Danish energy company Orsted said on Tuesday it has achieved its 2025 decarbonisation target, reducing its carbon emissions by 98% and positioning itself as the first energy company in the world to complete a full transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
The company, once one of Europe’s most fossil-fuel-intensive utilities, now generates 99% of its electricity from renewable sources, with scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity reduced by more than 98% compared with 2006 levels, Orsted said.
“Decarbonisation is at the heart of Orsted,” said Ingrid Reumert, senior vice president for global stakeholder relations. “We were founded on a promise to deliver green, affordable, and secure energy to governments around the world, and over the past years, we’ve built 18.5 gigawatts of renewable energy. In parallel, we’ve delivered on our own green transformation. With a 99% renewable energy share and 98% emissions reduction in line with science, we’re pleased to share that Orsted’s green transformation is effectively complete.”
Orsted said the achievement reflects a decade-long shift that included closing coal-fired plants, converting remaining facilities to certified sustainable biomass, divesting oil and gas operations, electrifying its vehicle fleet, and covering its own electricity consumption with renewable energy certificates.
The company outlined plans to focus on reducing upstream and downstream emissions across its full value chain toward its 2040 net-zero target. Measures include addressing emissions from steel, copper, and maritime fuels, as well as continued collaboration with partners to cut scope 3 emissions.
“This COP is about action,” Reumert added, referring to the ongoing climate talks in Brazil. “Rapid electrification through renewables is key to meeting climate targets. But in order to scale technologies such as offshore wind, governments need to provide predictability, attractive frameworks and certainty. In return, industry can unlock the investments needed to meet governments’ climate targets and help shape a clean, secure and affordable energy future.”
Orsted said its phased transformation began in 2009 and culminated with the closure of its final coal-fired station in 2024, marking a major milestone in its evolution into a renewable energy-focused utility.
