Good practice

Denmark has a long tradition of non-profit community-owned energy supply (consumer cooperatives and municipalities). Situation changed when Denmark implemented the European Internal Energy Market policy, liberalising the energy supply and allowing large companies to produce energy.

Today, district heating CHP plants, based on renewable energy, supply energy to almost all Danish towns. They are owned by local consumer cooperatives and municipalities, based on non-profit ownership schemes.

In the early 1980s, the majority of wind turbines installed in Denmark, were owned by local citizens organised in cooperatives. Today, it is only 20% of local wind power projects that are owned by local citizens. This been an important factor in the rising number of local protests against large wind power projects.

It is time to start developing all renewable energy projects in a democratic way to ensure local community support and the maximisation of local benefits. Community ownership of power production reduces electricity prices for consumers, supports local development, promotes energy democracy and increases local acceptance.

Differences between community ownership and commercial ownership of power production, which lead either toward local acceptance or protests will be discussed on the example of best practice in Denmark – community owned wind power project in Hvide Sande.

Lectures & Articles

Choice

PoweringCitizens. Panel on Energy Democracy across Europe: The agenda featured a panel on energy democracy in Europe, where experts discussed the state of citizen participation in energy generation and decision-making with speakers: Anna Krenz, Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy (Denmark); Meivis Sturga, ETMI (Albania), Jerome R. Haßler, Climate Adaption Manager of the city of Luckau (Germany)., 01/10/2024, Europäisches Haus, Berlin

15th European Democracy Conference
The EU at a Crossroads: Perspectives on Europe’s Future after the Elections, panelist, 2.7.2024, Berlin, Orga: Heinrich Böll Stiftung, more >>>

"Mellen vision og praktisk innovation"
by Anna Krenz
in Vinden blæser stadig: Aktionsforskning, da danske SMV'ere og Folkecenter banede vejen for det danske eventyr med vedvarende energi, Published by: Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, 2024, (in Danish)

“Between vision and practical innovation - 22 Years of Collaboration with Folkecenter”, by Anna Krenz, lecture
THE WIND IS STILL BLOWING Conference, Community action including research in Renewable Energy - Danish SMEs and Folkecenter paved the way for the Danish Renewable Energy Adventure, 21-25.6.2023

“Paving the Way Towards Resilient European Civic Cooperation”
(Concept paper) with: Dr. Sabrina Schulz, Thilo Buchholz, Jose Miguel Calatayud, Ognyan Georgiev, Anna Krenz, Valerie Sternberg, Ffion Storer Jones.
Published: 1.12.2020, as part of the project “Daring New Spaces: Striving towards a European Public Sphere”.

Title: The New Online Catalogue of Small Wind Turbines
Speakers: Anna Krenz, Designer & Daniele Pagani, Capacity Building Coordinator, 4th International Conference for Small and Medium Wind Energy, 2020, Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy & Danish Test and Resource Center for Small Wind Turbines, Denmark
Video: Watch

RENEWABLES 2019. GLOBAL STATUS REPORT - A comprehensive annual overview of the state of renewable energy. REN21 > https://www.ren21.net/gsr-2019/
Peer reviewer

“Innovative business models for community power. The Danish perspective” (lecture)
by Anna Krenz and Lise Nielson / Folkecenter for Renewable Energy,
The 2nd International Conference on Community wind Power, Bamako, Mali, 8-10 November 2018

“Journalism for renewable energy” (workshop)
by Anna Krenz, Lise Nielson / Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, Lars Zbinden Hansen, Franz Alt
The 2nd International Conference on Community wind Power, Bamako, Mali, 8-10 November 2018

"Bottom-up solutions for 100% renewable energy"
presentations by Anna Krenz, Daniele Pagani, Leire Gorronho, Tonny Brink, Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, COP24, 2018, Katowice, Poland

"Integrated Systems to Reduce Global Warming"
by Preben Maegaard and Anna Krenz,
in "Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation", published by Springer International Publishing, 2017

Seminar "Green Economy": "The Economy of the Commons in practice" - round table
Topics: food & energy cooperatives Jakub Rok, Katarzyna Ugryn (HBS Warsaw), Anna Krenz, Led by: Ewa Sufin-Jacquemart. The Green European Foundation, with the support of the Fundacja Strefa Zieleni, the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Warsaw and the European Parliament. Green Summer Academy "Hope and cope" in Puszczykowo near Poznan, 13-16 July 2017

"Puszczykowo – a small town in neighborhood of Greater Poland"
Presentation, at “Hope and Cope” Green Summer Academy, organised by: The Green European Foundation, with the support of the Fundacja Strefa Zieleni, the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Warsaw and the European Parliament, July 2017, Puszczykowo.

"Pioneers of wind energy"
by Anna Krenz, lecture
5th World Non-Grid-Connected Wind Power in Beijing, China, 2013

"Analiza wzrostu efektywności energetycznej w budownictwie duńskim"
by Anna Krenz
in Przegląd budowlany 5/2011

"Zdecentralizowany i zintegrowany system pozyskiwania energii na przykładzie duńskim"
by Anna Krenz
in Przegląd Budowlany, 3/2011

“Niezależnie od sieci. Autonomiczny Zintegrowany System Energii. Case study: Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, Dania“,
by Anna Krenz
University of Zielona Góra, 2010, Zielona Góra. (in Polish)

“Inicjatywy ożywiania miasta”,
by Anna Krenz
Przegląd Urbanistyczny t.2., 2009 (in Polish)

"Environmental education in Architecture - necessity or fashion?"
by Anna Krenz
UIA Konferenz, Alexandria, Egypt, 2003

"Environmentalism and Media"
by Anna Krenz
PLEA Conference, Toulouse [published in proceedings], 2002

Krenz A (2002) Compact City, Theory and Reality. Proceedings of The PLEA 2002 Conference Design With The Environment, Toulouse pp. 613-618.

“Kultura i Natura, w poszukiwaniu równowagi"
by Anna Krenz
Metamorphosis of Architecture, II Konferencja z cyklu Metamorfozy architektury: Architektura współczesna w kontekście natury, 24-25 maj 2002, Gdańsk [published], 2002

There is no future without the past

History of wind power

My focus is the development of wind turbines - from early models to the global industry. We can learn from history, from past mistakes and success, to achieve more sustainable present and future.

Together with Preben Maegaard, late founder and director of Nordic Folkecenter, we edited and wrote a book about the history of wind power (2 volumes, total 1500 pages, over 30 authors from all over the world).

I curate a huge archive of photos spanning decades of work on wind turbine development, as history is not only important but also inspiring.

Wind Power for the World
The Rise of Modern Wind Energy

Edited by: Preben Maegaard, Anna Krenz, Wolfgang Palz
Copyright 2013, Published by Jenny Stanford Publishing
ISBN 9789814364935

This book sheds light on how the modern 3-bladed wind turbine came into being, and who, how and what in the proceeding period caused the success. It looks back over three decades to find the roots of this exciting development, a long cavalcade of developers, inventors, and manufacturers including the Danish authors who themselves were part of the breakthrough. Written for non-specialists, the book covers minimal science, emphasizing the story of how wind power became a worldwide 30-billion-euro business employing nearly one million people.

Book review by Frits Ogg, Renewable Energy Consultant, the Netherlands >>>

Wind Power for the World
International Reviews and Developments

Edited by: Preben Maegaard, Anna Krenz, Wolfgang Palz
Copyright 2013, Published by Jenny Stanford Publishing
ISBN 9789814411899

In part 2 of Wind Power for the World, the editors have collected reports and overviews of wind power status and history in various countries, several written by individuals who have made valuable contributions to the successful emergence of wind power. The chapters cover the uphill struggle; wind energy strategies and policies that paved the way; and the creative persons in politics, agencies, institutes, and the industry. It also examines the world societies at large and how solutions to the challenges were found in different countries.

Presentation of the book at the 5th World Non-Grid-Connected Wind Power in Beijing, China, 2013 with Preben Maegaard and Prof. Gu.

Presentation of the book at a conference in Paris,, 2013 with Preben Maegaard and Wolfgang Palz.

Small WIND TURBINES

Small wind power is a crucial source of energy for off-grid and decentralised power production and consumptions. However, small wind has to compete with wind energy giants and with cheap products from China. European regulations and certificates are needed.

For the 2nd International Workshop on Small and Medium Wind Energy at Nordic Folkecenter in 2019, I wrote a Declaration on Small Wind, signed by participants >>>

From simple catalogues of small wind turbines printed on copy paper, I created professional publications for Nordic Folkecenter with modern layout and informative articles.

TREES...

Biodiversity is most crucial today than ever. With climate change, weather becomes unpredictable, temperatures severe and water is scarce. On the other hand, built environment still takes over vast amounts of land, turning it to concrete impermeable surfaces. Can architecture be resilient enough? Will the urban fabric withstand fluctuations in temperature, precipitation and wind?

Every single tree is a treasure.

Do not cut down trees!

Bottom up initiative of local activists in Puszczykowo, Poland, against the planned felling of 80 old trees on Grobla Street by the city office. With EU money, the trees were to be cut down to widen the bike path and the street, which was to increase its transit.
16.9.2018
Poster: Anna Krenz

Organisers: activists, Nasze Puszczykowo Association

Patriot Grobla

As part of the “Grobla Patriotka” campaign, on 11.11.2018 (Poland's Independence Day). ribbons in national colours were tied on trees standing in the historic entrance avenue (Grobla) to the city from the side of provincial road No. 430. Collective efforts and patriot campaign saved almost all trees.

Concept: Anna Krenz

Organisers: activists, Nasze Puszczykowo Association, photo: Stowarzyszenie Ekologiczne Puszczykowo

Alley of Women of Puszczykowo

Aleja Puszczykowianek - Trees on Grobla street were named after historical women of Puszczykowo. Part of the HERstory project "Women of Puszczykowo, heroines of bygone days".
Graphic works: Anna Krenz
Project by: Anna Schmidt Fiedler and Anna Krenz, Team: Aga Ostrowska, Beata Durczewska, Anna Sokolnicka - Elzanowska, Maciej Krzyżański.
Organisation: Key4Tomorrow Foundation
MORE about the project >>>