For the past few years, we often hear about the need to develop renewable energies, for limiting our CO2 emissions and thus for consuming less fossil energies. An ambitious project but absolutely necessary to reduce the negative environmental impact before it is too late. The problem is that it seems quite complicated to realize the long-term objectives laid down by the various governments.
Many are skeptical, and as a result ordinary citizens and contractors alike are moving slowly, with reduced visibility.
However, when a whole community, supported by an ambitious government, mobilizes itself, things can move quickly and provide astonishing results. A small island in Denmark, Samsø, is an outstanding example of what can be undertaken for the good of planet. In just ten years, the few 4,000 inhabitants of this island of 114 km2 have become experts and ambassadors of ecology. It all began in 1997, when Samsø was chosen by the Danish government to become the first island dedicated to generating renewable energy.
All was not simple, far from it. It was necessary to convince the inhabitants of the usefulness of this vast project. After many meetings, intense discussions and passionate debates, nine farmers yielded grounds for the eighteen windmill installations owned by co-operatives equivalent to approximately a quarter of the homes of the island.
Once the first obstacle was crossed, things then accelerated.
The next objective was to set up a clean system of district heating. Four power stations will thus be born. One is made up of 2.5 hectares solar panels, which are compensated by a burner of wood chips when the sun is scarce. The three other power stations function with the straw provided by the farmers of Samsø, which is now accounts for 75% of hot water and heating to come from solar energy and the use of biomass. Better still, electricity is now 100% from the wind farm. Eleven offshore windmills have also been born during these last years.
In the event of lack of wind, the island can turn to the continent to get electricity, but overall, it exports much more than it imports.
Of course, there are still efforts being made, particularly in transport. For the time being, most vehicles still use the traditional fuels, but many are those which want to go further. The idea would be to equip the island with trucks and cars running with hydrogen produced by windmills. An ambitious idea but one which should receive support from the inhabitants of Samsø.
This example, which each year attracts hundreds of experts from around the world, proves that with will, big things are possible in finally very little time. Søren Hermansen, one of the carriers of this project stresses that “for many people it is necessary to act locally and think globally, whereas it is necessary to think locally and act locally. The rest will follow”.
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