Denmark Plans Lower Oven Temperature Limits for Electric Cremations

Denmark may soon allow electric cremation ovens in its green transition effort. The Environmental Protection Agency proposed lowering minimum oven temperatures. The proposal cuts required temperatures from 800 to 750 degrees Celsius. This regulatory change is currently open for public consultation.

Lowering the limit allows 20 crematoria to replace fossil fuels with electricity. Electric ovens can easily reach 750 degrees Celsius without extra heating elements. Reaching 800 degrees requires extra power and damages oven brickwork quickly. Switching to electric models will lower costs and reduce environmental impacts.

Danish Crematoria Association chair Michael Smidemann welcomed the proposed update. He noted strong industry interest in sharpening their green profile. Data shows cremation is the primary choice for end-of-life care in Denmark. Official figures show 58,185 people died in Denmark during 2025. Among them, 51,252 people were cremated, representing 88.1 percent of deaths. A typical cremation process takes about 90 minutes in Copenhagen. Engineering publication Ingeniøren first reported the details, as cited by CPH Post.