Rules block wind power that could halve Holsted heating bills

Holsted’s district heating utility says a wind turbine could cut customers’ bills by half, but current rules prevent it from copying a model used in Hvide Sande, DR reports.

A standard 130-square-metre home in Holsted, in southern Jutland, faced an annual district heating bill of 36,842 kroner in the latest figures from the Danish Utility Regulator, based on prices in August 2026. The current prices in both Holsted and Hvide Sande are lower, DR reported.

Holsted Varmeværk board chairman Jens Brodersen said the utility had repeatedly tried to make investments that would bring prices down, but had been turned down by the Danish Energy Agency. The plant relies mainly on gas and biogas, which contribute to high heating costs.

Brodersen wants to place a wind turbine about 300 metres from the plant, beside a field of solar panels, and send its electricity directly to the utility without using the national grid. He said that could halve the price. The utility has also been refused permission to put a turbine next to its plant.

Hvide Sande’s district heating plant uses three turbines on the beach, about 900 metres away, to generate electricity directly for the plant. Its annual price for a standard home is 3,478 kroner. The plant bought the turbines in 2018 and 2019, before the rules changed.

The tighter regulations now prevent smaller heating utilities from adopting the same arrangement. The industry association Danish District Heating says utilities have been held back by the rules. Its chief consultant, Michael Schrøder, called for them to be reviewed, saying direct supply arrangements could also ease pressure on the electricity grid.

Kenneth Løvenskjold Andreasen, a lawyer and PhD student in climate and energy law at the University of Southern Denmark, also called for more flexibility. He helped approve the Hvide Sande turbines and said similar projects could make residents more accepting of tall wind turbines near their homes if they reduced heating bills.

Climate, Energy and Utilities Minister Samira Nawa said the government was examining the existing framework, including rules on direct electricity lines. She said she welcomed support for green solutions that could ease pressure on household finances.

Holsted is building a new heat pump facility to reduce its reliance on gas. The plant expects the project to be complete in about 18 months and lower bills, though not to Hvide Sande’s level.