The Future for Renewable Energy Solutions in the Developing World

Sustainable Ways to Community

Prosperity

Winning with Sustainability

Production Tax Credit set to Expire by end of 2012

Ambassador Opens Danish Feed Processing Plant in Findlay, Ohio

DOD Expects to Invest USD 10 billion in Green

Technologies by 2030

Royal Embassy of Denmark - Going Green

News & Upcoming Events

Front page, from left: Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Prime Minister of Denmark and Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States.

This page, from left: Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Prime Minister of Denmark and Peter Taksøe-Jensen, Ambassador of Denmark to the United States.

On February 24th, I had the honor of welcoming the Danish Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, on her first official visit to the United States. Only 5 months after assuming office and with Denmark currently holding the EU Presidency, the visit could not have been more opportune. Following a visit in March last year by the former Prime Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the visit by Ms. Thorning-Schmidt is indeed a testimony to the close ties between Denmark and the U.S. The EU-US relationship plays a central role in economic issues and resolving the present sovereign debt crisis. A lack of growth in Europe not only affects the European member states, but impacts on the U.S. economy as well. The Danish Presidency aims to lay the foundation for a stronger, more inte-grated and prosperous EU. In a time of austerity, energy prices and energy policy becomes a priority on the political agenda. This is as true in Denmark as it is in the U.S. That is why Denmark during its EU-Presidency is making the EU’s Energy Roadmap to 2050 a key priority. The 2050 goal is ambitious: that is cutting emissions by over 80 pct. by mid-century. The investments we choose today will bind us for decades to come. How-ever, the long-term process of gradual transition towards sustainable energy generation should not be sacrificed to short-term objections. For that reason this issue of our Newsletter has a strong focus on green and sustainable growth. On March 2nd, the Royal Danish Embassy organized a joint seminar with the World Bank and col-leagues from Germany and Austria on how to address the complex challenges that characterize ener-gy production and consumption in the 21st century. The Embassy is also cooperating on holding events in late March with the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) and the Embassy of Germany. Just recently, Denmark was praised as the world leader in creating healthy cleantech companies. The Global Cleantech Innovation Index 2012, by WWF and Cleantech Group, examines where new clean-tech companies are growing today and which countries are best at creating innovation in green tech-nology. Denmark ranked No. 1. Another study ranked Denmark as the second best country in the EU in terms of innovation and research. As important as a green transition is for our climate now, it is even more critical to our economic growth in the future. If we fail to go green, we will be less competitive with other parts of the world. Moreover, sustainability is becoming a critical branding and marketing tool as well as a more im-portant aspect of company culture. On a final note, I would like to take the opportunity to draw your attention to May 12th and the EU Open House. The Embassy, along with all European Embassies, will open its doors to Washingtonians and others that are interested in learning more about Denmark and Danish culture. This year the Em-bassy is focusing on healthy lifestyle and physical activity. // Peter Taksøe-Jensen

Newsletter Q1 2012

Smarter Solutions for Renewables and Energy Efficiency: A European Perspective On March 2nd the World Bank and officials from Ger-many, Austria and Denmark, organized a seminar at the World Bank entitled “Smarter Solutions for Re-newables and Energy Efficiency: A European Perspec-tive”. As a prelude to the seminar, Peter Taksoe-Jensen, Danish Ambassador to the US, hosted a recep-tion on Thursday evening, March 1st. Both events attracted more than 100 experts and key decision makers on renewable energy and energy effi-ciency, from the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, as well as a number of U.S. Government agencies and NGO’s.

Complex Challenges The idea behind the joint venture has been to create a platform for sharing knowledge on transfer of cutting edge technology and project implementation in devel-oping countries. Greater emphasis on sharing knowledge between both the World Bank Group and the private sector experts is an important step for-ward in addressing the complex challenges that char-acterize energy production and consumption in the 21st century. Leading up to the event, Ambassador Taksoe-Jensen emphasized the importance of promoting green growth on a global scale:

Facing immense challenges in our global energy resources, we must make sweeping investments and bold choices. That is why Denmark during its EU-Presidency is putting key priority to pushing forward EU’s Energy Roadmap to 2050. We have the ambitious goal of cutting our emissions by over 80 pct. by mid-century. But the investments we choose today will bind us for decades to come. We must, therefore, be completely clear about, how we want the energy sector of tomorrow to look like. A focused effort to develop affordable, clean and safe energy will create jobs in the short term, ensure competiveness and affordable prices for consumers in the medium term and make an invaluable contribution to the planet’s climate in the future.

The Private Sector as a Key Partner The event was a part of the World Bank Energy Week from February 23rd – March 2nd and focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy based on wind, solar, hydro, waste to energy and smart buildings. From Denmark, Grundfos, Vestas, Novozymes and Peter Heydorn – renewable energy consultant to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – presented a pri-vate sector perspective on best practices for imple-menting energy solutions in developing countries and offered their views on how to engage the private sec-tor as a key partner in promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency on a global scale. In all, 13 com-panies from Austria, Germany and Denmark attended the event.

For further information, please visit: www.worldbank.org/energyweek Or contact:

Ulrik Eversbusch, Counselor, Commercial Section & Executive Secretary, American-Danish Business Council / ulreve@um.dk

Newsletter Q1 2012

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Sustainable Ways to Community

Prosperity - Event in Collaboration with the American Council On Renewable

Energy

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Transatlantic Climate Bridge and the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) will join the Embassy of Denmark and the American-Danish Business Coun-cil to hold two events at the end of March on the link between community prosperity and implementing alternative energy and energy efficiency solutions.

The Danish Story The Danish Story provides a powerful narrative in this regard – that is, going from being almost totally de-pendent on foreign energy sources in the 1970s to energy independence today while achieving an eco-nomic growth rate of approximately 80% during the thirty years of implementing greener energy solu-tions. Although energy prices were kept high after the energy crises in the 1970s, energy efficiency was in-creased so that energy consumption remained flat.

This combination of increased energy efficiency and implementing alternative energy solutions means that the bill one pays remains fairly constant.

Speakers Include Recipient of the 2008 Time Hero of the Environment Award Speakers at the “Sustainable Ways to Community Prosperity” events in Charleston, South Carolina on March 27th and Charlottesville, Virginia on March 29th will include Søren Hermansen, winner of the Time Hero of the Environment award in 2008. Mr. Herman-sen will be joined by Lars Toft Hansen from Thisted who will talk about the municipality of Thisted that is already fossil fuel free.

Grundfos and Novo Nordisk will speak during the busi-ness case session in the afternoon. Grundfos makes the most efficient pumps in the world and Novo Nordisk is the world’s most sustainable company. Both companies will profile how embracing sustaina-bility has helped them become world competitive leaders in their respective industries.

In South Carolina, the event will be hosted by Trident Technical College and in Charlottesville by the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. Mayor Joseph P. Riley give remarks on efforts in the

city of Charleston and General Ron Keys (USAF, re-tired) will talk about the parallel paths of national se-curity and community prosperity. In Charlottesville, the national security remarks will be made by Admiral Dennis McGinn (USN, retired) currently the President of ACORE and a former deputy chief of Naval Opera-tions.

For further information, please contact:

Mary Paul Smith Jespersen, Senior Advisor, Commercial Section, marjes@um.dk

Newsletter Q1 2012

Winner of the Time Hero of the Environment award 2008, Søren Hermansen.

Winning with Sustainability

The concept of sustainability has changed markedly over the last decade. From being almost an expression of derision, it has become the by-word of a new gen-eration and a new awareness. Even the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is joining Connie Hedegaard and Erik Rasmussen of Mandag Morgen, the well re-nowned Danish think thank, to promote “Sustania” a demonstration of the impact implementing the green solutions we have now (i.e. how the world can look in 8 years).

Let us examine 'sustainability' and its inculcation both into the vernacular as well as the formal identification of its role in institutions (e.g., corporations, universi-ties, local governments). As Carol Werner of the Envi-ronment and Energy Study Institute (EESI) states:

Increasingly we are seeing the identification of Offices of Sustainability, headed by VP level senior positions, at corporations, aca-demic institutions, and cities. This is a marked change from 10-15 years ago when some felt that it was a mistake to use the word 'sustainability' as it would create neg-ative reactions and that no one really knew what it meant and that it meant different things to different people and entities.

Today sustainability connotes an emphasis on health and well-being. Sustainable farmers grow better and healthier food. Sustainable businesses take into ac-count corporate responsibility and the welfare of the community and the customers they serve. Again, ac-cording to Carol Werner, sustainability is “being taken seriously by many more entities -- and frankly, I have been both surprised and pleased by the trend. There are more and more corporations that are reporting on 'sustainability' as part of their annual reports - they see that this is a good thing to do. It provides a better image.

That is also true of colleges and universities that have set up offices and now see this as a selling point for both students and faculty - just as businesses are now seeing this as a value in marketing. And, there is now an established Network of Directors of Offices of Sus-

tainability for Cities, which is very real and which works together on an on-going basis to coordinate on a federal agenda as well as share ideas and best prac-tices.”

Companies like Novo Nordisk, named the most sus-

tainable company in the world (see article on page 14)

and organizations like IDEA (International District En-

ergy Association) see sustainability as a key factor – in

marketing and in action. The more that firms practice

sustainability and use it in their marketing, the more

others will feel that they need to because more of the

public - and particularly young people - are attuned to

it and it gives them a competitive edge.

As Carol Werner proclaims, “The trend that we are hoping to see grow is that 'sustainability becomes the new norm for how business is done and how institu-tions conduct themselves…” In this regard, Denmark, as in many other areas, is leading the way. Danish companies have realized the importance of sustaina-bility and are walking the walk as well as talking the talk. For companies, like Novo Nordisk, Novozymes and Lego, sustainability is the wave of the future and the way to an even more profitable future.

For further information, please contact:

Mary Paul Smith Jespersen, Senior Advisor, Commercial Section, marjes@um.dk

Newsletter Q1 2012

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Copyright, World Bank Group.

ADBC-member Vestas Wind Systems

Testifies before Congress

On December 14th, 2011, the Senate Finance Subcom-mittee on Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastruc-ture met to discuss the effects renewable energy tax incentives have on the alternative energy sector in the U.S. The hearing came amid debate over the need for broader tax reform as decision makers look for ways to cut federal spending and lower the deficit. It also came as various renewable energy advocates were gearing up for another push to extend a range of different credits, for example the so-called Section 1603 Treasury Grant Program and the production tax credit (PTC), the latter of which expires at the end of 2012.

During the hearing, the Finance Subcommittee heard from venture capitalists, tax policy specialists and re-newable energy leaders, such as Martha Wyrsch, president of Vestas-American Wind Technology. Wyrsch presented a strong case for an immediate, long-term extension of the PTC, among other things highlighting the beneficial aspects of wind energy in terms of creating American manufacturing jobs as well as supplying the nation with domestic low-cost electricity.

Asked about the 1603 program, Wyrsch noted that while this program has been a benefit to the wind in-dustry and has helped spur growth, she stated that an extension hereof would not get the industry past the end of 2012. Wyrsch thus explained that the wind in-dustry operates on a three-year project timeline, and a short, one-year extension of the benefit would, as a result, not do much good. “An order of turbines is about a 12-month horizon, so a customer will come to us about this time of the year and will say ‘for 2013, we need these turbines for new power plants that we are building.’ With the extension of 1603, say, to an-other year, we would simply be finishing out projects that are currently on the books and already being planned,” she said.

Wyrsch instead focused her efforts on a longer-term extension of the PTC, arguing that this “would be real-ly critical to us because the PTC focuses on generation of electricity, and the tax credit is used as new elec-tricity is generated from those wind farms.” There-fore, “a longer-term extension is required for these long-term planning horizons,” she argued.

The need for predictable, long-term tax and energy policies seemed to find a somewhat receptive audi-ence among the Senators present at the hearing. Re-publican Senator John Cornyn noted that “the theme in common with the testimony here is that whatever Congress does, it shouldn’t be done in fits and starts but on some basis that would allow for planning and predictability. I wholeheartedly agree.” The question that remains to be answered, however, is whether a partisan Congress struggling with concerns over the deficit will extend these credits retroactively in 2012 – and in time for the planning to which Wyrsch alluded.

For further information, please contact:

Ulrik Eversbusch, Counselor, Commercial Section & Executive Secretary, American-Danish Business Council / ulreve@um.dk

Newsletter Q1 2012

Newsletter Q1 2012

Ambassador Opens Danish Feed Processing Plant in Findlay, Ohio

The Danish feedstuff processor Hamlet Protein, with headquarter in Horsens, Denmark, has opened their first North American plant in Findlay, Ohio, creating around 40 new jobs in the area. Production began already this month at the plant, where Hamlet Protein has invested USD 16 million in equipment, machinery and renovations at the 88,000-square-foot production and office facility which extends the company’s total production capacity by around 40 %.

The investment has come about in a close coopera-

tion between the company – the city administration

of Findlay and not least the Chamber of Commerce –

The Alliance of Findlay-Hancock County. The Ambas-

sador in his speech paid tribute to the hard work and

strong efforts by the local as well as state authorities

of Ohio for securing the investment. The Ambassador

used the opportunity to give a lecture at the Universi-

ty of Findlay regarding “The Danish EU Presidency –

the greener agenda and the role of agriculture”.

The Hamlet Protein's Findlay plant buys soybeans from a.o. local farmers to produce soy-based protein for animal feed, that is sold in the States and exported to Canada and Mexico. The company is planning with-

in a year hopefully to export to Asian markets like Chi-na, Thailand and the Philippines.

For Hamlet Protein it is a golden opportunity to get closer to both its raw material base and customer base in the Midwest. In view of the fast-growing agri-cultural sector in those states the potential is growing for exporting and producing agro products to the area and other Danish companies in this field are consider-ing a strategy to be present in the region.

For further information, please contact:

Steen Steensen, Minister Counselor, Food and Agriculture /

steste@um.dk

Ambassador Peter Taksøe-Jensen cutting the ribbon for the Hamlet Protein plant with (from left to right) Governor John R. Kasich, Ambassador Peter Taksøe-Jensen, Mayor Lidya Mihalik of Findlay, OH, Ohio State Rep. Robert Sprague, Hancock County Commis-sioner Edward Ingold, and Findlay-Hancock Development Board Director Anthony R. Iriti.

The U.S. Department of Defense Expects to Invest USD 10 billion in Green

Technologies by 2030

Denmark can turn this unique opportunity into the next export adventure

It is no secret that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) wants to increase the share of energy produced by renewable sources. The aim is to increase national security and save money. However, it could have posi-tive far-reaching effects for Danish corporations work-ing within this field. The U.S. Department of Defense has created a MOU with the U.S. Department of Ener-gy. The two agencies are now cooperatively working to identify the most innovative solutions on advanced batteries, energy efficiency and micro & smart grids. The DOD projects investing as much as USD 10 billion annually in green technologies by 2030. That is a dra-matic increase from only USD 400 million invested in 2006.

For Danish companies within this sector, it specifically translates into an enormous potential: that is, in-vesting in cooperation with the US Department of De-

fense can bring large dividends. The Embassy is cur-rently working on establishing an Energy and Defense Alliance, with the mission to gather Danish technolo-gies and thereby, offering complete solutions to the DOD rather than stand-alone components and tech-nologies. Through the Defense Industry Attaché, Per Lyse Rasmussen, Denmark has a unique opportunity to gain access to this specific client segment - a com-petitive advantage compared with other European countries.

The Embassy is currently arranging a visit to Denmark by energy experts from the U.S. Department of De-fense sometime during the summer of 2012. There is no doubt that Danish energy solutions will be of inter-est and relevance for the DOD.

For further information, please contact:

Lt. Col. Per Lyse Rasmussen, Assistant Defense, Military, Naval and

Air Attaché / pelyra@um.dk

Or:

Charlotte Betinna Nytoft, Senior Advisor, Commercial Section, chanyt@um.dk

Denmark Chosen to Host the 2012

International Pavilion at the Preakness

Stakes

The Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) is pleased to an-nounce the selection of Denmark as the host nation of the 2012 International Pavilion at the Preakness Stakes. With this designation, the Embassy of Den-mark and Ambassador Peter Taksoe-Jensen will serve as honorary hosts welcoming distinguished guests and dignitaries to historic Pimlico Race Course for the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes.

As the “Middle Jewel” in the Triple Crown, the Preak-ness Stakes serves as the true test of a horse’s ability and class. It is also the first great social/sporting event of the Mid-Atlantic season. Like Royal Ascot in Eng-land, the prestigious event is where the social elites join with business and political leaders to socialize, make deals and have a good time - the International Pavilion is reportedly one of Governor O’Malley’s fa-

vorite venues.

There is no better seat than the International Pavilion. The “invitation-only” pavilion will feature a symphony of treats representative of Danish cuisine, folklore and culture. For those fortunate enough to be invited, a whole new world of opportunity awaits. The atmos-phere at the International Pavilion will be one of ca-maraderie and joviality as friends and guests watch one of the premier sporting events in the mid-Atlantic.

For more information on the International Pavilion and past sponsors, please visit:

www.international-pavilion.com

For further information, please contact:

Ida Heimann Larsen, Minister Counselor, idahei@um.dk

Newsletter Q1 2012

The First Modern Embassy in Washington The Royal Danish Embassy in Washington D.C. was designed by the Danish architect Vilhelm Lauritzen and completed in 1960. The building stands as a mon-ument of Danish design along with some of the most praised Danish interior ever created.

On January 31th 2012, The Royal Danish Embassy signed the “Environmental Performance, Climate, and Sustainability Pledge” and thereby committing to pro-mote programs, policies and projects aimed at ad-vancing environmental qualities in Washington D.C. The pledge, which has been set forth by the Govern-ment of the District of Columbia and Mayor Vincent C. Gray, brings together the Diplomatic Missions and the International Institutions in an effort to making the District of Columbia the most sustainable city in the United States.

Aesthetics and Energy Working and living in an enclosed environment gener-ates needs for fresh air, heating, cooling, light and much more, which usually has to be supplied by a vast variety of technology. Incorporating these systems into a building while maintaining the aesthetics is al-ways a big challenge and especially when improving the facilities of a historical building.

A Gradual Process To ensure a gradual process towards a more energy efficient Embassy, two separate tracks are initiated; one focusing on small scale projects that will have a measurable impact in the short-term and another that centers on the long-term and complex projects, which will need to be in compliance with and consideration of the historic setting of the Embassy.

One of the first things to do is to monitor the con-sumption of electricity, water and natural gas. This can be done by simple meter readings once a day or once a week. However, a digital approach with sen-sors and computer software will enable continued readings and alarms in case of leaks.

Monitoring consumption forms a good foundation for implementing energy savings and can effectively cre-ate awareness about the environmental policies and future goals by visualizing the data through graphs.

After the initial phase of increasing energy efficiency by installing energy saving light bulbs, double flush

toilets, etc., the next step would be to update larger systems like ventilation, heating and cooling to new energy efficient standards.

A Green Embassy The Royal Danish Embassy has represented Danish interests in Washington and the United States for over half a century and it is the Embassy´s goal not only to be a landmark for modern Danish design and architecture, but also to function as a showcase for world renowned Danish energy technologies and en-vironmental practices – to become a green Embassy.

For further information, please contact:

Martin Jørgensen, Head of Business Support and Consular Affairs, martjo@um.dk

Newsletter Q1 2012

Denmark a World Leader in Creating Healthy Cleantech Companies

Denmark has been ranked No. 1 in a new report “Coming Clean: The Global Cleantech Innovation In-dex 2012”, prepared by WWF and Cleantech Group, a global cleantech consultancy company.

The report examined where new cleantech companies are growing today, and which countries are best at creating innovation in green technology.

The Danish Minister for Trade and Investment, Pia Olsen Dyhr says:

“The report shows that Denmark is a leader in clean-tech. We have set an ambitious course towards be-coming independent of fossil fuels by 2050, with spe-cific targets to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% in 2020 and to ensure that wind energy will account for half of our electricity consumption by 2010.”

“Denmark's achievement is partly explained by our ability to support the start-up of cleantech companies until their ideas and technologies become profitable to the benefit of both the economy and the environ-

ment.”

“Rankings like this are important when I discuss with foreign companies why they should invest in Den-mark. And international companies have already dis-covered Denmark in terms of investments in clean-tech. Last year, a third of the jobs Invest in Denmark helped create were in the cleantech sector.”

Background The report assessed 38 countries against 15 indicators related to the creation and commercialization of start-up cleantech companies. An associated index measured the potential of each country to produce cleantech start-up companies and commercialize green innovation over the next 10 years.

Denmark was ranked No. 1 on the list, followed by Israel, Sweden, Finland and USA. The report highlights Denmark's support of innovative cleantech start-up companies, and confirms that start-up companies, especially in the wind energy sector, are succeeding in creating businesses from their innovative technolo-gies.

Newsletter Q1 2012

Danish Company is the World's Most

Sustainable

Danish healthcare company Novo Nordisk has been judged the unofficial world leader in sustainability.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Danish company topped the list of the world's 100 most sustainable companies.

The list was compiled by Corporate Knights, the Cana-dian magazine for Clean Capitalism.

The companies were thoroughly assessed on multiple criteria including sales and production in relation to the environment, social factors such as the difference in salaries between managers and employees, and the proportion of women in executive management.

Lars Rebien Sørensen, CEO of Novo Nordisk, says that

sustainability is a principal goal for the company. "Our focus on sustainability commits everybody in the company to ensure that we are not only a good busi-ness financially, but that we also generate profits in a way which is socially and environmentally responsi-ble," he says.

Novo Nordisk tops the list ahead of Natura Cosmeti-cos and the Norwegian oil company Statoil. Another Danish company, Novozymes, took 4th place. Besides Novo Nordisk and Novozymes, there were two other Danish companies in the top 100 listing. Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas and medico company Coloplast took 31st and 84th place respectively.

Novo Nordisk has taken a major leap up the league table compared to last year, when the company was ranked 16th out of the 100 specially selected compa-nies.

Source: Ritzau Finans

Newsletter Q1 2012

Press-release March 13th, 2012

Sonderborg’s ProjectZero chosen: Joins 15 city-projects within Clinton Climate Positive Devel-opment Program

Sonderborg’s ProjectZero has been accepted to join the global C40-Climate Positive Development Program in partnership with the The Clinton Climate Initiative. Thereby becoming part of a global network of the worlds most ambitious climate projects, which in-cludes programs in London, Sydney, Melbourne and Stockholm.

The network will work to create climate-positive city-wide solutions proving that it is possible to simultane-ously create growth and reduce CO2. The solutions are set to inspire the cities of the world to reach for - and achieve sustainable results.

‘’Joining the Clinton program will be a huge boost for many companies in Southern Denmark. It means that all the businesses working with energy efficiency in ProjectZero can reach new customers and generate larger revenue because of the global springboard to the world’s largest cities. The wheels will be turning faster,’’ predicts Peter M. Clausen, president of the ProjectZero Foundation.

By joining the Climate Positive Development Program, ProjectZero becomes a part of a global development network of equal partners from both the public and private sectors.

‘’Sonderborg’s ProjectZero venture has both the nec-essary resources, commitment and stakeholder sup-port to achieve their goals, and to become a role model in creating new paths to excellence and sus-tainable city development,’’ says Zach Tofias, Director of the Climate Positive Development Program (C40/CCI).

Being chosen to join this exclusive network has brought Sonderborg into the spotlight within the Dan-ish government.

Denmark’s Business and Growth Minister, Ole Sohn says, ‘’It is very impressive for Sonderborg’s Pro-jectZero to become one of the 16 city projects in The

Clinton Climate Positive Development Program. This is a good example demonstrating that sustainable devel-opment and growth can co-exist, and that public and private collaboration is essential if we are to find the solutions for the challenges facing us in the future. I’m looking forward to following ProjectZero throughout the coming years’’.

The Danish Minister of Climate, Energy and Buildings, Martin Lidegaard, says about the acceptance in the Clinton Program: ‘’Sonderborg is a front-runner in the conversion process that we all must engage in within the coming years. Sonderborg has shown us with Pro-jectZero that it really is possible to save energy, con-vert to renewable energy sources and create growth simultaneously. It is a well-deserved recognition for Sonderborg to participate in Clinton’s Climate Positive Development Program,’’.

Through energy efficiency and conversion to green energy the goal in Sonderborg is to reduce the re-gion’s CO2 emissions to zero by 2029. This will create new green jobs both within manufacturing and the service sector.

‘’To us in Sonderborg municipality, the acceptance on the Clinton-program is an international breakthrough. We are happy that being a part of the initiative will also create more jobs and generate turnover for com-panies within the climate sector. We want the region to grow - especially in green jobs. I believe that new green job creation will be a positive side effect of working with the Clinton Foundation,’’ says Aase Ny-gaard, the Mayor of Sonderborg.

SE Company, formerly known as Syd Energi is a part-ner within ProjectZero. Together with Danish solution partners, SE BIG Blue is a leading player both national-ly and internationally. Niels Duedahl, CEO for SE, is excited about the news. ‘’We have invested a lot in Sonderborg and now we can reap the benefits and share them with the rest of the world,’’ beams Duedahl.

For further information please contact:

Brooke A. Russell, C40 Global Communications Team, phone +44 (0) 79315 79949, brussell@c40.com

Or:

Peter Rathje, Managing Director, ProjectZero, telefon 4040-8636, email: peter.rathje@projectzero.dk

Newsletter Q1 2012

The Royal Danish Embassy Co-sponsors

2012 Leadership Summit on Health Care

In its 12th year, the Health Evolution Partners Leader-ship Summit is an invitation-only gathering of the top 350 health care business leaders, who come together each year to define and shape the most critical issues facing the industry. Past topics have included the con-vergence of life sciences and care delivery in personal-ized medicine, health care as an information business, the emergence of new business and financial models, mobility, globalizing business of health and radical consumerism. The Leadership Summit premises that the best busi-ness opportunities in the health care industry lie in the future, and that those who get ahead will gain the most. Consolidation, decreasing reimbursement,

health reform uncertainty, regulatory hurdles for new life sciences ideas and the disruption of managed care are just a few of the topics that pose challenges, but also create opportunities at the same time. CEOs of all stages of health care companies – whether at the in-novation, commercialization, aggregation or matura-tion phase – use the Summit to get beyond traditional assumptions and drive businesses that take advantage of uncertainty and transformation. For further information, please visit: http://healthevolutionpartners.cvent.com/d/6cq8sh

Or contact:

Joakim Steen Mikkelsen, Managing Healthcare Counselor / joamik@um.dk

Leadership Summit Schedule (selected sessions)

Omics: The Promise and Reality for Care

Payer-provider vertical integration: Who should own whom?

Lab to the bedside: Does translational medicine translate into reality?

Can you heal me now? How virtual health is changing the landscape - from development to delivery

D-Day for Health Reform

Global Privatization of Health Care: opportunities on the horizon

Medicare Advantage’s Mark Twain moment: the triumph of happy patients over political maneuvering

Newsletter Q1 2012

The Royal Danish Embassy Welcomes Our Newest Employee New Trade Specialist at the Royal Danish Embassy, working to promote Danish energy and technology solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Charlotte Bettina Nytoft recently relocated to the Roy-al Danish Embassy in Washington, D.C., from the Trade Council in Atlanta, GA. Charlotte joined the Trade Council in the Fall of 2007, with a combination of 20+ years of hands-on business development, sales, and procurement for international companies in Eu-rope. During her four years in the Atlanta Trade Council office, she successfully advised Danish companies on their go-to-market-strategy, and helped several Dan-ish companies set up their US subsidiaries within the Trade Council accelerator program, which provides Danish companies with pre-established office space and a contact sheet for U.S.-based business advisers. In 2009 the Trade Council in the US was reconstructed and each trade specialist was assigned to a specific industry sector. Charlotte joined the Environmental and Green Energy Team. It was a good fit profession-ally and personally for Charlotte. Charlotte had exper-tise knowledge in this sector and had for years been involved in working with clients on water and wastewater related issues. For the past four years Charlotte has attended the Water Environment Feder-ation’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), the largest conference of its kind in North America. After four great years in Atlanta, the opportunity came up to relocate to Washington, D.C. The Danish Trade Council and the newly appointed Danish Minis-ter for Trade and Investment, Pia Olsen Dyhr, have realized great business opportunities in presenting innovative Danish energy solutions and technologies

to the U.S. department of Defense, as they are cur-rently facing great challenges in reducing their overall energy consumption and environmental impact. Charlotte’s primary role in her new position at the Royal Danish Embassy will be to, in cooperation with the Embassy Defense Industrial Cooperation attaché, Per Lyse Rasmussen, to qualify and present the Danish energy solutions and technologies to the U.S. Depart-ment of Defense. Specifically, they are working on establishing an American-Danish Energy and Defense Alliance. They are currently planning a trip to Den-mark for a delegation of key U.S. decision makers within the Department of Defense. On the tour the delegation will be invited to visit selected Danish com-panies and communities, who will be showcasing how Denmark has solved energy and environmental chal-lenges over the past few decades. The trip to Den-mark will be followed by a visit of Danish Industry leaders to U.S. military bases and facilities. Besides the focus on the U.S. Department of Defense as a major potential client for innovative Danish com-panies, Charlotte also strongly believe there is a win-dow of opportunity for Danish water and wastewater companies on the U.S. market. She is thus working together with Grundfos in trying to establish a net-work for Danish companies in the water and wastewater industries. The goal is to anchor this envi-sioned water and wastewater network within the American-Danish Business Council, as an industry spe-cific committee with annual meetings at the Royal Danish Embassy. On a final note, Charlotte is truly looking forward to getting to know the city and expanding her social and business network. She is re-launching DABGO – Danes Abroad Business Group Online - in Washington, D.C. with social gatherings every first Wednesday of the month. For any further questions or inquiries do not hesitate to call or email Charlotte. Contact Info: Charlotte Betinna Nytoft, Senior Advisor, Commercial Section, chanyt@um.dk

Newsletter Q1 2012

March 27 & 29: Sustainable Ways to Community Prosperity The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Transatlantic Climate Bridge and the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) will join the Embassy of Denmark and the American Dan-ish Business Council to hold two events in Charleston and Char-lottesville at the end of March on the link between community prosperity and implementing alternative energy/energy efficiency solutions.

March 28: Meeting in the Danish Maritime Network in the U.S. On March 28 at 2pm in Washington, D.C. Members will meet with officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to discuss the consequences for maritime services of the new Emission Con-trolled Areas along the North American coast coming into effect in August.

April 24-26: Visit by the Minister for Trade and Investment The Danish Minister for Trade and Investment, Pia Olsen Dyhr, will

visit Chicago and Washington on her first official visit to the U.S.

May 10: Public Affairs in the EU Ambassador Peter Taksøe-Jensen will host a reception at the Royal

Danish Embassy in collaboration with the Public Affairs Council to

speak about Denmark’s current presidency of the European Union.

May 12: EU Open House

May 19: Denmark Chosen to Host the 2012 International

Pavilion at the Preakness Stakes

June 14: Event with the European American Business Council Focus on Danish competencies within Healthy Aging.

Sponsoring Members

Corporate Members

Associate Members

Beaufort Advisors

AmCham Denmark

Danish-American Chamber of Commerce, Midtwest

Danish-American Chamber of Commerce, Northern Carolina

Danish-American Chamber of Commerce, Southern Carolina

Northwest Danish Foundation

COWI

Danish-American Business Forum

Danish-American Chamber of Commerce, New York

Danish-American Chamber of Commerce, South East USA

Danish Information Systems Professionals

The American-Danish Business Council promotes Danish companies in the US, and American companies in Denmark. It

is engaged in a range of activities aiming at obtaining an even more thriving American-Danish market place with in-

creased trade and investment. The Council has 42 Danish and American companies and organizations as members.

A number of sector-specific committees are being formed, including on Health & Life Science, Defense, Finance, Mari-

time, Food & Agriculture and Energy. By using the Danish Embassy's contacts and access to American as well as to

Danish Authorities, the committees work to enhance business opportunities and to create network synergies and cor-

poration.

To read about membership benefits, please visit our homepage, www.usadk.org, or contact Kasper Meldgaard Nielsen, ka-meni@um.dk