ENERGISTYRELSEN

Their core work

The Danish Energy Authority (Energistyrelsen) is Denmark's government agency responsible for national energy policy, regulation, and implementation of EU energy directives. Within H2020, they serve as a key policy coordination body — facilitating knowledge exchange between EU member states on energy efficiency, building energy performance (EPBD), and renewable energy directives through Concerted Actions. They also co-fund transnational research in offshore wind, geothermal energy, and energy system digitalisation through ERA-NET programmes, channeling national funding into European collaborative research.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), DEA focused heavily on technology-side ERA-NET cofunding — offshore wind cost reduction (DemoWind 1&2), smart grids, bioenergy, and geothermal — alongside its first Concerted Action on building energy performance. From 2019 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward policy implementation, monitoring, and building performance: energy efficiency directives, renovation strategies, energy labelling, NZEB buildings, and digitalisation. The trajectory shows a clear move from co-funding hardware-oriented energy research toward governing the policy and regulatory frameworks that drive the energy transition.

DEA is increasingly positioning itself as a directive-implementation hub, making it a strong partner for projects that need to bridge EU policy with national-level energy efficiency, building decarbonisation, or renewable energy deployment.

How they like to work

DEA overwhelmingly participates rather than leads — coordinating only 2 of 18 projects, both Concerted Actions on building energy performance (EPBD) where national authority leadership is inherent. With 158 unique partners across 35 countries, they operate as a broad network connector rather than a tight-knit cluster. This reflects their role as a government body: they join large, policy-oriented consortia to represent Denmark and facilitate cross-border knowledge exchange rather than driving research agendas.

With 158 unique consortium partners across 35 countries, DEA has one of the broadest collaboration networks among Nordic energy authorities. Their reach spans nearly all EU and EEA member states, reflecting the pan-European nature of Concerted Actions and ERA-NET programmes.

What sets them apart

DEA is one of few national energy authorities that combines direct Concerted Action coordination (EPBD) with active ERA-NET cofunding across multiple energy sub-sectors. This dual role means they understand both the policy side (what directives require) and the technology side (what research delivers), making them an unusually well-informed partner. For any consortium needing a credible public-sector voice on Danish or Nordic energy policy, building regulations, or directive transposition, DEA is a natural fit.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CAV_EPBD
  Largest project (EUR 1.78M) and coordinator role — DEA led the EU-wide Concerted Action on the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive across all member states.
• DemoWind
  Highest single EC contribution (EUR 2.48M) — an ERA-NET Cofund channeling significant funding into offshore wind cost reduction demonstrations.
• CA EED3
  Most recent Concerted Action (2022-2026) covering the full breadth of energy efficiency policy — decarbonisation, heating/cooling, public buildings, and financing.