Aarhus is a strong player in the market of sustainable energy; thus three of the six largest wind turbine manufacturers in the world have chosen to place their activities within the Central Denmark Region. The Indian wind turbine giant, Suzlon, which owns around 10 percent of the world market and who is ranked as the third largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world, has chosen to place its headquarter for international operations in Aarhus, and in 2011 the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas, will move its global headquarters to Aarhus – though the company has already taken the world’s largest development centre for wind energy into operation.
Besides the presence of the large wind turbine manufacturers, there is a long range of subcontractors within energy- and environmental technology for both energy production and energy saving measures, and one third of Denmark’s cleantech-industry is placed in the region. The businesses in the region excel especially within energy storage, production of sustainable energy and energy infrastructure and –distribution.
At the same time, the region has the highest rate of specialisation in Denmark, measured on the number of employees within energy and environment – and 40 percent of all Danish full-time employees within energy and energy technology work in the Central Denmark Region.
Energy of the future – Nativas Park
Within energy- and environmental technology a new and open innovation environment housing 2,000 students and more than 300 businessmen, researchers and lecturers is established at the waterfront. The next step is the selection of the developer whom will be in charge of the construction of the 35,000 sqm building. The building is expected ready for occupation in 2014.
Education and research
Conditions are also good for the development in energy technologies, in the field of research and education, as many of the city’s research- and educational institutions have entries, sequences and courses with a specific focus on energy and energy technology. Including:
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Aarhus Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Aarhus
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Engineering College of Aarhus
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Aarhus School of Architecture
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Aarhus School of Marine and Technical Engineering
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ASE: Aarhus School of Engineering (a cooperation between the University of Aarhus and the Engineering College of Aarhus)