Lolland-Falster, Denmark
Until recently, I might have searched California’s sustainable communities to find the greenest living place on the planet.  To my surprise, on a recent visit to
Lolland-Falster (LF), two Danish islands with about 120,000 residents
combined, I was introduced to a place that takes sustainability to the next level and provides a glimpse into the future.

LF is the first example I have seen which, on a grand scale, integrates many forms of renewable energy into their grid
while creating significant economic development in the process. In the
past decade, LF embraced renewable energy as the primary platform upon
which they would rebuild their struggling economy to reduce their 22%
unemployment rate for unskilled workers and 10% for skilled workers, to
less depressing levels. The results? Today the two islands boast
approximately 4% overall unemployment.

What Was the Secret?
After meeting with three key players in the effort - Leo Christensen
from the Lolland Municipality, Gunnhild Utkvitne and Henrik Schilling
from partner company Baltic Sea Solutions, I was taken on a tour of a
few existing projects.

First stop, the Hydrogen Production Demonstration Facility / Recycling
Dump / Concert Venue. To increase support, pride and
awareness among LF’s residents for the sustainable projects, the
municipality works to make them more visible to the public.
What better way to do this than to make the recycling dump both a
Hydrogen Production Demonstration Facility, as well as a stadium-size
venue for high profile musicians to perform. In addition to holding
concerts here, local students make frequent visits to view
hydrogen being created from excess wind electricity and used to power
fuel-cells.

This level of community integration combining both the clean energy
projects and sustainable living initiatives like the recycling system
appears to be a key to the success of LF’s strategy. Leo, a driving
force behind the movement, realized early on that a turnaround of such
magnitude could not be realized without the wholehearted participation
of the islanders themselves. He also  correctly predicted that the educational process that would come with learning how to build and maintain their new sustainable systems,
would provide the islanders with much value. The new skill-sets and
knowledge acquired have not only increased income, but have also given the islanders a
competitive advantage in their career as the world market for renewable
energy continues to expand.

Today, Lolland-Falster produces 50% more electricity than they need
from on and offshore wind mills. They incinerate biomass waste (lawn
clippings, straw, woodchips, etc.) in a combined heat and power (CHP)
district heating system, which provides about 75% of their heating
demands. Not having access to the mainland’s natural gas supply is no
longer an issue. As of late 2006, Lolland also became the home of the
EU’s first "full-scale" Hydrogen Community Demonstration facility for
residential Fuel Cell Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

Lolland Community Testing Facilities (CTF), a strategic initiative
promoting Lolland-Falster abroad and helping facilitate new foreign
companies coming to the islands, is pitching LF as what seems to be a
playground for clean-technology companies. It’s an interesting concept
that seems to be working. As Henrik added, "Lolland-Falster is an
international testing and demonstration platform for renewable energy
technology."

The latest demonstration to arrive, and one which I can’t wait to see
on my next visit, is the world’s first (I am told) combined commercial Wave & Wind Energy plant, currently under
construction at the same location as the world’s first off-shore
windmill farm – just northwest of Lolland. The world’s largest offshore
windmill farm is located south of Lolland.

All-in-all, it was exciting to see that economic and social value
can be created during the transition to cleaner energy sources and less
wasteful systems. Hopefully it won’t take 22% unemployment to see
similar developments closer to home.