Ørsted

Headquartered in Denmark, Ørsted employs 5,700 people. Ørsted’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2017, the group’s revenue was DKK 59.5 billion (EUR 8.0 billion). For more information on Ørsted, visit Orsted.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

A world that runs entirely on green energy

The energy sector generates one-third of all global carbon emissions. To limit climate change we must fundamentally transform the way we power our lives – from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

By deploying renewable energy, Ørsted contributes to achieving SDG #7 on affordable and clean energy and SDG #13 on climate action.

Ørsted’s vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. We are today the world leader in offshore wind. By 2025 more than 99% of our energy generation will be green and virtually carbon free.

“But, at a global level, the change from fossil fuels to renewables is taking place far too slowly. Fossil fuels still make up 70 percent of global energy use. Society must rapidly accelerate the transformation to renewables. This will limit climate change, improve human health, and create economic growth,” Rasmus adds.

Clean, cost-competitive renewable energy

Energy from offshore wind, which is a renewable, clean and globally-available resource, can be a cornerstone in achieving SDG #7 and SDG #13.

Advances in innovation and industrial-scale deployment have made it cheaper to build and operate offshore wind farms in Northwestern Europe than new-built coal- and gas-fired power stations. In fact, offshore wind in the North Seas alone could meet approximately 80% of Europe’s existing electricity demand by 2030.

Ørsted has installed 5.1GW offshore wind – more than a quarter of global offshore wind capacity, and enough to power 14mn people. Since 2006, power generation from our offshore wind assets has helped avoid emission of more than 24 million tons carbon emissions. That’s equivalent to taking 12 million cars off the streets for one year.

In September 2018, Ørsted inaugurated Walney Extension, the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm. Located in the Irish Sea off the Northwestern coast of the UK, Walney Extension will generate enough green energy to power 600,000 UK homes. It’s also helping bringing jobs and growth to local communities.

Farewell to coal

Meanwhile in Denmark, Ørsted has helped realize 53% of the country’s carbon emissions reduction, since 2006. An important reason for that is that we have closed down coal fired capacity.

Five out of seven of our combined heat and power plants have been converted to run on sustainable biomass, instead of coal and gas. Our sixth plant is currently being converted. Coal is the most polluting source of energy, and Ørsted will completely stop using coal in 2023.

By replacing coal and gas with sustainable biomass we reduce carbon emissions significantly and provide the biggest carbon savings. The biomass we use comprises wood residues and waste wood that have no other use and are sourced using strict criteria for sustainable forestry.

“We believe the transformation to green energy can take place even faster with business as a key driver,” says Rasmus. “As a member of Dansk Industri’s SDG High Level Advisory Board, we are delighted to be able to discuss best practices in sustainability to help progress the Global Goals.”