A gardener on Funen has spent nearly 200,000 kroner on two large batteries to escape high electricity prices at his 6,000 square meter greenhouse.
Torben Uffe Henriksen owns Gartneren i Nonnebo near Langeskov. He is installing two batteries that will store electricity when it is cheap and release it when prices rise, DR reports. He expects them to be running before New Year.
Henriksen has a variable electricity price. He told DR that his own pay is lower because the business earns less while the power is running. The greenhouse cannot simply switch off and use electricity at another time of day.
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At the nursery, electricity is used to water plants, circulate heat and run work machines. Henriksen said he sees no choice but to find his own solution rather than be ruined by power costs. He added that several of his colleagues have made the same investment.
The batteries are intended to work as a buffer. According to DR, Henriksen also plans to sell stored electricity back to the power company when it is short of supply. He expects the 200,000 kroner to be recovered within four years, and says the batteries can then last 12 to 15 years.
Prices at a two-year high
DR reported this week that the price of electricity in Denmark reached its highest level in nearly two years. The broadcaster has also reported warnings from the energy sector about a difficult winter, while one expert described the debate as a media storm.
Figures from Norlys, distributed via Ritzau on September 11, put the average price halfway through September at 1.11 kroner per kWh in western Denmark and 1.12 kroner per kWh in eastern Denmark. The company said it was the first average above one krone since the energy crisis, driven by expensive gas.
The Copenhagen Post has reported that September could become the most expensive month for Danish electricity customers in several years. The outlet pointed to wider market conditions behind the increase.
Henriksen said the swings in the electricity price are what make the investment look sound. He described the outlook for his business as reasonable once the batteries are connected. The money has to come out of his own pocket first, he noted.
Rising power bills have pushed the cost of living in Denmark back into focus for households and businesses alike. For commercial users such as nurseries and restaurants, electricity runs at full capacity for long stretches of the day.
DR said the batteries will supply the power used across the 6,000 square meter site. Henriksen expects the two units to be operational before the end of the year.
