International acknowledgement for energy efficient Danish water business

The International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights Denmark as an international frontrunner in energy efficient treatment of drinking- and wastewater in its new report, World Energy Outlook 2016. Among other things, Marselisborg wastewater treatment plant in Aarhus is applauded. Thanks to specialized knowledge and efficient technology, the plant today produces more energy when treating wastewater than it consumes.

It is e.g. this fact, which creates global awareness, and this makes the Danish Minister for Environment and Food, Esben Lunde Larsen:

“We have been aware of the fact that Denmark is a frontrunner in the water business for quite a while. But it is nice that it is also acknowledged internationally. Not because of vanity, but for our export possibilities. This is valuable promotion for our technology producers, who will hopefully be able of using this to create new jobs and revenues for Denmark,” he says in a press release.

International demand
Recently, the Danish water business has experienced increasing interest from abroad, where exactly energy efficient handling of drinking- and wastewater have fought their way to the top of the energy agendas in a number of countries. Not least because the water sector globally is assessed to consume roughly four per cent of the collected measure of energy, while the consumption in Denmark is less than halve of that. This has added momentum, and most recently the Water Technology Alliance, which among others consist of Aarhus Vand and Grundfos, played a part in promoting energy efficient, Danish solutions in the United States.

“In Denmark, we have the knowledge, technology and experience related to water- and energy efficient solutions, which can help solve some of the challenges experienced around the world. The Danish water business builds on strong public-private partnerships, and we are happy that our technology can play a part in lowering the energy consumption, while attracting positive attention to the water industry,” says Kenth Hvid Nielsen, Group Vice President in Water Utility at Grundfos.

Another report solely focusing on the Danish water industry forecasts that within a few years it will be possible for the Danish business to become completely energy neutral by using already existing technologies and experiences, among other things collected from the energy producing wastewater treatment plants.