'Yes to fields of wheat, no to fields of iron': how Denmark soured on solar

2 days ago

A narrative opposing solar farms in rural Denmark is gaining political traction, led by right-wing populist parties like the Denmark Democrats, who argue that solar panels are destroying farmland and countryside aesthetics.
Denmark, despite its strong renewable energy goals and high share of renewables in electricity, is experiencing a backlash against solar installations in rural areas, with projects being cancelled or stalled due to local resistance and political pressure.
The opposition to solar farms is framed as a conflict between urban elites pushing for green transition and rural communities, with concerns over property values, nature destruction, and visual impact, even though solar covers only 0.2% of Danish farmland.
The backlash has led to municipal rejections of solar projects, such as in Køge, Viborg, and Samsø, while political support has softened, highlighting challenges in community engagement for clean energy developers.
Economic factors also threaten solar growth in Denmark, including negative electricity prices due to oversupply, grid congestion, and low profitability, despite official expectations for a significant increase in solar production over the next decade.

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