Denmark halts new grid connections until autumn as green transition stalls

Denmark’s state-owned grid operator Energinet will not resume processing new connection agreements until autumn, delaying major industrial and green energy projects by up to a decade, the company announced Wednesday.

The pause—originally set to lift next week—has been extended to implement a new model for large-scale connections, Energinet said in a statement. Under the revised system, “very large” projects such as data centers, battery facilities, and power-to-X plants may face wait times of five to ten years before securing full grid access.

“It is no longer responsible to handle very large projects individually when demand far exceeds available capacity,” said Kim Willerslev Jakobsen, Energinet’s director of system responsibility. Projects will now be pooled and assessed for their system-wide impact across transmission and distribution networks, rather than evaluated in isolation.

The delay risks prolonging reliance on fossil fuels in some regions, according to Green Power Denmark, an industry group representing grid companies. “This could force parts of our industry to stay on gas longer than planned,” said Jørgen S. Christensen, the group’s technology director, calling the situation “extremely critical” for businesses investing in Denmark.

Energinet acknowledged the frustration for waiting projects but emphasized the need for a “comprehensive data foundation” to manage limited capacity. The operator also called for political guidance on prioritizing connections, as current rules prevent favoring green projects over others. “When demand exceeds capacity, it’s relevant for policymakers to decide who gets access first,” Jakobsen said.

The announcement follows an April report by Denmark’s national audit office, which found 70% of Energinet’s projects were delayed, threatening the country’s green transition. Without expanded grid capacity, excess wind energy produced in western Jutland, for example, cannot reach consumers in eastern regions, rendering it effectively unusable.

Future connection requests will face stricter criteria for maturity, progress, and grid compatibility, Energinet said. Climate correspondents noted the prolonged freeze undermines both business investments and emissions-reduction targets, as companies awaiting grid access cannot switch from fossil fuels to electrification.