The case of Samsø island, how they achieved 100% renewable energy

Samsø [1], a Danish island located in the Baltic Sea 140 km from Copenhagen, became the world's first territory to achieve energy self-sufficiency in 2007, certified by the Danish Energy Agency (DEA), generating electricity and heat for its 3,929 inhabitants exclusively from 100% renewable sources. Under the leadership of Professor Søren Hermansen and his community-based approach "Think local, act local", the island transformed its dependence on fossil fuels through the implementation of wind turbines and collectively-owned district heating systems, integrating technological innovation with local agricultural and livestock traditions (Hermansen, 2018). This model of collective commitment to scalable energy solutions has earned Samsø international recognition, including the UN Climate Action Award in 2021 (UN Climate Change, 2021).

Historical context and motivation

The Samsø project has its roots in the 1973 oil crisis, when the OPEC embargo on countries that supported Israel in the war against Syria and Egypt caused a sharp increase in oil prices, severely affecting Denmark, which was 90% dependent on imported fossil fuels (Holsting, 1996).

The turning point came in 1997, when the Danish Minister of Environment and Energy, Svend Auken, launched a national competition [2] to establish a territory that would serve as a laboratory for energy transition [3]. The competition sought realistic proposals to achieve self-sufficiency through local and renewable sources within a 10-year period. Of the five proposals received, Samsø was announced the winner in October 1997 (Brodner, 2015).

At that time, the island faced serious economic challenges: it paid a high cost for electricity imported from coal plants in Jutland through underwater cables, and oil-based heating supplied by tanker trucks cost 7.3 million euros annually (Brodner, 2015). These economic factors, along with problems such as the closure of the island's main employer (the local slaughterhouse), created a favorable context for change (Px1NME, 2015).

Infrastructure and implemented technologies

Samsø developed an energy system based on the diversification of renewable sources adapted to its local resources:

Map of Samsø, renewable energy technologies (International Study of RE-Regions n.d.)

Onshore wind energy

The island has 11 onshore wind turbines (Bonus B54/1000 model) distributed across three locations:

5 wind turbines near Brundby (Orby Tranebjerg).
3 wind turbines near Permelille; two belong to individuals and one to the wind cooperative.
3 wind turbines in Tanderup; two belong to individuals and one to the wind cooperative.

Each wind turbine has a capacity of 1 MW, a height of 50 meters and 27-meter blades, with an individual approximate cost of 800,000 euros and an annual production of 2,540 MWh. Together, they generate 28,000 MWh annually, equivalent to 690,000 gallons of oil (Samsø Energy Academy, 2007).

Wind turbines in Brundby (Orby Tranebjerg), Silvio Matysik (Matysik n.d.)

A fundamental aspect of the project is that approximately 90% of these wind turbines belong to 450 island residents, ensuring that economic benefits remain in the community (Drake-Hillyard, 2010).

Offshore wind energy

Samsø complemented its production with 10 offshore wind turbines installed in 2002, located 2.5 km off the southern coast. Each has a capacity of 2.3 MW, a height of 63 meters and 40-meter blades, with an individual cost of 3 million euros (Guillaume, 2015). Together, they produce 77,500 MWh annually. Half of these turbines are owned by the municipality.

Wind turbines off the coast of Samsø (VisitSamsø n.d.)

District heating systems and biomass

The island has four district heating plants that supply 70% of homes, using both solar energy and agricultural and forest residues, mainly straw:

Tranebjerg: Inaugurated in 1994 (before the start of the project), it has a 3 MW boiler that generates 9,500 MWh annually using straw as fuel and supplies 263 residents. The total cost was 3.5 million euros, owned by Grøn Varme Samsø.

Ballen-Brundby: naugurated in 2004, it supplies 232 homes in the Brundby, Ballen and Orby regions. With an investment of 2.1 million euros (including a subsidy of 300,000 euros), it produces 5,100 MWh annually through a 1.6 MW boiler that uses 200 tons of straw supplied by 67 local farmers.

Onsbjerg: Inaugurated in 2003, it supplies 106 homes through a 2.9 km pipeline network. The project cost 1.1 million euros, with co-financing of 400,000 euros from the DEA. It produces 2,723 MWh annually and is owned by Kremmer Jensen ApS.

Nordby-Marup: Inaugurated in 2002, it combines a 900 kW boiler using wood waste (80% of capacity) with a 2,500 m² solar thermal heating system (remaining 20%). With a capacity of 2.2 MW, it produces 4,300 MWh annually for 178 homes. The total cost was 2.7 million euros.

Nordby and Maarup energy plant (Sailors for Sustainability n.d.)

Individual systems for homes without district heating

In locations without access to district heating systems, individual solutions such as solar thermal panels, heat pumps, and biomass systems were implemented. Homeowners accessed subsidies of 30% for the installation of these technologies.

Solar photovoltaic energy

The island has installed photovoltaic panels on numerous farm roofs to complement its electricity production.

Supply security

The island maintains a connection to the Danish electrical system as a backup in case of wind shortages. However, renewable production has been so successful that Samsø generates a 10% energy surplus, which it sells to the national power grid.

Implementation methodology

Samsø's success is based on a participatory methodology that placed the community at the center of the energy transition process:

1. Establishment of organizational structures

After winning the competition in 1997, the Samsø Energy and Environment Office (SEMK) was established to promote the project and provide advice to citizens. In 1998, it was complemented by the creation of the Samsø Energy Company (SEK), specifically focused on renewable energy.

2. Comprehensive energy planning

The consulting firm PlanEnergi developed an energy plan that included:

Estimation of the island's annual energy needs (29,000 MWh).
Assessment of available renewable resources.
Establishment of an implementation schedule.
Detailed plans and calculations.
Economic estimation of the project.

This plan, publicly available in the island's libraries, was subsequently modified with resident participation (Saastamoinen, 2009).

3. Economic and financial agreements

A fixed purchase price was negotiated with the Danish government for electricity produced by wind turbines for 10 years (8 euro cents per kWh), which allowed for estimating the investment return time.

4. "Bottom-up" participatory approach

Instead of imposing a pre-established model, a bottom-up approach was adopted to encourage citizen participation, recognizing the importance of involving local opinion leaders to multiply community interest (Saastamoinen, 2009).

5. Effective communication

Initially without a specific communication plan, the media played a fundamental role in citizen mobilization. The first meetings had 50 attendees, but by 1998 participation had increased to 1,600 people (Energy Academy & PlanEnergi, 2007).

6. Education and awareness

Courses and campaigns were organized to promote energy savings and provide information on renewable technologies, highlighting economic benefits, investment return times, and social aspects such as job creation. According to Hermansen, "people often reject positive proposals simply because they don't understand them or are unaware of their advantages" (Px1NME, 2015).

7. Personalized advice

Energy experts conducted thermal insulation tests in homes and commercial establishments, recommending solutions adapted to each case.

8. Financial incentives

The acquisition of efficient technologies and appliances was facilitated through subsidies and other financial mechanisms.

9. Trust and social cohesion [6]

Planning and decision-making were primarily in the hands of local residents. The leadership of Søren Hermansen, a native of Samsø, was key to the project's success. His knowledge of the local environment and communication skills dispelled initial resistance. Aware of the distrust of external agents, Hermansen prioritized direct dialogue and trust-building through informal conversations, explaining the advantages of investing in the energy transition (Guillaume, 2015). His strategy focused on demonstrating economic benefits through successful initial projects, which drove community participation [7] (EnezGreen, n.d.).

10. Creation of working groups

The total project was divided into smaller projects, with the intention of doing them one by one, and citizens were invited to join each of these groups.

11. Community investment

Energy cooperatives [8] were created that allowed residents to invest directly in projects, such as wind turbines.

12. Monitoring and evaluation

A continuous results monitoring system was established.

Financial, economic, and social aspects of the energy project

The Samsø energy project was executed with 53.3 million euros of the 78.7 million initially budgeted, representing a 32% saving. Dependence on public funds decreased from 9.1 million anticipated to 4 million effectively used, with a per capita investment of 13,600 euros. The project generated annual savings of 7.3 million euros that were previously allocated to fossil fuels, allowing these resources to remain in the local economy.

Economic diversification and strengthening

The transformation created specialized green jobs [9]I n the installation and maintenance of renewable infrastructures, thus diversifying a traditionally agricultural economy, and integrating sustainable practices that increased its attractiveness. International recognition positioned Samsø as a sustainable tourism destination, generating new job opportunities. At the same time, the implementation of renewable energy significantly reduced energy costs for residents and businesses. Additionally, a circular economy [10] was consolidated through local transactions, such as the supply of biomass by island farmers.

Technological innovation and adaptation

The project developed solutions adapted to the island context: from modifying tractors to use local rapeseed oil as an alternative fuel, to implementing heat exchange systems that take advantage of residual heat from dairy product cooling. These strategies demonstrated the community's ability to rethink the energy approach, generating a multiplier "snowball effect" driven by the exchange of ideas and knowledge (Nevin, 2010). This transformation strengthened social cohesion and created positive competition among inhabitants regarding who contributed most significantly to environmental care (Saastamoinen, 2009).

Environmental sustainability

Samsø achieved total self-sufficiency through 100% renewable energy sources, resulting in a significant improvement in its carbon balance. In 1997, the island registered emissions of +11 tons of CO₂ per inhabitant, while currently a reduction of -12 tons has been achieved (Rapid Transitions Alliance, 2019).

Challenge management

The transition overcame two obstacles: community resistance to the visual impact of wind turbines, which was resolved through dialogue and demonstration of economic and environmental benefits, and BirdLife Denmark's concerns (BirdLife, 2001) about the impact of marine turbines on birds. To address this second challenge, a collaborative approach was adopted that included relocating the turbines and periodic meetings with ornithologists and the NGO, in order to monitor effects and continuously adjust protocols.

Declining population and revitalization

Between 1980 and 1997, Samsø experienced an 8% demographic decline, from 4,300 to 3,900 inhabitants (Statistics Denmark, 2021). This decline was aggravated in 1997 with the closure of Samsø Færgen, the main local shipping company, which eliminated 100 jobs (Avisen Samsø, 1997). However, the sustainability project has generated a reverse migration phenomenon (State of Green, 2021). The island has attracted new residents — mainly young families and professionals — seeking a sustainable lifestyle. The transformation is particularly visible in Ballen, where old farms have been converted into eco-friendly homes and coworking spaces. The creation of green jobs in wind turbine maintenance and the role of the Samsø Energy Academy as a technical training center were key (Samsø Energy Academy, 2019). Hermansen emphasized that "the energy transition not only stopped depopulation but positioned Samsø as an attractive model of sustainability" (Hermansen, 2019).

Leadership and community participation

The Danish government supported Søren Hermansen's leadership, allocating funds for him to exclusively lead the energy transition in Samsø. He faced several challenges, such as citizen resistance to the visual impact of wind turbines. To overcome this barrier, he implemented a community co-ownership [11] model, prioritizing residents near the turbines as "co-investors" [12] (Lewis, 2017). This strategy transformed the turbines from a technological imposition into a source of direct economic benefits for the community. Hermansen emphasized that "wind mills are more attractive when you are a co-owner and obtain benefits" (Plataforma por un Nuevo Modelo Energético, 2015), underlining that "the biggest challenge is not technical, but changing people's attitudes" (Lavocat, 2016). Additionally, he addressed the lack of technical training through capacity-building programs that turned inhabitants into key players in the project (Win, 2019).

Søren Hermansen with a Polish delegation (Samsø Energy Academy n.d.)

This success earned Hermansen international recognition, such as the distinction of "global environmental hero" by Time (2008) and the Gothenburg Award (2009), comparable to the Nobel Prize in sustainability.

Beyond Hermansen, other residents assumed leadership roles:

Jorgen Tranberg: A farmer dedicated to raising cows, he was one of the first investors in wind turbines, allocating 3.5 million euros (Brodner, 2015). According to Tranberg, "during the day he attends to work on his farm and, at the end of his day, seeks to invest in sustainable projects, taking advantage of the benefits generated by his participation in Samsø's projects".
Malene Lundén: Hermansen's wife and member of the Energy Academy, she highlighted the importance of citizen participation and effective communication methods, such as sociocracy [13] and effective communication methods, such as sociocracy and non-violent communication (Lavocat, 2016; Rau, n.d.). According to Lundén, the transformation process has generated a significant change in the mentality of the community, even among farmers, who are now more receptive to new ideas (Lavocat, 2016).
Kasten Christiansen: A farmer who implemented innovative systems such as using milk heat to warm his home through a heat pump (Brodner, 2015).

The Samsø energy academy

The Samso Energy Academy, inaugurated in 2007, is a center of knowledge and dissemination about the energy transition experience. With a design by the architecture firm Arkitema, the 643m² building consists of two structures inspired by ancient Viking dwellings. Construction was carried out by regional companies, using sustainable and local materials (The SKF Evolution Team, 2010).

Samsø Energy Academy, exterior and interior (VisitSamsø 2022) (CIEE: Council On International Educational Exchange 2023)

The building is energy self-sufficient, with photovoltaic panels, thermal insulation, and rainwater harvesting systems. The total cost was 1.6 million euros. The academy has 10 employees and offers spaces for conferences and training, technological demonstrations, educational resources on renewable energy, and technical advice for inhabitants, tourists, and special visitors (ecowatch, 2020).

International impact

The academy receives thousands of annual visits from scientists, politicians, journalists, and tourists interested in replicating the experience. It provides international advice to communities from Hawaii and Japan to the island of El Hierro in the Canary Islands (VisitSamsø, 2022). Projects such as the Hepburn Wind community wind farm in Australia or the Sustainable Molokai community group in Hawaii have been directly inspired by the Samsø experience (Wear, 2020).

Proyectos futuros y áreas de mejora

The Samsø Energy Academy coordinates strategic initiatives to consolidate the island as a benchmark for comprehensive sustainability. The challenge of maritime and land transport, responsible for 21% of island emissions, persists (Drake-Hillyard, 2010). Among the priority projects is the construction of a biogas plant (Samsø Energy Academy, 2020), designed to transform organic waste, pig manure, and local biomass into renewable fuel to power an adapted ferry, currently dependent on liquefied natural gas.

To compensate for mobility lag, the expansion of wind capacity is prioritized, which will support the promotion of electric vehicles and green hydrogen, with municipal incentives for residents, an initiative supported by Mayor Marcel Meijer as the axis of the transition towards zero-emission mobility (Win, 2019).

The ultimate goal — to convert Samsø into a completely carbon-neutral territory — requires integrating the estimation of CO₂ emissions not only from the energy sector but also from those generated by agriculture, industry, the circular economy, and, in particular, the waste cycle (Samsø Energy Academy 2020). This measure reflects the island's commitment to having a comprehensive vision of greenhouse gas emissions and working on their reduction.

Among the critical areas for improvement, unfulfilled energy efficiency goals stand out: heat consumption reduction reached only 10% (vs. 25% projected), and general energy consumption was reduced by 4% (vs. 15% expected), while energy expenditure on transportation increased by 5% (Samsø Energy Academy, 2020). These data underscore the need to optimize energy saving policies and reinforce citizen education.

Methodological guide for applying the Samsø model

Below is a step-by-step guide for applying the principles of the Samsø model to other communities:

1. Preparatory phase

Create an organization dedicated to the project.
Establish a physical operations center.
Identify and contact key community leaders.
Select a local coordinator respected by the community.

2. Territorial energy diagnosis

Analyze local energy needs (electricity, heating, transportation).
Evaluate existing technical infrastructures.
Identify the origin of consumed energy and quantify the percentage of renewables.
Calculate associated CO2 emissions.
Determine current energy costs.
Identify areas with energy deficiencies.

3. Evaluation of renewable resources

Analyze local wind potential.
Evaluate available solar resource.
Inventory usable agricultural and forest biomass.
Explore other renewable resources specific to the territory.

4. Technical and economic planning

Select renewable technologies appropriate to the context.
Calculate installation and maintenance costs.
Estimate investment return time.
Plan implementation phases.
Project job creation according to technologies.
Identify available funding sources and subsidies.

5. Community participation and training

Organize basic training in energy efficiency and renewables.
Hold public presentations of the project.
Facilitate expert visits for general and individual advice.
Create thematic working groups.
Implement continuous communication strategies.

6. Collaborative financing

Establish community investment mechanisms.
Create local energy cooperatives.
Design incentives for financial participation.
Negotiate guaranteed prices for produced energy.

7. Implementation and monitoring

Execute projects sequentially, prioritizing "early wins."
Continuously monitor results.
Communicate successes and challenges transparently.
Adapt strategies according to emerging needs.

8. Community relations strategies

Implement non-violent communication approaches.
Consider governance models such as sociocracy.
Establish conflict resolution mechanisms.
Celebrate collective achievements.

Conclusions

The Samsø experience demonstrates the technical and economic viability of transitioning to a 100% renewable energy model, even in small communities with limited resources, complementing traditional economic activities. The success of the model is based on:

Community approach: The active participation of inhabitants ensures the acceptance and sustainability of the project.
Local leadership: The role of Søren Hermansen and other leaders has generated trust and motivation in the community.
Shared ownership: Collective financing retains economic benefits locally.
Context adaptation: Technological solutions were adjusted to the resources available on the island.
Long-term vision and institutionality: Clear objectives and Danish government support have provided a stable framework for private investment.

The "think local, act local" strategy, complemented with training programs, allowed a community with agricultural tradition to lead a comprehensive transition to renewable energy. Samsø not only achieves comprehensive sustainability with economic and tourism benefits, but also generates job opportunities and functions as a learning center through its Energy Academy. This case demonstrates that, equipped with the right tools and incentives, local communities can successfully lead the change towards greater autonomy and collective responsibility in the face of global environmental challenges.

With the training and active participation of inhabitants, a knowledge environment around energy is created that promotes the exchange of ideas, encourages innovation, and strengthens social cohesion, thus generating a "snowball effect" that expands and multiplies... JT

Notes

[1] Samso (or Samsø in Danish) is a Danish island located in the Kattegat strait in the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Denmark. It has an approximate area of 112 km² and is located about 140 km west of Copenhagen. The island is accessible via ferries departing from Kalundborg, near Copenhagen, or from Hou, near Aarhus. Samsø has two main ports: Sælvig Havn and Ballen Linjen. The island consists of 22 communities, although there are three notable localities in terms of population density. Tranebjerg, located in the center of the island, is considered the capital of Samsø and has a population of 847 inhabitants. This locality has services such as a hospital, a primary school, shops, artisan activities, and banks. It is followed by Onsbjerg to the west and Nordby to the north.

[2] The entire initiative came from a document called Energy 21, developed in 1996, which planned for Denmark to have 35% renewable energy.

[3] Energy transition is the shift from using fossil fuels to renewable energies to achieve a sustainable energy model.

[4] Four islands and one peninsula participated in the competition: Læsø, Samsø, Ærø, Møn, and Thyholm.

[5] Manufactured by Bonus Energy, now part of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.

[6] Social cohesion is the degree of integration and solidarity that exists in a society, manifested through collective trust, citizen participation, and a sense of belonging to a common project. It is based on the ability of groups to reduce inequalities, manage conflicts peacefully, and promote the inclusion of all members, regardless of their origin or condition. This concept is key in public policies and community projects, such as Samsø's, where co-ownership of renewable energies strengthened social ties by linking individual benefits with collective goals.

[7] Citizen participation is the process by which citizens actively intervene in public decision-making, contributing to the development and improvement of their community.

[8] Energy cooperative: A non-profit organization democratically managed by its members (individuals, companies, or communities) to produce, distribute, or market renewable energy, with the aim of ensuring equitable access to clean resources and promoting local development. As notable examples, Solix Energie (Germany) generates 7 MW through solar panels and wind turbines operated by 116 partners, while Som Energia (Spain) markets 100% renewable electricity and facilitates collective self-consumption among more than 90,000 members.

[9] Green jobs are jobs that contribute to preserving and restoring the environment, reducing the consumption of energy and raw materials, limiting greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing waste, and promoting adaptation to climate change.

[10] The circular economy is an economic model that seeks to maximize the value of resources, products, and materials by keeping them in use for as long as possible, minimizing waste generation and promoting reuse, repair, recycling, and recovery. This approach opposes the traditional linear model of "take-make-consume-dispose," which depletes resources and generates high levels of waste.

[11] Community co-ownership in Samsø was a fundamental pillar of its energy transition. Inhabitants organized into cooperatives to acquire the majority of the eleven land-based wind turbines (approximately 90% belonged to 450 residents), as well as the four district heating plants. This distributed ownership model encouraged local investment, generated direct benefits for citizens, and cultivated a strong sense of belonging and responsibility towards renewable energy infrastructure, overcoming possible initial resistance and ensuring broad support for the project (Drake-Hillyard, 2010; Saastamoinen, 2009).

[12] Additionally, he proposed that those who could see a wind turbine from their house could be considered "co-investors" (Lewis 2017). By owning their own turbines, residents have greater participation and control in the process, which avoids the perception of technological imposition (Guillaume 2015).

[13] Sociocracy, developed by Gerard Endenburg in the 1980s, is a framework that allows groups to self-govern to optimize connection and self-organization. It allows teams (called "circles") to make decisions in their own domain by giving them authority. To ensure alignment and synergy, sociocracy connects circles to facilitate the flow of information between them.

[14] Non-Violent Communication (NVC), developed by Marshall Rosenberg in the 1960s, provides a model for understanding the motivations behind human behavior. This approach recognizes that each individual has basic fundamental needs, such as importance, recognition, hope, purpose, choice, contribution, appreciation, love, connection, and joy. These needs are universal, meaning that all human beings experience them and can relate to them.

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