Ørsted’s intent to halt coal-fired electricity generation from the spring of 2023 encounter criticism saying the discontinuation could increase power bills, reports Danish business media Finans citing Chief Executive Anders Houmøller of Houmøller Consulting.

The CEO, who once led Nordic electricity exchange Nord Pool’s Danish office, now urges Ørsted to pause its deacarbonization plans.

"Closing electrical capacity during 2023 would simply be irresponsible. We can see that the market forecast absurdly high power prices throughout 2023, so it would be imprudent of Ørsted to shut down coal generation in Denmark,” he says.

The Danish Energy Agency is holding talks with the utility regarding coal use, Finans gathers.

Phasing out the dirtiest of fossil fuels is a central aspect of Ørsted’s aim to have cut 98% of CO₂ emissions from company operations in 2025.

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