Organisation 

Folkecenter is an independent, non-profit institution, managed by a board of 11 members representing the trades, local authorities, energy organisations, sciences and concerned citizens. Folkecenter forms part of international networks including partners in Western, Eastern Europe and in the Developing Countries.

Folkecenter is an ECOSITE; is Danish co-ordinator for EUROSOLAR, the European Association for Renewable Energies and the European Solar Prize; supports the World Council for Renewable Energies, WCRE; IRENA, the initiative of an International Agency for Renewable Energy; and EREF, the European Renewable Energy Federation. Is member of InForSe, the International Network for Sustainable Energy; of WWEA, the World Wind Energy Association; and secretariat for the World Wind Energy Institute http://www.wwei.nu/. Folkecenter staff were from 1981 till 2002 members of Danish national committees for Solar Energy; Hydrogen for transportation; Wave Energy; and Photovoltaics. 1995 till 2005 member of the National Rural District Development Committee.  

F a c t s 

Objectives:
Research & development, testing and implementation for innovation within the renewable energies and other environmental technologies, with small and medium size enterprises as special target groups.

Premises & Location:
4.000 square metres of buildings including offices, workshops, exhibitions, training centre, etc. Test stations for wave energy machines and windmills up till 30 KW. Owns 8 hectares of diverse land with rolling hills, close to historical sites from the Bronze Age and the Viking period. From our windows we enjoy scenic views overlooking Skibsted Fjord and western Limfjord.

Demonstration plants:
10 different types of windmills from 0.2 to 525 KW; 12 solar cell installations; 10 different solar heating plants; wind-hydrogen production and filling station; plant oil laboratory for transport; 4 green wastewater treatment plants; dike pond system; cars running on plant oil or hydrogen produced from wind energy. Exhibition of historical types of windmill nacelles and components, wave energy prototypes and world’s largest collection of windmill blades from 1 metre to 31 metres long.

Special buildings:
Plus Energy House; Biodome; Underground House; Straw Bale House; Solar Barn.

Geography:
In Thisted Kommune (municipality), by Skibsted Fjord, between Struer and Thisted.

Staff:
6-10 employees and 3-4 trainees.

Projects:
Within renewable energy for transportation, solar energy, and biomass in Denmark and abroad.

Folkecenter offices:
Kaunas, Lithuania; Kampala, Uganda and Bamako, Mali.

Co-ordinator:
For EUROSOLAR in the Baltic region and for the European Solar Prize.