Biogas could give Denmark 20,000 jobs and €2.1 billion in exports

Denmark’s biogas industry has the potential to create 20,000 new jobs and generate 16 billion kroner (€2.1 billion) of exports, according to new analysis.

Exports of biogas technology from Denmark are expected to reach growth of at least 100% by 2035, but could exceed expectations and rise to as much as 900%, The Local reports. The analysis was performed by the consulting agency Damvad Analystics.

“Our analysis is based on knowledge of general expectations for export of energy technology and of the development in Denmark, where biogas makes up a constantly increasing portion of the gas in the pipeline network,” said Damvad CEO Kristian Mørk Puggaard. 

“We have based our evaluation of the export potential on various scenarios for what it might mean for Denmark if other countries undergo the same development, and if Danish companies are able to maintain their market share,"

According to the analysis, the amount of biogas in pipeline networks in Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany is expected to increase from 11TWh at present to 17TWh in 2020.

Damvad believe that Denmark’s position as a leader in the production of biogas technology could be of huge benefit to the country as the global biogas market continues to grow.

"It is France's ambition that the country's gas consumption be 100 percent based on biogas in 2050. Meanwhile, France is an ideal export market because the country also has a strong food industry that can supply the volume of biomass required," Puggaard explained to The Local.

"The world's biggest biogas plant is under construction in Denmark, and that indicates some of our strength. What is more, Danish research in the field is of very high quality compared to that of other countries, and the knowledge it leads to ought to be able to help Danish technology maintain its big international market share," he said.