Ørsted is closing its last coal-fired combined heat and power plant, Esbjerg Power Station, in western Denmark, marking an important milestone in its transformation to green energy, reports esgnews.com.
In addition to the Esbjerg shutdown, Ørsted will also shut down unit 4 at Studstrup Power Station and unit 21 at Kyndby Peak Load Plant on 31 August. While coal remains a backup fuel at Studstrup until the end of 2024, Ørsted expects to replace it entirely with sustainable alternatives, moving one step closer to eliminating coal from its energy mix.
A decade-long transformation
Ørsted, once one of Europe's most coal-intensive power companies, has been moving away from fossil fuels since 2006. By closing coal plants and switching to certified sustainable biomass, the company has significantly reduced its carbon footprint.
“The closure of the last of our coal-fired heat and power plants marks the end of a chapter in our green transformation. We believe that we, as a society, must phase out the use of gas, oil and coal as soon as possible," commented Senior Vice President Ole Thomsen.
Impact and future steps
The closure of the Esbjerg power plant will eliminate approximately 500 tonnes of coal consumption per year, reducing CO000 emissions by around 2 million tonnes. This is equivalent to the annual emissions of around 1,2 fossil fuel cars in the EU.
Ørsted has already achieved a 92% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions from 2006 to 2023 and is aiming for a 99% share of green energy by 2025. With the shutdown of Esbjerg, the company is on track to meet its science-based targets to reduce emission intensity by 98% by 2025.
Looking ahead, Ørsted plans to rely more on wind and solar farms to power its operations. The company is also working with local partners to ensure a smooth transition to central heating in Essberg.