COPENHAGEN, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Energy consumption in Denmark fell by 1.5 percent year-on-year in 2022, according to preliminary figures published by the Danish Energy Agency (DEA) on Thursday. The main factors behind the drop were a 29 percent decrease in natural gas consumption and a 3.4 percent fall in coal demand.
According to the DEA, the decrease in natural gas consumption during 2022 was a result of the increase in gas prices, which encouraged consumers "to save on gas."
In contrast, consumption of oil products increased by 5.3 percent, "primarily as a result of increased sales of fuel for domestic and international aviation from Danish airports."
In the same period, renewable energy consumption grew by 5.3 percent. Wind power and solar cell energy production increased by 22 percent, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the nation's electricity supply in 2022, according to the DEA.
In comparison, solar and wind energy accounted for only 47 percent of Denmark's electricity supply in 2021.
The DEA's preliminary figures also showed that the dropping energy consumption contributed to a 0.9 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from energy consumption in 2022. When adjusted for climate fluctuations and fuel consumption linked to net electricity imports, the decrease in emissions amounted to 3.8 percent. ■
