Denmark’s exports of energy technologies saw an annual growth rate of 19 percent in 2008 – four times greater than exports as a whole
Denmark’s export of energy technology reached a new high in 2008. According to new statistics from the Danish Energy Agency and the Danish Energy Industries Federation, sales of energy technologies to foreign countries grew at an annual rate of 19 percent to a total €8.6 billion. But even though 2008 was a banner year, the effects of the recession are likely to be seen in export figures for 2009.
The 19 percent annual growth rate is almost four times that of overall exports. By way of comparison, the EU15 as a whole posted 5 percent growth in energy technology exports.
Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard calls the figure “impressive”.
“Energy technology is helping Denmark to strengthen its reputation internationally. It’s worth noting that exports of energy technologies exceeded exports of oil and gas again in 2008. Moreover, the figures underscore the potential an ambitious climate agreement in Copenhagen this December would have on the continued positive development of the country’s energy technology exports.”
Although the energy technology industry expects it too will be affected by the global recession, it is optimistic that it will fare better than other export sectors.
The largest export markets in 2008 were again Germany, the US and the UK. The three countries combined purchased 40 percent of Denmark’s energy technology exports. Germany was again the largest single export market, after being overtaken by the US in 2007.
Anders Stouge, head of the Danish Energy Industries Federation says: “The energy industry has seen impressive export growth rates in recent years. Energy technology’s share of overall exports is twice as much today as it was a decade ago. The recession has taken its toll and since autumn 2008 we’ve seen growth slow. Our members don’t expect the situation to turn around until the second half of 2010. That makes it all the more important that we improve our efforts to make Denmark a global hub for the development and sale of energy and climate technologies.”
The 2008 [title] is available on-line at ...
For more information, please contact:
Ministry of Energy and Climate: Press officer, Tore Keller, tel: +45 41 33 94 84, tokel@kemin.dk
Danish Energy Industries Federation: Kasper Lindgaard, tel: +45 33 77 36 62, kali@di.dk
Danish Energy Agency: Henriette la Cour, tel: +45 33 95 42 78, hlc@ens.dk