The Danes want green energy for their houses. Because a majority of Danes support that the price of gas for heating homes should be allowed to rise as a result of a CO2 tax. And this is even at a time when gas prices have skyrocketed due to the war in Ukraine. Only 27 percent are against it.

That is the clear conclusion of one new measurement, which takes the temperature of the Danes' attitude to climate policy, including the transformation of the energy supply, which has been prepared in collaboration between the Green Transition Denmark and the analysis company Moos-Bjerre A/S. The measurement was prepared in connection with Moos-Bjerre's annual Sustainometer measurement of the Danes' attitude towards and prioritization of climate and sustainability.

The analysis shows that one in three Danes also supports a definite ban on gas and oil stoves in the home – as early as 2025. In addition, the Danes place an expansion of the district heating network together with more renewable energy as the two absolutely most important priorities when it comes to , what the workforce in construction and construction will be used for in the coming years.

As many as 42 percent point to the district heating network as one of the two most important building and construction projects that politicians must prioritize in the future. And a whopping 69 percent of Danes say yes to prioritizing solar and wind energy at the expense of building and construction projects. By comparison, only 15 percent believe that priority should be given to the expansion of roads and bridges in the coming years.

Support to increase ambitions
It turns out that after a year of energy crisis, rising gas prices and supply uncertainty, the Danes have become more energy conscious and want a faster roll-out of green energy solutions.

There is thus today a large political playing field for the new government in relation to increasing the ambitions and the pace with a view to the transition to a greener energy supply - which is crucial if we are to phase out fossil heating sources in the Danish detached houses. And that is needed.

One thing is that right now natural gas is in absolute short supply. Another thing is that it is fossil energy and the Danish consumption of natural gas, which emits five million tonnes of CO2 per year. About a third of the Danish consumption of natural gas is used in households — that is, the 380.000 individual natural gas heaters that stand in the utility room of many Danish detached houses and heat the homes. However, it is important that this consumption is seen in the light of the fact that there are already good green alternatives to heating with natural gas today.

The best solution, which is just ahead, is district heating, which must be rolled out even more, and be based more on power from large heat pumps (powered by solar and wind energy), surplus heat from companies, Power-to-X energy, data centers, solar heating, geothermal and heat storage. The list is long. And in less densely built-up areas, where it is not possible to get district heating, our houses must be heated by efficient heat pumps.

Conversion is too slow
Politically, we are heading in that direction. A broad group of parties joined the energy agreement from June 2022 agree that gas must come out of heating in 2035. In addition, should last November there was a model for a stop to new fossil fuels, but it has been delayed due to general elections and government formation. Each household will also receive a letter before the end of the year and get clarification on whether there will be district heating in the future or whether you should invest in a heat pump.

In the SVM government basis, plans are made for national coordination of the roll-out of district heating and more money for the decoupling pool, so that citizens do not have to pay to be disconnected from the gas network when they replace the natural gas boiler with district heating or a heat pump. But it is not going fast enough and a phasing out in 2035 is too unambitious both in relation to the gas shortage that exists today and in relation to the climate footprint of natural gas. Therefore, the new government needs to look at introducing a ban on new oil - and gas boiler on the market as soon as possible.

As things stand today, new natural gas boilers are actually still being sold around the country, which have a lifespan of around 20-25 years and will therefore be a source of heat for many years to come. There should therefore be a ban on the new installation of fossil fuels by 2025 at the very latest, if we are to have any hopes of becoming climate neutral in 2045, as the new government is aiming for.

The new government must further increase the pace in relation to the roll-out of district heating and heat pumps, so that citizens are not forced to use gas for longer than absolutely necessary.

The will among the citizens must demand political action from the new government — as soon as possible.