NEWS: Aabenraa Municipality can provide faster and better permitting

Aabenraa Kommune has decided to declassify two of its nationally designated energy parks, arguing that the regulatory framework offers more bureaucracy than benefits. The municipality plans to move forward with its own renewable energy planning instead.

The projects, located near Svejlund and Perbøl, were originally submitted by Aabenraa Kommune as potential national energy parks under Denmark’s new energy park law. But after reviewing the state’s draft regulations, the municipality found the requirements too restrictive. In particular, stricter rules on minimum distances to housing, such as a mandatory 750-metre buffer, would force major parts of the planned parks to be excluded.

Ditte Lundgaard Jakobsen, Director of Planning, Technology and Environment, explained that local planning allows more flexibility and faster progress: “We have a well-tested model that works, based on early citizen involvement and site-specific agreements with neighbours. This gives us both faster processes and more balanced solutions.”

The municipality has already approved nine local plans for renewable energy and has 15 more underway. Instead of the national approach, Aabenraa prefers its proven model of citizen engagement and local decision-making.

While the government argues the new rules promote faster rollout, Aabenraa Kommune sees them as a step backward. The decision is supported by European Energy, the developer of the two parks, which supports the municipality’s goal of maintaining local control and community dialogue.

As highlighted in EnergiWatch, this case reflects a growing debate over how best to balance national regulation with local flexibility in Denmark’s green transition.