The Dane
10-23-2009, 07:51 AM
Shawn Lesser of Sustainable World Capital puts Denmark top of his personal ranking of the 10 leading cleantech countries of 2009
On the Cleantech Group's website, Shawn Lesser of Sustainable World Capital takes a global look at cleantech, and puts together his personal ranking of the top ten cleantech countries for 2009. He bases his reasoning on key factors like government initiatives and programmes, large investment mandates and entrepreneurial innovation, as well as cultural and social drivers. And he ranks Denmark the global No.1.
Denmark gets the nod from Lesser not only for its national goal of becoming 100% fossil fuel free, but also for its pioneering role in the cleantech industry. He points out that Denmark, the birthplace of wind technology, is also Europe's largest exporter of energy technology. He notes that Denmark can call on financial support from the likes of ATP Pension Fund, AP Pension and DONG Energy, all with massive mandates for cleantech. And he observes that Denmark is a truly model cleantech country where public-private sector partnerships encourage an atmosphere of knowledge sharing and entrepreneurship.
Shawn Lesser doesn't go into the historical perspectives, but it's worth remembering that Denmark has been steadily working towards freedom from fossil fuels for a long time – in fact ever since the oil crisis of 1973, when this small north European country became suddenly and painfully aware of its utter dependence on foreign oil and coal.
True, oil and gas in the Danish sector of the North Sea have come along since then, but it has always been seen as a time-limited resource and hasn't deflected successive governments from the long-term goal of achieving self-sufficiency in home grown, renewable energy. And to that objective can be added the more contemporary aims of achieving the maximum possible energy efficiency and the minimum possible greenhouse gas emissions.
But back to Shawn Lesser's Top 10 cleantech countries for 2009. His full list reads as follows:
1. Denmark – a truly model cleantech country
2. Germany – the solar capital of the world
3. Sweden – fully embracing green technologies
4. United Kingdom – strong and growing commitment to cleantech
5. Israel – the 'Silicon Valley' of water technology
6. Switzerland – the global hub of cleantech finance
7. United States – leading the world in cleantech investment (70% of the global total)
8. United Arab Emirates – a renewable energy hub of tomorrow
9. China – leading the world in solar photovoltaic technology
10. Canada – a country that runs on hydropower
http://www.denmark.dk/en/servicemenu/News/Environment-Energy-Climate-News/DenmarkTheWorldsTopCleantechCountry.htm
Nice :)
On the Cleantech Group's website, Shawn Lesser of Sustainable World Capital takes a global look at cleantech, and puts together his personal ranking of the top ten cleantech countries for 2009. He bases his reasoning on key factors like government initiatives and programmes, large investment mandates and entrepreneurial innovation, as well as cultural and social drivers. And he ranks Denmark the global No.1.
Denmark gets the nod from Lesser not only for its national goal of becoming 100% fossil fuel free, but also for its pioneering role in the cleantech industry. He points out that Denmark, the birthplace of wind technology, is also Europe's largest exporter of energy technology. He notes that Denmark can call on financial support from the likes of ATP Pension Fund, AP Pension and DONG Energy, all with massive mandates for cleantech. And he observes that Denmark is a truly model cleantech country where public-private sector partnerships encourage an atmosphere of knowledge sharing and entrepreneurship.
Shawn Lesser doesn't go into the historical perspectives, but it's worth remembering that Denmark has been steadily working towards freedom from fossil fuels for a long time – in fact ever since the oil crisis of 1973, when this small north European country became suddenly and painfully aware of its utter dependence on foreign oil and coal.
True, oil and gas in the Danish sector of the North Sea have come along since then, but it has always been seen as a time-limited resource and hasn't deflected successive governments from the long-term goal of achieving self-sufficiency in home grown, renewable energy. And to that objective can be added the more contemporary aims of achieving the maximum possible energy efficiency and the minimum possible greenhouse gas emissions.
But back to Shawn Lesser's Top 10 cleantech countries for 2009. His full list reads as follows:
1. Denmark – a truly model cleantech country
2. Germany – the solar capital of the world
3. Sweden – fully embracing green technologies
4. United Kingdom – strong and growing commitment to cleantech
5. Israel – the 'Silicon Valley' of water technology
6. Switzerland – the global hub of cleantech finance
7. United States – leading the world in cleantech investment (70% of the global total)
8. United Arab Emirates – a renewable energy hub of tomorrow
9. China – leading the world in solar photovoltaic technology
10. Canada – a country that runs on hydropower
http://www.denmark.dk/en/servicemenu/News/Environment-Energy-Climate-News/DenmarkTheWorldsTopCleantechCountry.htm
Nice :)