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Energiewende: Going “Green” in Germany Without Going “Red”

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Energiewende: Going “Green” in Germany Without Going “Red” Energiewende: Going “Green” in Germany without going “Red” Logan Mitchell Why Renewable Energy? Thesis Such a bold energy transition will force Germany to import energy—at least in the short term—from outside sources in Africa, the Middle East, and even neighboring European countries, which could possibly expose Germany to the threat of energy as a weapon from an organization comparable to OPEC and Russia. Gross Electricity Production Germany 2012 16% 23% 44% 25% 19% 12% 5% Total 629 billion kWh Natural gas Other Renewable sources Nuclear Brown coal Hard coal Source: Statistisches Bundesamt, https://www.destatis.de/DE/ZahlenFakten/Wirtschaftsbereiche/Energie/Energie.html Energiewende Goals Set forth by German Federal Government • 2022: Shut down all nuclear power plants • 2020: Greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 40% (vs. 1990) • 80-95% by 2050 • Increased reliance on renewable energies • decrease natural gas, coal, and other fossil fuels • Technology expansion for use/production of renewable energies • Desertec? • 2050: Overall decrease in energy consumption by 25% Source: German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety Why is Germany doing this? Nuclear Energy is unsafe. Daiichi Nuclear plant disaster in Fukushima, Japan after Earthquake + Tsunami Image Source: Japan Daily Press Why is Germany doing this? Protect the future of our planet • No nuclear plants no nuclear accidents • Reduced reliance on coal reduce greenhouse gas emissions • Sustainable and renewable energy • New energy sectors creates more jobs • subsidies have helped create over 370,000 in last 20 years in Germany • New technologies created bolster Germany’s exports • Economic boom • West/South Germany has lots of investors • North Germany (esp. Eastern) has prime wind farm locations; South – solar farms How will Germany accomplish this? New technologies and Governmental Policies • Subsidies for both organizations and individuals • No nuclear higher short-term reliance on coal • Imports in short- and long-term • France and Czech – short-term (nuclear) • Africa and Middle East (Desertec) – long-term (renewables) • More wind/solar farms in Germany Desertec and Energy as a weapon Desertec Foundation – non-profit for a sustainable future • Desertec Foundation itself is harmless • Honest advocates for sustainable, renewable energy • International cooperation from multiple companies Images source: www.desertec.org Desertec and Energy as a weapon Desertec Foundation – non-profit for a sustainable future • Desertec Foundation itself is harmless • Honest advocates for sustainable, renewable energy • International cooperation from multiple companies • Advanced technologies (transport, production, storage) • High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission • Concentrating Solar-thermal Power (CSP) plants • Success already seen in Tunisia (TuNur) and Almeria, Spain (Andasol) Images source: www.desertec.org Desertec and Energy as a weapon What happens during conflict? • Outsourced energy can potentially be cut off • EU can be bullied by African and Middle Eastern countries • like Russia to Ukraine in 2006 and 2009 • Power plants could be targets for attacks to damage EU • Pipelines can be cut/destroyed, perhaps even by malicious groups • Accidental damage • Terrorist organizations • Rebel armies Image source: www.desertec.org Desertec and Energy as a weapon How much potential is there for an energy weapon? • Technology and production is spread out—decentralized • difficult to cut off all sources, only squeeze supply • Producers have potential to form OPEC-like group • OREEC? • Unsold energy (especially thermal) is wasted energy • Renewable energy is theoretically unlimited, so price gouging is practically non-existent; ensures competition in marketplace • Mutual dependency helps avoid potential conflict Conclusion Speculation • Renewable energy imports from Desertec Foundation sources will be helpful in the short-term, but can and will eventually create problems, causing unrest in the energy sector • Germany will build and produce more in-house renewable energy sources, while also using imported sources as a supplement/cost offset. Questions? Image source: www.desertec.org .
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