Sustainability

Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue of 2016: the energy transition-Show

Germany is a pioneer in renewable energies. Now more countries are to follow this example. The energy transition summit, the government seeks to mimic. However, the German prestige project serves as a blueprint?

1200 delegates from more than 70 countries, is a guest at the second Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue in Berlin

Self-awareness, it’s not for lack of the German economic and energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, as he opened this week the ‘Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue’. “Today, Berlin is the center of the global energy revolution-a Dialogue,” said Gabriel at the welcome 1200 delegates from over 70 countries.

Energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel: Germany’s promotion of green energy can now be less

A question was moving all: Is Germany’s energy turnaround a blueprint for the global energy transition? Since the climate agreement of Paris is clear: There is a basic consensus of the world community to replace fossil fuels step-by-step renewable energy. The question of how this can work, many countries on the pioneer nation in the middle of Europe. “Many come here, to see how the Experiment is working,” said Manfred Vohrer, Ökovisionär and an honorary member of the European Parliament.

A green Sofa will travel around the world

Thus, the message draws from the energy transition in the future is currently traveling, a green plush sofa in the around the world. This week, the striking piece of furniture made in Berlin, to tours, Advertising in the Middle East and Asia. Also the head of the International Renewable energy Agency (IRENA), Adnan Amin, settled on it. To recognize, without Germany’s leadership role as a laboratory for climate protection techniques. “To a time when many solar cells for a ridiculous, wasteful thing, Germany exactly,” said the IRENA boss.

Now, the prices for Wind and solar power has dropped by Germany’s promotion of green energy drastically. Electricity from solar cells is cheaper than nuclear power, electricity from wind power the price of beats often even from coal-fired power plants. In Nepal, Jitendra Gc of the Sajha Foundation, is the music of the future. He informed his compatriots often about the benefits of renewable sources, in schools and in universities. It is clear to him: “Germany falls to a leadership role – just because they can.”

With the energy transition, the “Green diplomacy”

Long gone is the time when the energy transition, engineers, inventors, and Environmentalists was left. In order to make Germany’s success in the world, government and industry associations launched a Green diplomacy. This also includes pithy words. “The energy turnaround is Germany’s equivalent of the American Man-to-the-Moon-project”. With rates like this, foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is foreign no doubt that Germany wants to be perceived as the locomotive for the implementation of the world climate Treaty.

In fact, there are Some indications that this leadership role fits. The International Organisation for the promotion of renewable energies, the Foundation has significantly encounter in Germany, has matured to the success of the project. Seven years is the organization based in Abu Dhabi is young and already has 145 members.

Also within the country, the flagship project will be developed. In the German electricity sector every third kilowatt hour that is consumed is from solar, Wind, biomass and hydropower. In addition, it has managed in Europe’s largest economy, to reduce the energy consumption without the economy losing growth.

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Energy transition : Germany a role model ?

Beyond these success stories problems. The Expansion of renewables in Germany are not more according to Plan, but far from record-breaking. Expansion records presents today’s China. In Germany, fewer solar cells to be installed than in the past. And even green energy companies are now Bankrupt.

Critics warn that the national climate protection targets could be missed: “it is Only a seventh of the energy transition in Germany is really done,” says Hermann Falk, managing Director of the Federal Association Renewable energies (BEE). The particular in the buildings and transport sector. The exchange of Oil and gas is stagnating, because of the low Oil prices.

In road transport, electric cars are exotics more, contrary to full-bodied, with government announcements. Currently to 20,000 electric cars to drive on German roads, with a Park of 45 million Cars drove – just one example of why, in the country, many see the energy transition, not in a good way. A fact, on this day, but hardly spoke. For Manfred Vohrer, this is a mistake: “If we want to do something for the cause, then we must also be honest, where we make mistakes.”

Other countries – other energy transition(n)

In order to learn from Germany’s mistakes, that is exactly why you come to Berlin. The one heard on this conference very often. And there were a lot of delegations, the sort behind the concept of energy transition is completely different ideas. “The energy turnaround can mean for each country is something else,” said the Deputy energy Minister of the Czech Republic, the German policy before, on their approaches to other impose.

In the Czech Republic there is a climate-friendly future “with nuclear power”. In Germany, the decision to exit nuclear power by 2022, is unthinkable. Similarly, the Saudi Arabia’s energy Minister Ali I. Al-Naimi, the energy transition: “We can’t afford to leave Oil and Gas in the ground,” was his Credo in Berlin.

Statements like this show what IRENA-chief of amine in diplomatic language, is expressed as: the implementation of The energy transition need a lot of different concepts – perhaps for each country or each Region to a different. He advises Germany, particularly the exchange of practical experience, in the heart of the energy transition-courtship. “Many will go the other way, but all will be interested to benefit from Germany’s learning curve.”

Questions are likely to escalate now. 80 percent in the past three years, power plants built worldwide use of renewable energies. Soon are likely to glow into the wires.