materials
• Optimizing project management of large public construction projects
• Climate proofing of cities and buildings
• Biodiversity in buildings and construction

There is an urgent need for a green transportation system

Since the first Danish car was built in 1888, the transportation system has become increasingly CO2 emitting and a serious burden on the planet.

Denmark's total CO2 emissions amounted to 44 million tons of CO2 in 2022. By 2030, the transport sector is expected to be responsible for 39% of Danish CO2 emissions (see the Svarer Committee report).

If Denmark is to reach its goal of a 70% overall reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030, the transportation sector's CO2 emissions must be radically reduced.

This requires increased research and development in electrification, development of green fuels, battery technology, and optimization of logistics in the freight industry and the maritime sector.

At DTU, we have the latest knowledge about technologies in areas such as:

• Power-to-X
• Non-fossil fuels
• Electrification of the transportation sector
• Transportation economics
• Transportation infrastructure