Proprietary data
Data Center Power & Policy in Denmark
Every government action on data centers and power in Denmark that we have verified: moratoriums, grid rules, incentives, tariffs and plans, with the power indicators that drive site selection.
By Amit Jain
Reviewed by Deepti Agrawal
Updated 14 October 2026
In short
As of 14 October 2026, DC Market Insights tracks 6 government actions on data centers and power in Denmark, 4 of them in force. Denmark has 1 restriction on new data centers in force: Energinet temporary pause on new grid connection agreements to the transmission grid.
Market snapshot
Denmark power and policy: key facts
- Industrial electricity price: 134 USD/MWh (2025). Rank 7 of 15 tracked countries, highest first.
- Renewable share of electricity generation: 81.5% (2024). Rank 2 of 26 tracked countries, highest first.
- Grid emission factor: 0.11 kgCO2/kWh (2024). Rank 17 of 19 tracked countries, highest first.
- Latest change: Grid emergency plan (akutplan for elnettet): priority model puts most data centres last in the grid connection queue (Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities (Klima-, Energi- og Forsyningsministeriet); Folketing, 1 Oct 2026).
- By type: 2 efficiency rule, 1 restriction, 1 grid access and 1 moratorium.
Power indicators for Denmark
Latest official figure for each indicator, with earlier years where we have them.
In force now in Denmark
Moratorium (1)
Energinet temporary pause on new grid connection agreements to the transmission grid
On 2 March 2026 Energinet, the state-owned transmission system operator, paused the signing of new grid connection agreements to the transmission grid, after requests from large new loads (data centres, batteries, Power-to-X) far exceeded the capacity it can make available in the short term; queued projects were reported at about 60 GW against Danish peak demand of about 7 GW. Projects with a signed connection agreement are not affected; all others face longer processing. The pause was set for three months or until new capacity measures are in place; on 27 May 2026 Energinet said it would sign new agreements only in autumn 2026 under a new model (PP-DK-002).
Efficiency rule (2)
Executive Order 1167/2025: data centres above 1 MW must make a cost-benefit analysis and use surplus heat where feasible
Executive Order no. 1167 of 2 October 2025 (Danish Energy Agency), in force 11 October 2025, implements EED art. 26. A new or substantially renovated data centre with total rated energy input above 1 MW must prepare a cost-benefit analysis of using its surplus heat, including cooling solutions that capture heat at a useful temperature, and must use surplus heat or other heat recovery unless the analysis shows this is not technically or economically feasible. Data centres whose surplus heat is or will be used in a district heating network or on site are exempt from the analysis.
1 MW Total rated energy input threshold (more than 1 MW)
Executive Order 926/2024: data centres of 500 kW IT load or more must report energy performance to the EU database
Executive Order no. 926 of 9 July 2024 (Danish Energy Agency), in force 1 September 2024, implements the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (art. 12) and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1364. Operators of data centres with installed IT power demand of 500 kW or more must report energy performance indicators (energy use, PUE inputs, water use, reused waste heat, renewable energy) directly to the European Commission's database by 15 September 2024 and then by 15 May each year. Defence and civil-protection data centres are exempt; failure to report is punishable by fines.
500 kW Installed IT power demand threshold; annual reporting deadline 15 May
Regulation (1)
Personal data transfers outside the EU/EEA: GDPR chapter V as applied by Datatilsynet
Denmark applies the EU General Data Protection Regulation (with the Danish Data Protection Act). There is no data localisation rule, but transfers of personal data to countries outside the EU/EEA may only take place on GDPR chapter V conditions: an EU adequacy decision, standard contractual clauses or binding corporate rules approved by Datatilsynet and the EDPB, with transfer impact assessments where needed. Datatilsynet's guidance on transfers to third countries (4th edition, April 2024) sets out the rules.
Announced and proposed
Measures that are not yet in force. Status changes when the rule takes effect or is withdrawn.
Grid emergency plan (akutplan for elnettet): priority model puts most data centres last in the grid connection queue
Voting agreement of 1 October 2026 between the government (S, SF, M, RV) and V, DF, K, EL and ALT (following a political understanding of 29 June 2026) to pass a bill amending the Electricity Supply Act with a priority model for grid connections when capacity is short. Category 1: protected needs and critical functions (normal demand growth, households, small firms, defence, health); 2: direct electrification, renewables, CCS, hydrogen and PtX; 3: energy storage; 4: certain large energy consumers, as a rule data centres that are not tied to a location. Data centres serving critical societal functions can be placed in category 1. Energinet and grid companies may refuse requests in categories 3 and 4 (appeal to Forsyningstilsynet); grid-friendliness (flexible demand) can improve the position in categories 2 to 4. A separate work stream will look at how data centres can connect without crow
4 priority category Most data centres placed in category 4 of 4 (lowest); bill still to be passed
Energinet new model for larger grid connections: joint processing, stricter maturity requirements, new agreements from autumn 2026
Energinet announced on 27 May 2026 that requests for larger connections to the transmission grid will be handled together as one batch and assessed against stricter project-maturity requirements, and that it will sign new grid connection agreements only from autumn 2026. The government's priority model (PP-DK-003) is meant to apply to that autumn allocation.
Timeline of data center and power policy in Denmark
| Date | Action | Type | Status | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2026 | Grid emergency plan (akutplan for elnettet): priority model puts most data centres last in the grid connection queue | Restriction | Announced | Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities (Klima-, Energi- og Forsyningsministeriet); Folketing |
| 27 May 2026 | Energinet new model for larger grid connections: joint processing, stricter maturity requirements, new agreements from autumn 2026 | Grid access | Announced | Energinet |
| 2 Mar 2026 | Energinet temporary pause on new grid connection agreements to the transmission grid | Moratorium | In force | Energinet (state-owned TSO, Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities) |
| 2 Oct 2025 | Executive Order 1167/2025: data centres above 1 MW must make a cost-benefit analysis and use surplus heat where feasible | Efficiency rule | In force | Danish Energy Agency (Energistyrelsen) |
| 9 Jul 2024 | Executive Order 926/2024: data centres of 500 kW IT load or more must report energy performance to the EU database | Efficiency rule | In force | Danish Energy Agency (Energistyrelsen) |
| 25 May 2018 | Personal data transfers outside the EU/EEA: GDPR chapter V as applied by Datatilsynet | Regulation | In force | Danish Data Protection Agency (Datatilsynet) |
How Denmark compares
Latest official figures for the countries we track.
| Country | Industrial power price | Renewable share | Grid emission factor | Restrictions in force | Incentives in force |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | — | 19.6% (2025) | 0.28 kgCO2/kWh (2022) | 0 | 2 |
| Australia | — | 39% (2025) | — | 0 | 2 |
| Bangladesh | — | 2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Belgium | 183 USD/MWh (2025) | 34.3% (2025) | 0.19 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| Brazil | — | 86.8% (2025) | 0.07 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 1 |
| Chile | — | 66% (2025) | 0.24 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 0 |
| Colombia | — | — | 0.22 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 2 |
| Denmark | 134 USD/MWh (2025) | 81.5% (2024) | 0.11 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 0 |
| France | 104 USD/MWh (2025) | 27% (2025) | 0.02 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 1 |
| Germany | 180 USD/MWh (2025) | 58.8% (2025) | 0.34 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 1 | 0 |
| India | 82.1 USD/MWh (2025) | 28.7% (2026) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 5 |
| Indonesia | 62.9 USD/MWh (2024) | 16.3% (2025) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 1 |
| Ireland | 234 USD/MWh (2025) | 41.3% (2024) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 2 | 0 |
| Japan | — | 23.1% (2024) | 0.45 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| Kazakhstan | — | 14.6% (2025) | 0.81 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 0 |
| Malaysia | 105 USD/MWh (2026) | 21% (2025) | 0.74 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 1 |
| Nepal | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 148 USD/MWh (2025) | 49% (2025) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 4 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 97.5 USD/MWh (2026) | 34.7% (2025) | — | 0 | 1 |
| Peru | — | 62.6% (2025) | — | 0 | 1 |
| Russia | — | 17.6% (2025) | — | 2 | 0 |
| Singapore | 189 USD/MWh (2025) | 2.1% (2024) | 0.40 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| South Korea | — | 9.8% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | — | 60.2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| United Arab Emirates | 120 USD/MWh (2026) | 8.8% (2024) | 0.47 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| United Kingdom | 234 USD/MWh (2026) | 52.1% (2025) | 0.15 kgCO2/kWh (2026) | 1 | 1 |
| United States | 86.2 USD/MWh (2025) | 24% (2025) | 0.35 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 1 |
| Uzbekistan | 83.3 USD/MWh (2026) | 19.4% (2025) | — | 1 | 0 |
Questions
Is there a data center moratorium in Denmark?
Yes. 1 restriction on new data centers is in force in Denmark: Energinet temporary pause on new grid connection agreements to the transmission grid.
What does electricity cost for data centers in Denmark?
The industrial electricity price in Denmark was 134 USD/MWh in 2025 (Eurostat nrg_pc_205, Denmark, band IE (20,000 to 69,999 MWh), excluding VAT and other recoverable taxes: 2025-S1 0.1203 EUR/kWh, 2025-S2 0.1163 EUR/kWh; mean 0.1183 EUR/kWh = 118.3 EUR/MWh x 1.1300 USD/EUR (Eurostat ert_bil_eur_a, 2025 annual average) = 1). Data center contracts can differ by voltage level, contract length and location.
How much of Denmark’s electricity is renewable?
Renewables supplied 81.5% of electricity generation in Denmark in 2024.
Where does this data come from?
Each action comes from a page we opened: a law, regulation, gazette notice, ministry or regulator release, grid operator notice or investment agency page, and only when official text is not available a company or trade publication. A second analyst re-opens the source before an item is published. Government sources are linked on the page; all sources come with the Excel data.
What counts as a restriction or moratorium?
A government or grid operator rule that stops, pauses, caps or conditions new data center capacity or grid connections, for a country or a region within it. Proposals are shown as proposed until they take effect.
How are power prices compared?
We use each country’s official statistics for industrial or non-household electricity, converted to US dollars per MWh at the average rate for the year where needed, and show the year and source. Contract prices for data centers can differ.
How often is it updated?
Countries are reviewed on a rolling schedule and changes are added as they are announced. Each item shows the date of the action.
Global capacity
How much data center capacity is installed worldwide?
Installed and forecast capacity in MW by region and country, 2020 to 2035, with low, base and high cases. Updated every quarter.
Choosing a market or a site?
Our analysts prepare country briefings on power, grid access, incentives and permits, with every source, in Excel.