The Danish government has published what it describes as "an ambitious and visionary" energy strategy aimed at cutting fossil fuel consumption by up to 15 percent and doubling energy supply from renewable sources to 30 per cent of the total by 2025.

Under the plan, launched on Friday, annual funding for energy research would double to DKr1bn (€134m) from 2010.  The share of biofuels in transport would rise to 10 per cent by 2020, and total energy consumption would fall by 1.25 per cent a year.

In addition, wind power capacity would be doubled to 6,000MW, which would cement Denmark’s position as number three in Europe behind Spain and Germany.  Use of biogas would be tripled and heat pumps would be installed in 100,000 dwellings.

All this appears to be something of a U-turn from a 20-year energy strategy announced just 18 months ago according to which traditional targets were to be abandoned in favour of  a reliance on high prices for oil and industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to boost renewable electricity.

Danish Transport and Energy Minister Flemming Hansen said the strategy sends "a clear signal to the EU that Denmark is ready to take the lead in pending discussions of European Commission proposals for the EU's future energy policy".

Follow-up: Danish energy ministry, tel: +45 33 92 33 55 and press release.  See also environment ministry press release.