Germany looks to fast-track exit from coal, as well as nuclear

[Lodestar]

Germany is looking to achieve exactly what Australia says is not possible – and wean one of the world’s largest manufacturing economies off coal – as well as shutting down nuclear.

The conservative government of Chancellor Angela Merkel last week issued a discussion paper proposing to implement the strictest controls on coal fired generation yet to be seen in Europe, and to redesign its energy system around renewables, which will account for around two thirds of supply within two decades.

The discussion paper has been prompted by the need to deal with massive over-capacity in its energy system, and as Germany commits to phasing out the remainder of its nuclear generators by 2022 and sourcing nearly half of its electricity supply from renewables – hydro, biomass, wind and solar – within a decade.

The government discussion paper said too many fossil-fired power plants are in the system and overcapacities “have to be cut” to help meet climate targets.

MORE
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/germany-looks-dump-coal-well-nuclear-16716

[liberal N proud]

1. Not here in America

With a reich wing government, we will embrace coal and nuclear while punishing those who use or promote renewable resources. We will push for more pollution with limitless emissions of greenhouse gasses.

America has decided, let the earth perish.

[Lodestar]

3. Ah....so perhaps the effects of this would be a movement by those who want solar

to boost sales of individual units rather than big centralized utilities.
I don't buy into the powerless stance that nothing can or will be done to change things.
And as I said, sometimes running into barriers creates very interesting work-arounds.

[liberal N proud]

4. Then you end up facing this...

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/11/02/utilities-feel-burned-by-users-of-solar.html

Republican leaders protecting the energy companies by penalizing those who to choose solar.

[Lodestar]

5. Well this is the very definition of change - dismantling the old models in favor of the new.

Of course when you get down to the real reasons for resisting change - in this case its the fear of death ultimately, or at
least major reform of an existing model (profits)... then of course you can expect a fight for survival. I think that
we need to help find ways (at least transitional in nature) where public utilities can reorganize structurally that allows them
to incorporate solar and other sustainable technologies without heavy losses. However, I think the demise of the entire centralized
energy distribution is very near its end. It needs hospice.

Old vs. New. It is being played out in every part of our lives. It's no reason to assume defeat.
I agree that the adversaries to change (those protecting their old models) are formidable...but so are WE!
We need to continue working on, fighting for, creating, inventing these new models until they become the new norm.

[cprise]

2. Interesting bit about storage at the end...

Younicos, a Berlin-based battery storage maker, has just deployed the first 10MW storage system that it says can remove one of the last big barriers to 100 per cent renewable energy, or at least remove the need for vast amounts of “baseload” fossil fuels.

It says its 10MW-sized battery parks can stabilise the grid faster, cheaper and with greater precision than conventional generation. And, for a total cost of just €3 billion, could make conventional generation in Germany’s 80GW grid largely redundant– at least for frequency and stability purposes

Younicos is partly-owned by Samsung, and they are buying up storage tech startups that are failing in places like the US. Here is some more about them:

According to Younicos spokesman Philip Hiersemenzel, each battery park can be installed at around €15 million, which means that for an investment of €3 billion, conventional generation in Germany’s 80GW would no longer be needed – at least for frequency and stability purposes.

This is critical in Germany. The sheer scale of their solar PV installations – it has more than 35GW – means that on some days it already produces more than half the country’s electricity needs. But baseload generators have to keep running for the sake of frequency control and system stability, which has caused spot prices to plunge well below zero.

For an 80GW grid, it needs about 20GW and 25GW of “must run” balancing to maintain frequency and keep the grid stable. Younicos says 2GW of its battery parks would render this need redundant. Around 200 of it battery parks could be installed around the country at a total cost of around €3 billion.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/20/game-changing-battery-storage-company-germany-younicos/

Interesting claim...

[rondanyd]

6. About time

Last edited Sun Nov 23, 2014, 02:16 PM - Edit history (1)

It's about time one of the leading economies at the very least tries to make forward progress. Hopefully, they can pull it off and inspire other countries to do the same.
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Regal Assets

[Atman]

7. Welcome to DU!