The European Union continues to indirectly finance Russia’s war in Ukraine due to some member states’ slow adoption of gas phase-out measures. Despite the EU’s intention to reduce reliance on Russian energy, a significant DKK 170 billion was paid to Russia for energy imports last year.

Denmark’s Climate Minister, Lars Aagaard, is facing criticism for his interpretation of EU directives regarding the phasing out of gas boilers. While a parliamentary agreement was reached in June 2022 to stop installing new gas boilers and phase out existing ones by 2035, critics argue that progress has been insufficient.

Concerns have been raised about the installation of at least 12,500 new gas boilers since 2022, as well as the abandonment of district heating projects for 41,000 households. The EU’s new Building Directive mandates that member states submit national plans this year to phase out gas boilers, prioritizing green gas for industrial processes where it cannot be easily replaced.

Aagaard’s interpretation of the directive focuses on the future composition of the Danish gas network, arguing that the increasing proportion of biogas will exempt Denmark from the obligation to submit a phase-out plan. He claims that because Denmark is expected to reach a point where biogas production exceeds piped gas consumption around 2032, Danish gas boilers will no longer be considered “fossil fuel boilers”.

However, this interpretation contradicts the European Commission’s interpretation, which considers the fuel mix at the time of installation to determine whether a gas boiler is powered by fossil fuels. According to the Commission, phase-out plans should be made for all gas boilers installed when piped gas was primarily fossil gas, which applies to virtually all Danish gas boilers.

Furthermore, there are doubts about whether all Danish gas consumption will be covered by biogas after 2032, as a significant portion of Danish biogas is currently exported to other EU countries. This raises concerns about the Climate Minister misleading the Danish Parliament and the potential for double-counting CO₂ emission reductions, which could artificially inflate Denmark’s climate accounts.

Critics urge the Danish government to present an ambitious plan for a rapid phase-out of gas boilers, including the necessary funding, to align with EU obligations and reduce energy dependence on Russia. This includes ensuring that exported biogas is not also counted as a reduction in Denmark’s climate accounts.