Almost immediately after being posted, this article quickly jumped to the top of the “Most E-mailed” articles in the New York Times. It’s easy to understand why.
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Sun and Wind Alter Global Landscape, Leaving Utilities Behind
Germany’s relentless push into renewable energy has implications far beyond its shores. By creating huge demand for wind turbines and especially for solar panels, it has helped lure big Chinese manufacturers into the market, and that combination is driving down costs faster than almost anyone thought possible just a few years ago. …
The word the Germans use for their plan is starting to make its way into conversations elsewhere: energiewende, the energy transition. Worldwide, Germany is being held up as a model, cited by environmental activists as proof that a transformation of the global energy system is possible.
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But it is becoming clear that the transformation, if plausible, will be wrenching. Some experts say the electricity business is entering a period of turmoil beyond anything in its 130-year history, a disruption potentially as great as those that have remade the airlines, the music industry and the telephone business. …
In Germany, where solar panels supply 7 percent of power and wind turbines about 10 percent, wholesale power prices have crashed during what were once the most profitable times of day. …
The big German utilities are warning — or pleading, perhaps — that the revolution cannot be allowed to go forward without them. And outside experts say they may have a point. …
In fact, the problems with the energiewende (pronounced in-ur-GEE-vend-uh) have multiplied so rapidly in the past couple of years that the government is now trying to slow down the transition. …
For now, the German offshore farms are adding billions to the costs consumers are already bearing for solar panels, onshore wind turbines, biogas plants and the rest of the transition to renewable energy. Polls suggest it is a burden they are willing to carry.
“Indeed, the German people are paying significant money,” said Markus Steigenberger, an analyst at Agora, the think tank. “But in Germany, we can afford this — we are a rich country. It’s a gift to the world.”
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Full article and videos here.
While some folks applaud these green technologies the German rate payer pays 4-6 times the utility bill that we pay here in BC. In other words, a huge tax on consumption. Also, the French love that the Germans will shutdown three nuclear power plants along the Rhine River by the early 2020’s while the French nuclear power plants on the other side of this mighty river will export electricity to its neighbor for decades to come.
More on this topic here on a blog I wrote a few weeks ago: http://www.prestprop.com/2014/08/12/inexpensive-energy-critical-economic-growth-germanys-model-way-go/
The economy of BC has always been based on renewable energy through the magic of the rain forest and the infrastructure of BC Hydro. (87% hydro generated power). This is our gift to the world; cloud power!
“But in Germany, we can afford this — we are a rich country. It’s a gift to the world.”
Why don’t the Americans think like this any more?
Germany got richer with the Euro, as they also export unemployment not just BMWs or Mercedes or Bosch kitchen equipment. A Germany with a mark would have a far higher currency and thus, less exports, and more Fiats produced in Italy or Seats in Spain or Peugeots in France .. with many of those firms now German owned and production cheaper in Germany.
It is also far more socialist than Canada and certainly than the US with income taxes over 50%, GST at 20%, gasoline taxes at over $1/liter and extremely high electricity bills, something not even the democrats, let alone the Republicans in the US would support. It also has far less oil & gas than the US as a percentage of energy demand and as such always focused more on energy efficiency.
Ontario tried to copy the German solar power wunder, but failed. It should have instead focused more on hydro, like BC.
As an aside, there is a two-lake system in southern Bavaria where they generate electricity in the day for high prices, then at night they buy cheap surplus power off the grid and push water uphill to the upper lake to be used again in the morning peak hours.
Another statistic that pops out is the top three coal-reliant countries:
China
India
Germany
“It’s a gift to the world.”
Surely the USA is in the top 3, with 1500 TWh of coal generation, compared to Germany’s 300 TWh.
Or are you talking about electricity generation per capita? But then I’m sure China and India wouldn’t top that list, with such huge populations…