A country run on wind

Across the Danish countryside and coastal waters large wind turbines are whirling away in the North Sea breeze, feeding clean energy to households across the Scandinavian nation. Denmark has become one of the global heavyweights in the world's fastest growing renewable energy market - wind.

The Danish wind energy industry has been a phenomenal success story since its implementation just 20 years ago. The national enterprise has an annual turnover of $2.6 billion (with a growth rate matching that of the Internet and mobile phones.) The spin-offs include employment for 20,000 Danes locally and a further 8000 jobs in component installation and supply around the world. And, of course, there's the environmental benefits.

The power generated from over 5000 of Denmark's wind turbines is enough to provide more than a million homes with energy. It's the highest per capita wind energy provision of any country. The Danish government energy plan envisages a 200 per cent increase by 2040 in its wind energy production through the development of five offshore wind turbine parks. Its massive wind energy infrastructure ensures Denmark will meet much of its energy needs as fossil fuel production levels subside in the coming decades.

Denmark's government policy ensures that nuclear power is not a feasible energy option and that coal is phased out of use as a fuel for power stations. Wind provides the nation with a renewable power source leading to a dramatic drop in greenhouse gas emissions.

Many local villages have regained a sense of community by creating wind energy cooperatives. These organisations allow community members to work together with a common goal, to ensure their energy needs do not burden the environment. Together, they are implementing solutions for a cleaner world. Over 150,000 Danish families now either own outright or have shares in wind energy schemes. They are the future of the wind industry.

The success of Denmark's comprehensive wind energy program owes much to the government, ever willing to invest in and propagate the wind industry. And the success of their sustainable energy approach speaks for itself.