In 1997/1998 the Danish Island Aerø took part in a competition to become The Danish Renewable Energy Island. Aerø was not chosen but continues to work towards the goal of 80-100% supply of renewable energy plus energy saving during the period from 1998 to 2008.

Aero covers an area of 90 km2 and has a population of 7,600.

About 300,000 tourists visit the island every year. It is estimated that 8,000 of them have a special interest in energy projects and are categorised as energy-tourists.

Holiday houses, mostly situated in towns and served by district heating constitute 17% of the housing.

The work with renewably energy on Aerø has been in progress since the beginning of the ‘80’s, initially through initiatives by the private citizens, the local energy office (NGO), and district heating companies - from 1997 with VE-Organisation Aerø as initiator and co-ordinator.A predesign work,Aerø en vedvarende energi oe, was completed in 1997.