Dong/Ørsted’s Journey from Fossil Fuels to Green Energy: A Tale of Strategic Partnerships and Sustainability

Introduction

In my PhD research, I examined Dong Energy/Ørsted’s remarkable shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This Danish energy company’s journey illustrates the power of a strategic partnership portfolio in navigating the complex stability-change paradox in sustainability transitions. Our academic article, “The Role of Partnership Portfolios for Sustainability in Addressing the Stability-Change Paradox” explores this case.

Navigating the Stability-Change Paradox in Sustainability

The transition to sustainable practices often presents a paradox where organizations must strike a balance between maintaining stability and embracing change. Dong/Ørsted’s transformation from a reliance on coal and oil to a leader in green energy epitomizes this challenge.

The Role of Partnership Portfolios

Dong/Ørsted’s transition success was enabled by its strategic use of partnership portfolios, encompassing collaborations with a wide array of entities like universities, NGOs, governments, and businesses. These partnerships provided critical resources, capabilities, and innovative strategies to manage the tensions inherent in sustainability transitions.

Phase-wise Transition and Responses with Empirical Examples