Denmark: A wind powered forerunner

Denmark was one of the first countries to invest in renewable energy sources (RES), and its renewable energy policies were a direct response to the 1970s oil crisis. Consequently, the level of RES in Denmark is higher than in many other European Union (EU) member states. Danish environmental leadership is closely connected to the development of the Danish windmill sector, which has become an important export industry. Whilst EU climate and energy policies are important, the main influences on Danish renewable energies policies come from domestic actors, where specific advocacy coalitions and policy entrepreneurs have been influential in the development of Danish renewable energies policies, acting as both brakes and pushers for high climate standards. Thus, EU climate and renewable energy policies have not been the main drivers for Denmark; instead, Danish environmental leadership originates from domestic advocacy coalitions and individual politicians. Keywords: biofuels policy, Denmark, Europeanization, environmental leader, renewable electricity policy, renewable energy policy