Community Wind Power

The Middelgrunden Wind Power Cooperative in Denmark

A Proven Community Power Model

The Danes are living proof that community-owned power can go a long way to create a renewable energy future.

In the 1970’s, three rural Danish families banded together and installed a wind turbine, creating the world's first green energy co-op. Today, the Middlegrunden co-op owns and operates the world’s largest off-shore wind farm outside Copenhagen harbour. Wind turbine manufacturing is Denmark’s top export and wind power co-ops are a nationwide movement with more than 100,000 family members. Together the co-ops have installed 80% of Denmark's turbines which now account for 10% of the entire country's electricity needs. Danes anticipate 50% of their electricity will come from wind by 2030.