Our green transformation


Ørsted was once one of the most coal-intensive energy companies in Europe. Today, we’re the world’s most sustainable energy developer, and a global leader in the transition to green energy.


Our business transformation is a story of technological innovation, steep learning curves and difficult strategic choices that have led to long-term gains. We want to share what we’ve learnt, from our decision to move away from an unsustainable business model based on fossil fuels, to the action we took to build a truly green business – and the benefits and opportunities it's created for us.

Watch the story of our sustainable business transformation
Green transformation whitepaper cover
Becoming a sustainable business

Reflections and learnings from our green transformation

Discover our blueprint for green business transformation – from strategy to execution.

Part of something much bigger

Our own green transformation took a decade. Our fundamental objective was to transform our business from one based on fossil fuels to one based on renewable energy, and to find a business model that is both environmentally and financially sustainable.

Mads Nipper
Everybody who has a position in society or in a company where they’re able to act – through clarity of direction or courage in taking action – has an obligation to do so.
Mads Nipper
Chief Executive Officer
But our transformation is a small part of a much bigger transformation – one which is far from complete. If we as a global society, are going to reduce carbon emissions in line with the scientific advice, every country and every company needs to speed up action on climate change.
Henrik Poulsen
As a business, you have to make a profit, but you also need to make a broader contribution to society. We learned that these things aren’t in opposition to each other. In fact, they go hand in hand.
Henrik Poulsen
Former Chief Executive Officer
We hope that the story of our transformation will inspire other companies and countries to take the steps necessary to limit the temperature increases that are causing climate change, and having detrimental effects on our global ecosystems. As our story shows, green transformation is possible. And it comes with huge opportunities for businesses, economies and local communities.

Let’s work together to create a world that runs entirely on green energy.
Marianne Wiinholt
It has been a difficult transformation. But if you get the right momentum, you can do much more than you could ever have imagined.
Marianne Wiinholt
Former Chief Financial Officer

The timeline of a transformation

Wind back the clock and explore the key milestones, facts and figures behind our transformation.

Becoming carbon-neutral graph
Ørsted today
Quote by Jakob Bøss
Timeline 2016-2019
The end of a fossil era
Quote by Henrik Poulsen
Timeline: Ready to go Public
Levelised Cost of Electricity
Time line april-november 2015
quote by Frida Persson
Quote by Martin Neubert
Timeline: August 2012-February 2014
Quote by Henrik Poulsen
Quote by Martin Neubert
Timeline January 2009-February 2011
Quote by Marianne Wiinholt
Quote by Jakob Bøss
Dong Energy
WORLD’S MOST SUSTAINABLE ENERGY DEVELOPER

The world’s most sustainable energy developer

In just 10 years, we’ve transformed from one of the most carbon-intensive energy companies in Europe to being ranked the world’s most sustainable energy developer in the Corporate Knights Global 100 Index.