Wind power to make up half of Danish energy use in 2020

Denmark aims to have wind power supply half of the country's electricity needs in 2020, under a new programme presented by Climate and Energy Minister Martin Lidegaard on Friday. "Denmark must use a lot more renewable energy and we will have to become much better at using energy efficiently," Lidegaard told reporters. The country aims to be 100 percent free of fossil fuels in 2050, relying instead on wind power, biomass and biogas, the government said on its website where it presented its new "Our Energy" programme. The left-wing government, which came to power in September, has largely overtaken the previous centre-right administration's energy programme "but setting the goals higher", the ministry said. The previous government's plan called for an increase in the use of wind power from 20 percent today to 42 percent in 2020. The new government plans to invest 5.6 billion kronor (750 millio n euros, $996 million) in its energy programme, compared to 3.6 billion earmarked by its predecessor. The investments will be financed by the public and companies through higher energy prices, encouraging Danes to better isolate their homes and buildings to save energy. The government expects households to reduce their average energy consumption by eight to 10 percent by 2020. The government said it planned to hold negotiations with political parties across the board so that the programme will not have to be changed when a different government comes to power.