Denmark, 26 th of February 2010 Researchers correct the false allegations on Danish wind energy A think tank recently criticized the performance of Danish wind energy. A broad group of energy researchers from all over Denmark now refute the allegations, which have also been emphasized by the U.S. organization IER in the debate on wind energy. In a normal wind year, Danish wind turbines generate the equivalent of approx. 20 percent of the Danish electricity demand. Only approx. 1 percent of the wind power production is exported while the rest is used to meet domestic Danish electricity demands and the cost of wind power is paid solely by the electricity consumers. The net influence on consumer prices was as low as 1-3 percent on average in the period 2004- 2008. In 2008, the net influence even decreased the average consumer price, although only slightly. These are the conclusions from a large group of Danish researchers and experts who in a new report examine recent allegations on Danish wind power and corrects the false claims which have been made by the think tank CEPOS and promoted in the U.S. Recently, a study made by the Danish think tank CEPOS claimed the opposite, i.e. that most of the Danish wind power has been exported in recent years. However, this claim is based on an incorrect interpretation of statistics and a lack of understanding of how the international electricity markets operate. Consequently, the results of the CEPOS study in general are not correct. Moreover, the CEPOS study claims that using wind turbines in Denmark is a very expensive way of reducing CO2 emissions and that this is the reason for the high energy taxes for private consumers in Denmark. “These claims are also misleading” states the group of leading energy researchers and experts. The cost of CO2 reduction by use of wind power in the period 2004- 2008 was only 20 EUR/ton. Furthermore, the Danish wind turbines are not paid for by energy taxes. The CEPOS report has been used in the U.S. to cast serious doubt on whether other countries can learn from the Danish case. But – as the researchers and experts document in a new report – the CEPOS conclusions are in general misleading and not correct. In Denmark, 20 percent wind power is integrated by using both local resources and international market mechanisms. This is done in a way which makes it possible for our neighboring countries to follow a similar path. Moreover, Denmark has a strategy to raise this share to 50 percent and the necessary measures are in the process of being implemented. The Danish researchers and experts behind the report “Danish Wind Power - Export and Cost” are now cooperating with organizations in the U.S. and elsewhere to correct the misconceptions. About the report “Danish Wind Power - Export and Cost”:  The report and the research group's report on the fact on Danish wind energy can be retrieved at http://www.energyplanning.aau.dk/Publications/DanishWindPower.pdf .  The new report is written by a group of energy researchers and experts from Danish universities and independent consultants. The group represents many years of experience within a wide range of expertise covering academic studies as well as hands on experience with the operation and management of the Danish energy system.  Researchers and experts: From Aalborg University Dr.Techn. Henrik Lund, Dr.Techn. Frede Hvelplund, Ph.D. Poul Alberg Østergaard, Ph.D. Bernd Möller and Ph.D. Brian Vad Mathiesen. From Technical University of Denmark (Risø DTU, National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy) M.Econ. Poul Erik Morthorst, Ph.D. Peter Meibom, Ph.D. Kenneth Karlsson and Ph.D. Marie Münster. From Copenhagen Business School, Ph.D. Peter Karnøe. From University of Southern Denmark, M.Sc. Henrik Wenzel. From EMD International Ltd. Head of Department Anders N. Andersen. From Pöyry Energy Consulting AS, Ph.D. Jesper Munksgaard. From Ea Energy Analyses M.Sc. Hans Henrik Lindboe.  The results were presented in the national television news in Denmark on February 25 th 2010 (http://kortlink.dk/7gkh ).  The CEPOS report issued in September: http://www.cepos.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Arkiv/PDF/Wind_energy_- _the_case_of_Denmark.pdf . The American organization IER has used CEPOS report in the U.S. (see http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/2009/09/14/something-rotten-obama-says-danes-receive-20-of-their-power -by- wind-new-study-tells-the-real-story/ ), where CEPOS also appeared in television (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpodnV- 0LNs ) and on internet television (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgUsun3hIT0 ). Contacts:  Professor Henrik Lund, Aalborg University (tel. +45 9940 8309, mobile +45 29 40 34 99), lund@plan.aau.dk Download photo at http://people.plan.aau.dk/~reinau/Galleri_I20_Full/Henrik_Lund_100340.JPG  Poul Erik Morthorst, DTU Technical University of Denmark (tel. +45 46 77 51 06), pemo@risoe.dtu.dk  Hans Henrik Lindboe, EA Energy Aanalyses, (tel. +45 60 39 17 04), hhl@eaea.dk  Jesper Munksgaard, Pöyry Energy Consulting, (tel. +45 60209404) jesper.munksgaard@poyry.com  Peter Karnøe, Copenhagen Business School (Tel.: +45 3815 2808, mobile: +45 2893 5259),pka.ioa@cbs.dk  Frede Hvelplund, Aalborg University (tel. +45 9940 8380), hvelplund@plan.aau.dk  Brian Vad Mathiesen, Aalborg University (tel. +45 9940 7218), bvm@plan.aau.dk  Poul A. Østergaard, Aalborg University (tel. +45 9940 8424), poul@plan.aau.dk  Peter Meibom, DTU-Risoe, (+45 21 36 31 04), peter.meibom@risoe.dk  Kenneth Karlsson, DTU-Risoe +45 60 24 01 41, kenneth.karlsson@risoe.dk