The beginning
In the 1980s, renewable energy projects were on the agenda in the Northern part of Jutland, and in 1983 it inspired to new business opportunities for four far-sighted people, all with a background in the renewable energy movement. “Imagine that you can contact an independent consulting firm and get competent advice concerning all forms of renewable energy and energy efficiency”
That was the background for PlanEnergi which was then established as a an independent consultancy firm. The company was – quite untraditionally – created as a non-profit fund (a self governing business institution), with a written objective:
“To promote the use of resource-saving and environment protective systems.”
The objective will be furthered through commercial and information activity within renewable energy, rational exploitation of energy and energy planning as well as information activities.
A manual for local energy planning
PlanEnergi’s first project was ‘A manual for local energy planning’. It was carried out in cooperation with local working groups, all working with renewable energy supply in small communities, who tested the chapters of the manual as they were written.
Solar district heating
In the late 1980s, PlanEnergi started to work with large solar heating plants and seasonal heat storages for district heating.. Among other projects, we participated when Marstal District Heating constructed the first really large plant in 1995, and we were also the counsellors, when they added a further 9,000 m2 solar panels and 10,000 m3 pit heat storage in 2002-2004.
When the breakthrough for solar district heating really occurred, Brædstrup District Heating, in 2007, with PlanEnergi as counsellors constructed the first solar heating plant in a natural gasfired cogeneration plant. Later on, the first plantswith up to 50% coverage by means of solar, heat pump and pit heat storages were established in Marstal and Dronninglund in 2011 and 2013 respectively, and once more, PlanEnergi was employed to counsel and participate.
Biogas
Biogas has also been a target area from the start of the company. At first through analyses and establishing farm plants and communal plants, and most recently projects using hydrogen from electrolysis for upgrading biogas to “bio natural gas” and using biogas in the transport sector.
Wind energy
In 2009 PlanEnergi merged the then eight employees with three from SJ Consult thus adding wind energy as a target area. It also meant (re-) opening the department in Aarhus.
PlanEnergi today
Today district heating has developed to integrated systems tailored for each city. Main elements are optimization and expansion of grids, utilization of all kinds of excess heat, heat pumps, solar thermal, geothermal heat, biomass and thermal storages to provide flexibility and sector coupling to electricity and gas sectors.
Strategic energy planning has developed to climate planning where net zero emissions is the target and strong stakeholder involvement and integration in municipal and regional planning is a must
PlanEnergis main office is still in Skørping. In addition, we have a department in Copenhagen and one in Central Århus.
Today we have a strong customer base consisting of some of the most progressive district heating companies, municipalities and regions in Denmark as well as a good international network, which includes regular partners in particular Germany, Italy, Austria, Ireland, Spain and France as well as projects in China.
On November 30th 2018, PlanEnergi celebrated it’s 35 years anniversary with a combined reception and mini-seminar. You can read more about the event here.
The future
PlanEnergi’s future equals its past. The objective is unchanged. We want to be at the forefront in what concerns the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency within all key areas. We want to contribute to increasing the dissemination of knowledge and networks while hoping for increasing ambitions in terms of conversion from use of fossil fuels. This will result in projects with sustainable islands, cities and countries where renewable energy is not the goal but a means of better welfare, jobs and a better environment.