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The Official Explanation for the German Energy Transition
This is one of those articles that deserves reading in full; a snip doesn't do it justice.
The Official Explanation for the German Energy Transition
America's Power Plan
October 28, 2013
...Another side of the coin is what the politicians think of the energiewende. Critics abroad seem convinced that German leaders will come to their senses and change course on energy. Based on what the leaders say in their official documents, these critics are likely to be disappointed.
First, some background. There are two federal ministries responsible for energy, the Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi). Until the recent election these were headed by Peter Altmaier and Peter Rosler. (Rosler has resigned due his party's loss in the recent election.)
With near unanimous support, the German parliament adopted legislation in 2010 that sets ambitious targets for carbon reductions, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and commits to a phase-out of nuclear power. According to Altmaier, the environment minister for the Merkel Administration, “this is unprecedented and brings to an end decades of public debate in Germany.”
While much international attention is paid to the rapid growth of solar energy and the phaseout of nuclear power, the legislation is a comprehensive energy policy, covering transportation, heat, and electricity use across the whole economy.
America's Power Plan
October 28, 2013
...Another side of the coin is what the politicians think of the energiewende. Critics abroad seem convinced that German leaders will come to their senses and change course on energy. Based on what the leaders say in their official documents, these critics are likely to be disappointed.
First, some background. There are two federal ministries responsible for energy, the Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi). Until the recent election these were headed by Peter Altmaier and Peter Rosler. (Rosler has resigned due his party's loss in the recent election.)
With near unanimous support, the German parliament adopted legislation in 2010 that sets ambitious targets for carbon reductions, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and commits to a phase-out of nuclear power. According to Altmaier, the environment minister for the Merkel Administration, “this is unprecedented and brings to an end decades of public debate in Germany.”
While much international attention is paid to the rapid growth of solar energy and the phaseout of nuclear power, the legislation is a comprehensive energy policy, covering transportation, heat, and electricity use across the whole economy.
Much more at: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2013/10/the-official-explanation-for-the-german-energy-transition?cmpid=BioNL-Tuesday-October29-2013
Browse the website of America's Power Plan
http://americaspowerplan.com/
...Consumers and businesses are demanding a new relationship with energy. They want to control the energy they consume – make it cleaner, more efficient, certain, and affordable. Innovative companies are finding new ways to meet this demand. Now you can buy smart thermostats at Lowe’s, solar panels at Home Depot, and LED lightbulbs on Amazon, to name a few.
In the last five years, the cost of solar energy has plummeted 80 percent, while wind energy costs have sunk by 30 percent. Last year, 49 percent of all new power plant investment in the U.S. was for renewables, three times that of new natural gas power plants. And while fracking has transformed the natural gas and power industries, experts warn that gas prices will continue to be volatile, and are likely to rise as demand increases.
As the demand for clean energy accelerates, it is hitting a wall of regulations designed for traditional fossil fuel plants. Our current legal, economic and regulatory structures, in some cases in place for more than a century, are actively thwarting innovation. Imagine trying to introduce the iPhone in the era of rotary phones and Ma Bell — this gives an idea of the pressure in the system. Energy markets, utilities, grids and regulatory structures need an upgrade.
Under the current regulatory system, these market trends constitute a considerable threat to traditional utility business models. The current system penalizes utilities for every kilowatt-hour not used, and for every generator put on the customer side of the meter. According to the Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned utilities, these “disruptive” technologies will lead to declining power sales and declining revenues. “As the cost curve for these technologies improves, they could directly threaten the centralized utility model.”
New technologies require new rules...
In the last five years, the cost of solar energy has plummeted 80 percent, while wind energy costs have sunk by 30 percent. Last year, 49 percent of all new power plant investment in the U.S. was for renewables, three times that of new natural gas power plants. And while fracking has transformed the natural gas and power industries, experts warn that gas prices will continue to be volatile, and are likely to rise as demand increases.
As the demand for clean energy accelerates, it is hitting a wall of regulations designed for traditional fossil fuel plants. Our current legal, economic and regulatory structures, in some cases in place for more than a century, are actively thwarting innovation. Imagine trying to introduce the iPhone in the era of rotary phones and Ma Bell — this gives an idea of the pressure in the system. Energy markets, utilities, grids and regulatory structures need an upgrade.
Under the current regulatory system, these market trends constitute a considerable threat to traditional utility business models. The current system penalizes utilities for every kilowatt-hour not used, and for every generator put on the customer side of the meter. According to the Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned utilities, these “disruptive” technologies will lead to declining power sales and declining revenues. “As the cost curve for these technologies improves, they could directly threaten the centralized utility model.”
New technologies require new rules...
http://americaspowerplan.com/the-plan/overview/
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