Danish wind farm developer Ørsted said on Wednesday it will become the first energy company to complete a full green transformation after cutting carbon emissions by 98 percent. The utilities group announced the milestone as world leaders gather in Brazil for COP30.
The company now produces 99 percent of its energy from renewable sources. It also reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions, which cover direct operations and purchased electricity, by more than 98 percent from 2006 levels. With this, Ørsted will meet its science-based 2025 target.
From Fossil Utility to Offshore Wind Leader
The company once ranked among Europe’s most fossil-heavy utilities. Yet it has built 18.5 gigawatts of renewable capacity over recent years and expanded its offshore wind portfolio across core markets.
“Decarbonization is at the heart of Ørsted,” said Ingrid Reumert, senior vice president for global stakeholder relations, in a press statement. She added that the company delivered green, secure and affordable energy while transforming its own operations.
Reumert noted that the last decade has been the warmest on record. She said Ørsted will now target upstream and downstream emissions as it moves toward its 2040 goal.
How Ørsted Achieved the Turnaround
Ørsted reached the 2025 target through several levers. It deployed offshore wind and other renewable sources. It shut down coal-fired heat and power plants and converted others to certified sustainable biomass. It also exited oil and gas activities, electrified its vehicle fleet and covered its own electricity use with renewable certificates.
Now the company plans to work with partners to cut emissions across its value chain. It set a 2040 net-zero target for scopes 1-3 and has developed a roadmap to reduce emissions from steel, copper and maritime fuels.
Ørsted secures substantial volumes of steel plate, essential for the manufacture of offshore wind turbine foundations and has signed long-term agreements with suppliers such as Dillinger to access lower-emission steel.
Milestones in Ørsted’s Net-Zero Journey
The company launched its shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy in 2009 and set its first Science Based Targets initiative-validated scope 1-2 reduction target in 2017 while committing to phase out coal.
In 2021, it became the first energy company with a science-based net-zero target across scopes 1-3. The company shut its last coal-fired plant in 2024.
By 2025, it cut scope 1 and 2 emissions by 98 percent from 2006 levels and reached a 99 percent renewable energy share, effectively completing its green transformation. It will now continue to apply SBTi-validated pathways to meet its 2040 net-zero target across its value chain.
Climate Action Push as COP30 Opens
The milestone arrives as climate negotiators meet in Brazil to revive momentum behind the Paris Agreement. Many countries remain off track.
“This COP is about action,” Reumert said. She argued that rapid electrification through renewables will determine whether the world meets its climate goals. Still, she said, governments must create clear and attractive frameworks for industry investment.
She added that predictable policies will allow companies to scale technologies such as offshore wind and support a clean and affordable energy future.
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