About 2,000 people work in the green energy sector in the municipalities of Lolland, Guldborgsund, and Vordingborg. This is shown by figures from Green Power Denmark based on data from Statistics Denmark, the Danish Energy Agency, and KL. The figures provide a current picture of how much the green transition contributes to local employment.
In Lolland, nearly 1,000 people work in the energy sector, equivalent to almost eight percent of all employed in the municipality. This is far more than in any other municipality in the area and shows how the energy sector has become a key part of Lolland's business community.
The municipality simultaneously produces significantly more electricity than the residents themselves use. With 190 wind turbines and over 150 megawatts of solar capacity, local production covers several times the total electricity consumption.
However, there is a difference between the report and the companies' own figures. Vestas alone employs around 1,300 employees at their factory in Nakskov, which is higher than the 988 people shown in the key figures. This is due to two factors. Firstly, the report does not count all employees at 100 percent - some only work partially with energy and are therefore registered as a fraction of a full-time position. Secondly, the figures show where the employees live, not where they work. Some employees at Vestas may reside in other municipalities, while some in Lolland may work in Guldborgsund or Vordingborg. It is therefore the municipality of residence - and thus the tax payment - that determines where employment is registered.
Guldborgsund and Vordingborg follow suit
In Guldborgsund, around 600 people work in the energy sector, while the number in Vordingborg is just over 440. In both municipalities, energy accounts for about three percent of total employment, and the sector is growing in line with new solar panel installations and wind projects.
Municipalities with the largest share of employment in the energy sector
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Sønderborg - 14.5 percent (3,986 employees)
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Ringkøbing-Skjern - 9.2 percent (2,087 employees)
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Esbjerg - 8.0 percent (3,748 employees)
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Ikast-Brande - 7.8 percent (1,369 employees)
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Lolland - 7.7 percent (988 employees)
Source: Green Power Denmark based on data from Statistics Denmark, the Danish Energy Agency and KL.
Even though production cannot compare with Lolland's, energy still plays an increasing role for local businesses - in construction, technology, and service.
Faxe is doing well
Faxe and Næstved are not included in this statement, but the figures for the two municipalities can be used as perspective when the entire region is considered as a whole. In Faxe, around 470 people are employed in the energy sector, and the municipality has a relatively large solar panel capacity in relation to its size. Næstved is slightly higher with around 870 employees, but has a more traditional business composition and less green production.
In a regional picture, the figures show that growth in the green sector is concentrated towards the south - especially around Lolland, where both employment and energy production stand out significantly.
The figures show a clear connection between energy production and local employment. Where the most green electricity is produced, the most jobs are also created.
