NEWS: Renewable Energy and Power-to-X create local value and growth

A new analysis by Ramboll Management Consulting, developed for eight Danish municipalities on the initiative of Aabenraa Municipality, shows that the expansion of renewable energy and Power-to-X creates significant local value – not only through new jobs, but also via investments, green initiatives and community development.

Denmark’s green transition is, to a large extent, a local project driven by municipalities, where renewable energy and Power-to-X facilities are planned and where citizens experience both the challenges and the benefits. The report “The Societal Value of Renewable Energy and PtX – Gains and Barriers from National to Local: The Role of Municipalities in the Green Transition” shows that municipalities play a central role in advancing green energy, already contributing to local employment, new partnerships and tangible community improvements such as Green Pool projects, CO₂-neutral district heating, improved infrastructure and stronger collaboration between business and education.

Aabenraa Municipality has contributed with examples from its own renewable and PtX planning, which form part of the report’s conclusions. “The analysis shows that these projects are not only about producing green energy - they also create new investments, partnerships and business opportunities that can transform local economies. We now have data and a solid foundation for future work with renewable and PtX projects, as well as the important accompanying initiatives in Aabenraa,” says Jan Riber Jakobsen, Mayor of Aabenraa Municipality.

The analysis is based on national and local data and experiences from eight municipalities - Aabenraa, Varde, Vejen, Ringkøbing-Skjern, Hjørring, Holstebro, Vesthimmerland and Lolland - which together represent a large share of Denmark’s future renewable and PtX capacity. Ramboll’s calculations show that the development of 1 GW of solar, wind and PtX can generate approximately DKK 9.4 billion in value and 14,800 full-time equivalent jobs, a significant part of which will be local.

“The green transition is not only about implementing renewable energy and Power-to-X, but very much about creating entirely new opportunities for local communities, which through green investments gain access to wider environmental, economic, business and social benefits. To realise the full potential, we must continue to work holistically and strive to achieve the greatest possible added value across all areas. This analysis is an important tool for doing so,” says Hanne Klintøe, Head of PtX Development in Aabenraa Municipality.

Read the full report here (in Danish)