Researcher calls for supply security to be prioritised: ‘Every day we delay, we fund Russia’s war’

A new Danish government must treat energy and supply security with the same urgency as defence policy, a leading researcher has warned.

Jakob Dreyer, a researcher in European politics, climate, and energy security at the University of Copenhagen, told DR that Denmark remains vulnerable to global energy shocks. He urged policymakers to adopt the same “investment appetite and risk-taking” seen in defence policy to accelerate energy independence.

“We are in a race against time,” Dreyer said. “Every day we delay, we fund Russia’s war. We make Europe more vulnerable and less strong.”

His remarks come as coalition talks continue under outgoing Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, with energy policy set to be a key issue for parties including the Alternative and the Danish Social Liberal Party.

Grid delays threaten green transition

Dreyer called for stronger political action to make solar and wind power more attractive and to reinforce Denmark’s electricity grid—a system already under strain. A recent report by the National Audit Office of Denmark (Rigsrevisionen) confirmed that grid expansion projects are facing significant delays, risking the country’s green transition.

Birgitte Bak Jensen, a professor at Aalborg University’s Department of Energy, agreed that grid capacity issues are a pressing concern. “We absolutely should have expanded the grid sooner,” she said, noting that lengthy permit processes are a major obstacle.

“If we don’t simplify access to the grid, it will automatically create bottlenecks, and the green transition will take much, much longer,” Bak Jensen warned.

Energinet, the state-owned enterprise responsible for Denmark’s electricity and gas infrastructure, acknowledged the audit office’s criticism but cited environmental approval delays as a key factor in project setbacks.