Climate Minister apologizes in case of massive delays on the electricity grid

Climate Minister Lars Aagaard (M) has apologized to the parliamentary rapporteurs in a case where extensive delays in the green transition were not announced.

He said this after a meeting on Monday with rapporteurs from the Danish Parliament, who demanded answers as to why Energinet did not announce that there were massive delays in the electricity grid.

- Today I apologized to the energy rapporteurs that we could have handled this process and provided better information. I feel that we all have a passion for ensuring that the green transition goes better and that we have an electricity grid on time, he says after the meeting.

Known about delays

It was the online media Zetland that first described the story 14 days ago, where the Ministry of Climate knew about extensive delays in the green transition, but where the information was not announced to the rapporteurs of the Folketing or the public.

The core of the matter is that in 2024 Energinet postponed a total of 98 of 174 planned expansions of the electricity grid, while Europe is screaming for green electricity and to be free from Russian gas.

On average, the projects have been postponed by 1.3 years, according to the company's own calculation, which was not announced. This means that the state-owned company under the Ministry of Climate Change has become a bottleneck in the expansion of the green transition.

Press release was dropped

The plan was to announce it in a press release, but after a discussion with the Ministry of Climate Change, the idea was dropped.

When Zetland got hold of the press release, which was never issued, and contacted Energinet, the news of the delays was suddenly announced in the media Finans.

Energinet has called the delays "serious", but does not know whether the analysis and press release had passed the minister's desk.

After the meeting on Monday afternoon, the press got less than a minute with Lars Aagaard, who did not respond to that part. Instead, the minister says that he is looking forward to a consultation on the matter, which nine of the parties in the Danish Parliament have summoned him to.

- When I look at it, there are certainly elements that I think we could have done better. I have apologized and regretted that, he says.

Could have provided better information

Ritzau has tried several times to get the minister to talk, among other things, to hear about the consequences for the green transition, but he reiterated on Monday that he will wait until the consultation. He has apologized that the ministry has not provided sufficient information about the delays.

- The ministry could have provided better information in the process, and I look forward to discussing this in more detail in the consultation that awaits us, he says.

Green electricity should strengthen the transition, and the EU Commission sees it as crucial for strengthening Europe's competitiveness and security of supply. The large-scale expansion of renewable energy should push down electricity prices for citizens and give European companies better chances to challenge competitors in China and the United States.

Several rapporteurs participated in the meeting online and were not physically present. Energy spokesman Mads Fuglede from the Danish Democrats believes that the consultation has become more important.

- The impression is that you have a minister who is upset about the process and recognizes that there has been a problem, and that means that it is clear that the consultation is all the more important, says Mads Fuglede.

Climate spokesman Leila Stockmarr (EL) has followed the matter closely and also believes that the consultation has become more serious, but will not elaborate on why.

- We would like to acknowledge that the minister has called for the report, and it has only made us wiser in terms of how we should best prepare for the consultation, which in my opinion has only become more serious after today, she says.

Updated 17:42 

/ritzau/