Parties with strong criticism: 'Venstre undermines the agreements we have made'

Surprising and harmful for the green transition.

This is the criticism of the government party Venstre, after its leader, Troels Lund Poulsen, has aired the idea that natural gas will not be phased out (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/venstre-vil-droppe-maal-om-udfase-gasfyr-det-giver-ikke-mening) before 2035. (http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/venstre-vil-droppe-maal-om-udfase-gasfyr-det-giver-ikke-mening)

- It is really harmful for the green transition that Venstre is choosing to do, says Søren Egge Rasmussen, who is the energy spokesperson for the Red-Green Alliance.

- It makes it even harder to get district heating out into the areas where it is actually the best energy planning and a good climate solution.

In 2022, it was otherwise just what Venstre and several other parties agreed to. It should be the end of heating homes with gas when the calendar year is 2035.

Read also: Every day, 11 gas boilers are installed in Denmark despite the goal of phasing out: 'It is a catastrophe' (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/hver-dag-installeres-11-gasfyr-i-danmark-trods-maal-om-udfasning-det-er-en)

But that goal must now be dropped, if it is up to Venstre.

- Venstre is undermining the agreements that we have made, and we have practically scolded municipalities and district heating companies to make a planning and clarify where district heating makes sense, says Søren Egge Rasmussen.

Troels Lund Poulsen believes that one can wait with the transition, as the gas in Denmark will be green in a few years.

- Therefore, it does not make any sense that one cannot use gas in a gas boiler, when it is not something that harms the climate, he says.

In the agreement it is stated that all gas in Denmark should be green in 2030. In 2026 possible initiatives and financing are presented.

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This is what the agreement looks like

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Here are some of the main points in the agreement:

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All gas should be green in 2030, and no homes should be heated with gas in 2035. It concerns about 400,000 households.

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Only in 2026 are possible initiatives and financing of the ambition presented.

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District heating companies should plan the phasing out of natural gas in heat production.

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A price cap on district heating should ensure reasonable heating prices.

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'Feels like laughing'

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Troels Lund Poulsen's statement comes not only from the Red-Green Alliance. It also surprises even Dina Raabjerg from the Conservatives.

For when the green gas comes, it should be used elsewhere instead of heating private homes, she thinks.

Read also: Ole refuses climate-friendly district heating - and presses the prime minister on green promises (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/penge/ole-takker-nej-til-klimavenlig-fjernvarme-og-presser-statsministeren-paa-groent-loefte)

- We have the agreement, because the green gas should be used where electricity cannot do it. For example, when we are converting the very heavy industry, and we must get rid of oil, coal and parts of biomass.

- It is an agreement that Venstre itself has entered, so it surprises me very much that they suddenly go out as a government party and withdraw their own agreement, she says.

Dina Raabjerg points out that it will create a lot of confusion for homeowners throughout the country.

- Those who have already invested in something else will feel like laughing. And there are a number of municipalities that have worked on district heating projects, which they cannot get approval for, because people do not know whether they are required to get rid of their gas boilers or not.

After the invasion of Ukraine, gas prices rose significantly. It strengthened the desire to free Denmark from Russian gas. More Danes would therefore have benefit from district heating pipes like these. (Photo: © Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix)

In Venstre, it is believed that it is a "clear political statement", and that the people themselves must judge what they think is sensible. Furthermore, Venstre clearly does not reject the green transition, it sounds.

- For Venstre, it is not either or, it is both and. And it is right that we in 2022 made a political agreement, where we have an ambition, but we have not decided one-on-one that the gas must be phased out in 2035, says leader Troels Lund Poulsen.

Troels Lund Poulsen emphasizes that Venstre still supports the development towards more households switching to district heating or heat pumps.

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'I'm not completely opposed'

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It is not all parties that are setting their heels in.

For government colleagues, the Liberals and the Social Democrats, are ready to take the dialogue with Venstre.

- I share Troels Lund Poulsen's viewpoint, says Henrik Frandsen, energy spokesperson for the Liberals.

- We should have looked at whether it really makes sense that all gas boilers should be disconnected in 2035. So I am not completely opposed to it.

The Liberal spokesperson emphasizes that one must still ensure that as much green heating as possible is brought out to the Danish homes

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, energy prices rose significantly, including gas prices. They have now stabilized at a much lower level, but at the same time many district heating projects have become more expensive or blocked due to too few participating households.

Christian Rabjerg Madsen from the Social Democrats still thinks that the focus should mainly be on district heating solutions, as "it is the way forward".

But he is happy to talk.

- There are some places where the houses are so far apart that we must conclude that district heating will not play a role.

- And we must find some arrangements that ensure that we both make green decisions, but also some decisions where the family can economically follow, says Christian Rabjerg Madsen.

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