How Danish Municipalities Can Close Their Klimaplan Gap with Energy Communities
Data analysis of the CO₂ reduction gap across Danish municipalities and how energy communities can help close it.
Denmark's 2030 climate promise vs reality
Denmark has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. But when we examine the individual municipal klimaplans, a different picture emerges: many municipalities are far from reaching their own targets.
Our analysis of 98 Danish municipalities reveals that the total klimaplan gap — the remaining CO₂ reduction needed to meet 2030 targets — stands at 2,699,285 tons. Energy communities can play a crucial role in closing this gap.
Total Baseline Emissions
31,463,288 tons
Total Current Emissions
22,162,425 tons
Average Reduction
30%
The biggest klimaplan gaps by municipality
23 municipalities have an outstanding klimaplan gap. Click column headers to sort.
How energy communities reduce municipal emissions
Energy communities bring together citizens, businesses, and municipal institutions around shared production and consumption of renewable energy. When an energy community replaces fossil-based electricity with locally produced solar or wind energy, the municipality's CO₂ emissions are directly reduced.
The methodology is straightforward: for every MWh of renewable energy produced locally that replaces fossil energy, the corresponding CO₂ emission is saved. The Danish average emission factor for electricity production is approximately 0.1-0.15 tons of CO₂ per MWh, though this varies by energy mix and time of day.
Worked example: Aalborg
Aalborg has the largest klimaplan gap at 500,000 tons of CO₂. The municipality currently has 38.1 MW solar and 158.8 MW wind installed.
With an average emission factor of 0.12 tons CO₂/MWh, closing this gap would require approximately 4,166,667 MWh of additional renewable production annually — equivalent to roughly 3788 MW of new solar capacity or 1667 MW of new wind capacity.
Energy communities can deliver a significant portion of this capacity while creating local engagement and economic value.
Case studies
The four municipalities with the biggest klimaplan gaps — and what energy communities could mean for them.
Aalborg
Klimaplan gap: 500,000 tons CO₂
Biggest gap sector: Agriculture and transport
Silkeborg
Klimaplan gap: 475,000 tons CO₂
Biggest gap sector: Energy
Horsens
Klimaplan gap: 362,000 tons CO₂
Herning
Klimaplan gap: 282,000 tons CO₂
What municipal planners should do next
An action checklist for municipalities looking to use energy communities to close the klimaplan gap:
- Map your klimaplan gap
Identify exactly how large the gap is and which sectors contribute most. Use our municipality data as a starting point.
- Assess the potential for energy communities
Examine available areas for solar and wind, grid capacity, and local stakeholders. An energy community requires engagement from at least a handful of citizens or businesses.
- Establish a dialogue with citizens
Hold town halls, information campaigns, and workshops. Energy communities succeed best with broad local support.
- Create legal frameworks and permits
Ensure local plans support energy communities. Simplify permitting processes and offer guidance to initiators.
- Measure and report progress
Integrate energy community CO₂ savings into the municipal climate accounts. Set milestones and follow up annually.
Frequently asked questions
Energy communities can reduce municipal emissions by replacing fossil energy with locally produced solar and wind power. By engaging citizens and businesses in shared renewable energy projects, municipalities can accelerate the green transition and close the klimaplan gap faster than with individual measures alone.
A klimaplan gap is the difference between a municipality's CO₂ reduction target for 2030 and the actual reduction achieved to date. The larger the gap, the more the municipality needs to reduce its emissions to meet its climate targets.
The biggest contributors vary by municipality, but typically energy, transport, and agriculture are the sectors with the largest emissions. Energy communities can primarily address the energy sector and indirectly influence the transport sector through green electricity for electric vehicles.
A typical solar-based energy community of 1 MW can save approximately 400-500 tons of CO₂ annually. A wind-based energy community of 3 MW can save approximately 5,000-7,000 tons of CO₂ annually. Actual savings depend on local conditions and the energy source being replaced.
We compare the municipality's adopted CO₂ reduction target for 2030 with the actual reduction achieved since the baseline year. The gap is calculated as the remaining emissions in tons that must be eliminated to reach the target. Data comes from municipalities' own climate action plans and Denmark's national emission inventories.
Energy communities are one important tool, but they cannot close the gap alone. A holistic approach also requires energy efficiency improvements, transport changes, and agricultural practice reforms. However, energy communities can deliver a significant and measurable reduction — especially in the energy sector.