Professor Jacob Østergaard, Head of the Centre for Electric Power and Energy at DTU Electrical Engineering has been awarded a seat on the Danish government’s new Energy Commission.
Thursday, the Danish Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate, Lars Christian Lilleholt, introduced the Danish government’s new Energy Commission. At the presentation, he was joined by Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of Danfoss, who will be chairing the commission.
In addition to its president, the Energy Commission features eight members drawn from the world of research and the business community, with expertise in fields such as financing the energy sector, competitive markets, and the energy systems of the future. One of the newly appointed members is Professor Jacob Østergaard, Head of the Centre for Electric Power and Energy at DTU Electrical Engineering.
“DTU is recognized for its research into developing future solutions to ensure an efficient conversion of the energy supply system. It is this knowledge that I’m keen to bring into play in the Energy Commission so that we can contribute to establishing an efficient, green and reliable energy system. There are huge gains to be made and untapped potential to exploit through implementing the appropriate, coordinated and intelligent solutions which, for example, we are currently working to demonstrate in the energy system on the island of Bornholm and in the extensive EnergyLab Nordhavn facility,” relates Jacob Østergaard.
Independent of fossil fuels in 2050
The Energy Commission is tasked with analysing and evaluating development trends in the energy sector, and then presenting recommendations for a cost-efficient Danish energy policy for the period 2020–2030. The objective is for Denmark to remain one of the leading countries in the context of green conversion, and for this conversion to take place in an appropriate manner relative to the development underway in Denmark and internationally.
The long-term aim is for Denmark to be independent of fossil fuels in 2050. During the intervening period, Denmark is to maintain is position as a global leader in green conversion.
According to Jacob Østergaard, one of the commission’s key assignments will be to present proposals for innovative and intelligent solutions for the ongoing political process:
“We are to make suggestions for how Denmark can continue to play a leading role in the green conversion, with the advantages this entails for both the enviroment and the Danish business community. At the same time, we are to ensure that the process remains cost-effective and guarantees a high level of supply reliability—which is far from a given in the context of a future energy system featuring a high proportion of sustainable energy,” he says.
Extensive experience in the field of energy systems
In tackling the assignment, Jacob Østergaard will be able to draw on extensive experience in the field of energy systems. For example, he was one of the driving forces behind EnergyLab Nordhavn in Copenhagen. EnergyLab is a metropolitan laboratory designed to demonstrate how electricity and heating, energy-efficient buildings and electric transport can be integrated into an intelligent and optimized energy system.
In addition, he is one of the leaders of the experimental platform for electrical power and energy entitled ‘PowerLabDK’, which includes the activities on the island of Bornholm designed to test market- and IT solutions for the energy system of the future, and is targeted at stimulating research, innovation and education in the field.
“What I bring to the table is academically founded expertise in the field of energy, combined with an highly international viewpoint. At the Centre for Electric Power and Energy, of which I am in charge, we conduct research into the coordinated and smart energy solutions of the future, which have a key role to play in a cost-efficient conversion of the energy supply. At the same time, we possess extensive experience in how Danish society and the Danish business community stand to gain from the green conversion through the creation of new jobs and the option to export green energy technology, for example,” he explains.
The Energy Commission is expected to present its recommendations for Danish energy policy in early 2017.