Denmark: only nine of 98 municipalities have money for solar panels on public buildings in their new budgets, TEKNIQ finds

Danish municipalities are in no hurry to install solar panels on the roofs of schools, care homes and sports halls, according to an analysis of local budgets published on Tuesday by TEKNIQ, the organisation representing companies in the technical installation sector. Only nine of the country's 98 municipalities have set aside concrete funds for such projects in their budgets for the coming years.

The figures. According to TEKNIQ, 24 municipalities mention solar panels in their budgets. The nine with secured funding – Dragør, Esbjerg, Frederiksberg, Holbæk, Høje-Taastrup, Hørsholm, Kerteminde, Solrød and Syddjurs – have together allocated about DKK 44 million. The other 15 either only intend to carry out preliminary studies or have not settled their financing.

The new rules. Since 14 September, a change in the law allows municipalities and regions to produce, consume and store solar electricity without having to place the activity in a separate company, TEKNIQ announced at the time. The law also allows batteries directly linked to the solar installations, so that public buildings can keep the power for their own use or provide flexibility to the grid. According to the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), estimates in the bill pointed to about 85 MW of new capacity a year in 2028–2029 and around 170 MW on municipal and regional roofs by 2030.

What the industry says. “We had of course hoped that more municipalities would already have concrete solar projects under way. But we must also recognise that the municipalities received final clarity on the rules very late,” said Troels Hartung, head of sustainability at TEKNIQ. According to the organisation, scrapping the separation requirement was announced politically back in August 2025, but the rules were only finally adopted in September, shortly before the municipal budgets for 2027 were settled.

What comes next. Now that the legal framework is in place, TEKNIQ says it hopes for and expects a real breakthrough in the coming years.

Real-time data for the country are on the country page