Germany needs for its Energiewende, a new, powerful electricity grids. However, the resistance is large, such as economic Minister, Peter Altmaier, had to know. Volker Witting has accompanied him on a trip.
“Our country there is not for free!” on the self-made poster, the farmer, Theo Brauweiler brought in front of the electricity substation in Sechtem. He and some other members of the Rhineland agricultural Association are pulled with tractors in front of the substation in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, to protest. “I’m not in principle opposed to the expansion of the grid, but we also need to be compensated for that power built towers on our Fields or underground cables will be laid,” says Brauweiler. Then Minister, Peter Altmaier of the CDU comes over the economy and pushes the protesters only once a friendly Hand and promises: “We put our heads together!” He says the seriously.
Cooperation instead of confrontation
Altmaier has made up her mind to go where there are problems with the energy transition, especially the Expansion of the electricity networks. He speaks on his three-day “network expansion journey” with farmers and citizens, mayors, and current entrepreneurs. Altmaiers Motto: “cooperation instead of confrontation”. The farmers are demanding regular compensation for poles erected in their Fields or underground cables to be laid. Citizens ‘ initiatives, and the mayor, complaining about people’s fear of electromagnetic radiation by means of underground cable or new, as they say, “monster cables” that are up to 90 meters high.
Theo Brauweiler high compensation
“The German energy transition is well known in the world,” said Altmaier on one of the dates. “If this fails, it will be difficult! I want, therefore, that the energy transition is successful.”
A Paragon Of Germany?
Germany was once seen as a Prime example of the turnaround in energy policy: to get out of nuclear and coal – fired electricity, less Gas and Oil to generate electricity. And much of it is actually achieved. Today, Germany accounts for around 36 percent of its electricity consumption through renewable energy sources; primarily Wind and solar power. By the end of 2022 the last nuclear power plant to be switched off, and gradually also the production of electricity from coal be shut down. The aim of the government: by 2030 65 per cent of the energy needs to be produced from renewable sources.
Eye Of Power Lines
Sounds good, were it not for the eye of power lines. The power is not often fast enough to where it is needed. “We have achieved a residue that makes political Action necessary,” explains economy Minister Altmaier in Bonn. “I want to make the expansion of the grid to a matter for the boss”, declared the former Minister of the environment, the energy transition has always been a “matter of the heart,” as he says.
On the networks, it is: Altmaier at the underground cable site Dankern/Haren
Until the end of the term – so in three years – wants to Altmaier, the network expansion. This is very optimistic, if you look at the Numbers: 7700 kilometers of power lines are necessary; 1750 are approved only 950 actually built.
Altmaier relies on the speed of the Construction
The existing power grid will be better and expanded. The planning process should be shorter and uncomplicated, announced Altmaier to the public at a press conference. For the 20. In September, he has invited to a “power summit” in Berlin. He wants to talk to the Economic Ministers of all the länder, critical citizens ‘ initiatives and farmers like Theo Brauweiler.
He wants to make pace. “Today, we produce the electricity where the place is: in the Fields, on the coast and on the lake. And not where he is needed.” Namely, in the industrial regions of the South and West.
More and more often to be taken in Northern Germany wind farms from the grid because the wires are overloaded. Elsewhere you must buy electricity from power plants which are operated with coal or Gas, to guarantee security of the network.
Electricity is very expensive in Germany
2014, the Redirect of the current cost of consumer and 440 million euros. In 2017, there were already 1.4 billion. And because more and more wind turbines and Photovoltaic plants, could it be in a few years, four billion euros. Electricity in Germany is today as expensive as anywhere else in Europe.
Dirk Breuer, mayor of Hürth, and a CDU-party, friend of Altmaier hopes on Berlin’s understanding
“It’s good that the Minister is come to the problems on the spot,” says Dirk Breuer. He is a CDU mayor in Hürth, a town in the vicinity of Cologne. “Our citizens do not want a new 90-metre Mast right in front of your door!”, Breuer says. “The masts, as before, are only half as high.” 6600 people were affected, would be built in the large masts. “People living less than 400 metres away, and Worry.”
Problem is recognised, identified, but not solved
The mayor is now on the competent courts that could stop the construction, and the Minister, came. “It would be best if the cables would be laid under the earth”, he appeals.
“Such arguments must be taken seriously,” says Peter Altmaier, before the trip continues. He suspects that he will discuss for years to come, argue and with the expansion of the network will have to deal with. And he announces that this was the last network expansion travel, the he company. Because of the economy Minister wants to, he says, “that the energy turnaround can be successfully implemented, as in China, for example, you look right at us!”