This article originally posted at TckTckTck. The original can be viewed here. 

Onshore wind is now the cheapest form of new electricity generation in Denmark, undercutting coal power, according to the government’s energy agency.

New analysis shows that onshore wind plants due online in 2016 will cost half the price of coal and natural gas plants, coming in at around 4 cent euro (3 UK pence) per kilowatt hour.

Rasmus Petersen, Danish Minister for Energy, Climate and Buildings said:

Wind power today is cheaper than other forms of energy, not least because of a big commitment and professionalism in the field. This is true both for researchers, companies and politicians. We need a long-term and stable energy policy to ensure that renewable energy, both today and in the future is the obvious choice.

An early adopter of wind energy, Denmark has set a string of renewable records, with wind meeting over half of the country’s power demand last December.

The new figures highlight a growing trend across Europe, where clean energy is increasingly becoming cost competitive.

Earlier this year, a report from consulting firm ECLAREON found that solar power had reached grid parity in Italy, Spain and Germany – where renewable energy records have also been broken in recent weeks.

Analysts believe the trend is set to continue, saying that, globally, grid parity for renewables will become “a reality in coming years”.

Countries strong on renewables are also winning the global energy efficiency race.

New research last week ranked Germany as the most energy efficient major economy; with Italy coming in second, and the EU as a whole in third. France also ranked highly, taking the joint fourth place spot with China, while Britain and Japan tied in sixth.

Welcoming the first place title, German government officials said it offered a “validation that Germany’s measures are bearing fruit”.

Philipp Ackermann, Deputy Chief of Mission at Washington’s German embassy said:

Energy efficiency is the second pillar of Germany’s transformation of its energy system alongside the expansion of renewable energies. Every kilowatt hour of electricity that is not consumed saves on fossil fuels and the construction of power plants and grids.

The country remains Europe’s largest economy while continuing to support energy efficiency and renewable energy growth, offering a real life example for the host of research showing such investment is good for the economy, the climate and for European citizens.