Denmark-Turkey Relations Put "Green Energy" Sector in the Spotlight

Danny Annan, Ambassador of Denmark to Ankara, stated that despite the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, more than 300 Danish companies continue their operations in Turkey, adding, "In the post-pandemic period, the green energy sector will be at the forefront of our economic relations. We want to reach the EUR 5 billion trade volume we set previously."

Annan told AA correspondent that Turkey has investment opportunities in many sectors including renewable energy, energy efficiency and similar fields, as well as district heating and cooling, wastewater management, textiles, pharmaceutical and medical sectors.

Annan, who described President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statement on the Paris Climate Agreement that "we will complete the approval process by the Climate Change Summit to be held in Glasgow in November" as a very important step in combating global climate change, noted that this decision would also have a positive impact on Turkey-Denmark cooperation.

Annan stressed that the pandemic period has increased the focus of all countries on the concepts of "green transformation" and "sustainable development" for a more livable world, saying, "Global energy demand investments declined significantly during this period. Despite the pandemic, more than 300 Danish companies continued their operations in Turkey.

In the post-pandemic period, the green energy sector will be at the forefront of our economic relations. We want to reach the EUR 5 billion trade volume we set previously. The trade volume, which fell during the pandemic, increased by 40 percent from Denmark to Turkey and by 30 percent from Turkey to Denmark in the January-July period of this year. Let us forget the pandemic. It is now in the past," he said.

Annan also noted that during this period, the world has experienced difficulties in production and logistics due to the disruption of economic activity in China, stating, "In our meetings with our sector representatives doing business in Turkey, we continuously emphasized that Turkey is closer to European borders compared to far eastern Asia.

We even explained that it is only a harbor away. Turkey can be a very good alternative to Asian countries in terms of labor force, production quality, geographical proximity to Europe, and production and logistics costs." he assessed.

Annan noted that these advantages offered by Turkey are important in reaching the EUR 5 billion trade volume target, and stressed that green and renewable energy will be one of the most prominent elements of this goal in the post-pandemic period.

- Artificial energy islands to be completed in 2030

Annan said that technological advances in clean energy in his country, particularly wind energy, are closely followed by the entire world.

Providing information about two artificial energy island projects announced last year and to be completed in ten years, Annan explained that electricity will be generated by offshore wind farms around the islands, and that green fuels, particularly hydrogen, will be used for electricity storage.