Hydropower



The production of electricity based on hydropower is clean CO2neutral energy. This is because the water pressure from a river or similar that has been damned in, supplies the energy to operate a water-driven electric turbine.

Denmark is a flat country and you are always quite close to the coast. This is why electricity production from hydropower constitutes a very small proportion of Denmark’s total electricity production.

However, electricity from hydropower plays an important role in Denmark’s electricity supply, because we import a considerable amount of hydropower electricity from Sweden and Norway.  Sweden and Norway have high mountains and vast fjords, creating the ideal conditions for producing hydropower electricity. 

The largest hydropower station in Denmark is ‘Tangeværket’ located by the river Gudenåen in Jutland. It has a production capacity of approximately 4 megawatt, which is relatively small compared to e.g. the power station ‘Amagerværket’ in Copenhagen, which has a production capacity of approximately 400 megawatt.

Links regarding hydropower

Hydropower in general and in Denmark

  1. Denmark’s largest hydropower station ‘Tangeværket’

    (elmuseet.net.dynamicweb.dk)

    Denmark’s largest hydropower station ‘Tangeværket’ in Jutland



  2. A hydropower project in Greenland (www.geus.dk)
    The potential for hydropower in Greenland was investigated 20 years ago. Since then, Greenland has experienced serious climate changes e.g. melting of the glacial cap. This project will assess the potential for hydropower, taking the new circumstances into account.

  3. Hydropower’s contribution to the world’s energy production (www.hydropower.org)
    Read more about hydropower’s contribution to the world’s total energy production.

  4. Different types of hydropower for different purposes (www.hydropower.org)
    Learn more about the different types of hydropower and how they are used in the world’s energy production.

  5. Hydropower and Sustainability (www.hydropower.org)
    Pamphlet on hydropower and sustainability in energy production seen from a global perspective.