Community Buy-In Was Essential To Samsø's Success

Samsø is definitely a celebrity among the green energy pioneers. The story of this world-first 100% renewable energy power island in Denmark has been described many times, yet one somehow doesn’t grow weary of it. The place that has been energy positive for the past decade, producing more energy from wind and biomass than it consumes, always reads like a good story! 

The Guardian’s article is particularly engaging because it focuses on the crucial role Samsø’s citizens played in making the zero carbon plan a reality. It describes how from the beginning the project was very much community oriented, how the island’s wind turbines are co-owned by local cooperatives, and how the community approach quelled any simmering discontent that could have arisen if only some in the community stood to benefit. 

The humble and down-to-earth attitude of Søren Hermansen, the head of the Samsø renewable energy island project, makes it an even more enjoyable read.