Sustainable Energy Successees

   

The Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy

What is the Folkecenter?
Established in 1983, the Folkecenter is a visitor and training center devoted to spreading and demonstrating information on renewable energy. The Center is also doing research, development, testing and implementation of innovation within the renewable energy field and other environmental technologies. The Folkecenter is member of INFORSE-Europe.

What Can Visitors Find?
- Test site for different types of windmills up till 30 kW.
- Exhibition hall with different types of wind turbines and windmill blades.
- Exhibition of several types of solar water-heating collectors.
- Different type of solar cells (PV) on the roofs of buildings and integrated in windows.
- A plant oil laboratory to supply cars running on pure plant oil (i.e. rapeseed).
- Hydrogen plant and filling station for cars.
- Cars powered by plant oil and hydrogen.
- “Biodome”, a greenhouse, where aquaculture techniques are implemented.
- Green waste water treatment based on biological systems.
- “Plus Energy House” a house which produces more energy than it consumes (exhibiting several wave energy models, a small-scale biogas plant and mobile insulation material in the facade.)
- Straw bale house where visitors can see different insulation materials and renewable energy equipments
- Test site for wave energy devices (located in Nissum Bredning).
- Octagonal Conference Hall seating up to 200 people.
- Small shop and library

Guided Tours
There are possibilities for: Self Guided Tours, and Professional Guided Tour for Groups.

Which Services are Provided?
- Visitor and demonstration center
- Short training courses and workshops (i.e. “Do-it-yourself” course on solar heating systems, car conversion to run on plant oil, etc).
- Consultancy to manufacturers, local consumer groups, and initiators in the renewable energy field.
- Trainee possibilities for 3-6 month periods.
- 3-month training period of the 10-month WWEI program started in 2007.

INFORSE Seminars
INFORSE-Europe organised Seminars at the Folkecenter in 1990, 1993 and 2001 (proceedings).

Articles in Sustainable Energy News:
The issues can be downloaded from the web site of INFORSE.

• The World Wind Energy Institute (WWEI) Starts 10-month Education in May 2007
  The Folkecenter is part of this international program.
  Issue No 56, p. 9, April 2007 (pdf file 1,7MB)
• One Week at the Folkecenter: Featuring INFORSE member organisations
  Article by an INFORSE-Europe trainee visiting the Folkecenter
  Issue No. 53, p. 8, June 2006 (pdf file 481kB)
• Pure Plant Oil: Clean Engine Fuel Today & Tomorrow, Folkecenter
  Issue No. 34, p. 14-15, August 2001 (pdf file 705kB),
• Stand Alone Mobile Hybrid PV-Wind Plant at Folkecenter
  Issue No. 25, p. 10-11, May 1999 (pdf file 536kB)
• Eco-Demonstration Centers.
  Article iIncluding the Folkecenter on page 13-14.
  Issue No. 24, p. 12-15, February 1999. (pdf file 230kB)
• Solar-Cell in the View, Solar cell integrated windows, Folkecenter
  Issue No. 21, p. 12-13, May 1998. (pdf file 1,1MB)
• Plus-Energy House in Denmark, Folkecenter
  Issue No. 13, p. 14-15, June 1996. (pdf file 1,4MB)
• Biofuel for Transportation: Adapt the Motors to the Fuel, Folkecenter
  Issue No. 6, p. 10-11, September 1994. (pdf file 1,7MB)