Germany maps the way for Europe’s renewable energy and smart grid

Germany Can Do Without Nuclear Power, In energy policy as elsewhere, we need more Europe, not less. WSJ, By GUIDO WESTERWELLE, foreign minister of Germany. Civilian nuclear power has been the subject of highly charged debate in German politics and society for many years. The tragedy in Fukushima triggered a further profound reassessment in Germany of the risks of nuclear power. Ultimately, Fukushima accelerated our change of direction. Five months after the accident, Germany decided by law that nuclear energy will be phased out by 2022.

The broad, democratic consensus we have reached in Germany, founded on wide-ranging deliberations with engineers, planners and economists, is that this change of track on energy policy is possible—technically, conceptually and economically. Our intention now is to map out our long-term progress along that road, heading for energy provision that is clean, affordable and safe.

This decision represents a huge step forward on Germany’s road towards sustainable energy provision sourced largely from renewables. Our climate targets will remain unaffected. We still aim to contribute to the EU-wide target of lowering CO2 emissions by at least 20% by 2020, as well as to achieve our national target of a 40% reduction. We will act responsibly in our work, seeking to ensure security of supply, affordability and respect for the climate and the environment……

the share of renewables in our electricity production passed the 20% mark for the first time in the first half of 2011. New capacities, better systems management and improved efficiency will offset the loss in capacity caused by the gradual shutdown of our remaining reactors. Low-carbon fossil fuel power plants will bridge the gap until new capacities have been completed. But in the medium term, our dependency on external energy sources will decrease significantly. By 2020 we plan to produce 35% of Germany’s electricity from renewable, i.e. local, sources, and 50% of it by 2030.At the same time, substantial technological and economic opportunities will materialize. The renewable energy business promises growth, jobs and returns that other industries can only dream of. On the other hand, our decision requires enormous investment and poses a variety of challenges, both economic and technological.

Germany´s energy future is clearly European. While each country must decide its own energy mix, the EU’s efforts and the member states’ domestic energy policies need to complement each other. National grids need to be connected into a high-performance European super-grid. The potential for greater energy efficiency, better integration and more diversification of the European energy sector is huge, and hugely expandable. In energy policy as elsewhere, we need more Europe, not less…. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903791504576584753796497200.html

Also, solutions which yesterday seemed utopian or unaffordable are today technically and economically viable, or tangibly close to realization. We are helping to implement the Desertec concept in North Africa, which enables clean electricity from solar, wind and photovoltaic power to be generated on a large scale in desert regions and delivered in part to Europe. Emerging and developing countries on all continents can benefit from these technologies to make their growth more sustainable.

September 22, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general

No comments yet.

nuclear-news

The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope