Denmark 3

      “Ammonia?”

      I was puzzled.  Our host in Copenhagen is a scientist involved in energy production and storage, including storing wind energy during times when demand is low while production is high.  We were touching on that subject during a conversation that was mostly about politics.

     “How does ammonia work?” I asked.  As usual, I didn’t think of the questions I should have asked until a long time after the opportunity was gone.

     John explained how ammonia, nitrogen, increases plants’ efficiency in converting sunlight to food and fiber through photosynthesis.  I knew that, from using anhydrous ammonia as fertilizer in the days before going organic.

     He went on to explain that excess electricity can be used to extract nitrogen from the atmosphere.  Most (if not all) ammonia used by American farmers comes from oil, as do many other fertilizers.  The question I should have asked is, how is nitrogen extracted from the air?

       A google check shows two or three methods.  One involves lowering the temperature of air until the gasses turn to liquid.  The various gasses turn to liquid at different temperatures, which allows the elements to be separated and collected.

      Anyway, the excess electricity generated during the slack demand times is (or will be) used to produce nitrogen fertilizer.  Since petroleum is not used in the product or the process, the overall carbon footprint is reduced.  It’s not exactly a battery, which we think of as an energy storage method, but if the point of renewable energy is to reduce use of fossil fuel, it works.

     Fossil fuels may be necessary to generate power during peak demand or when wind and solar aren’t keeping up, but that use is offset by growing plants that extract CO2 and produce oxygen. 

     Yes , Denmark is a green country.  In the next two or three years, all vehicles in Copenhagen will be electric, no carbon emitters allowed.  Already, 48% of Denmark’s electricity is provided by wind power, most of the wind towers in the sea.  Solar panels top some roofs of buildings, but we saw no solar farms covering many acres as we are beginning to see in the U.S.      

     The plan is for Denmark to be carbon-neutral by 2030.  The push for clean energy seems to have produced a minimalist tendency among the populace.  I’m basing my judgment on three kitchens I observed.

     When you look at the kitchens, you see no “mod-cons” (British for modern conveniences).  Where is the refrigerator?  The dishwasher?

  

    There they are, behind cabinet fronts. 

     Microwave ovens are apparently not exactly verboten, but apparently, eschewed.  I never saw a single microwave.  The man who provided our first breakfast used a microwave in the back room to warm up our pastries.  I couldn’t see it.  I heard it.

     One of our hosts confessed to keeping a microwave in his garage. Something you didn’t want anyone to see?  The other was a bit disdainful at the mention of such a device.  Hmmm.  I always thought a microwave was super-efficient at heating things, more so than conventional methods.  Wouldn’t it be a useful tool in reducing energy use?

      Becoming green also seems to be pushing a tendency, maybe not exactly towards vegetarianism, but away from beef.  Pork and fish are still okay.  We did see ads saying, “Isn’t it time to quit?” like anti-cigarette ads, only they were accompanied by pictures of meat.

      We suffered no shortage of meat, especially fish.  We had some great meals.  The beer was good, too.

     Our stay in Denmark really was the highlight of our trip.  Staying in a private home, getting to know folks beats staying in a hotel.  You get to see how the common folk live.  Staying in a hotel and visiting tourist sights brings you in contact with people involved in the tourist industry.

      Nearly everyone we met spoke English, including the workers in a local pizza shop and the neighboring grocery store.  They were patient with us as we fumbled with currency and the change as we tried to pay for our purchases.

      We scheduled our departure from Denmark for Monday morning, a mistake.  Monday morning is a zoo in Copenhagen, too.  Our hostess decided the best way to get us to the airport on time was via train rather than to try to drive us or go by taxi.  She took us to a nearby station, helped us purchase tickets through the machine, and saw to it we got on the right train.

     Airports are airports.  They are not conducive to happy traveling.  We managed to get on the right plane (we were the last ones on and nearly missed it due to not understanding the announcement) and off to Ireland where we would negotiate another airport and be all on our own.