this post was submitted on 24 Dec 2023
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Futurology

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Almost 52% of Germany's gross electricity consumption was produced by renewable electricity in 2023. An increase of 5% in one year. The goal is 80% by 2030; 100% by 2035. (www.cleanenergywire.org)
submitted 11 months ago by Lugh to c/futurology
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[–] Lugh 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yet again, renewables prove the naysayers wrong. This time last year people worried Germany couldn't cope without Russian gas. Vladimir Putin lost that bet. Instead, efficiency measures and renewables mean Germany will never need Russian gas again.

Some people lament German decisions on nuclear power. Even France, Europe's nuclear leader, can't build new nuclear on time, or on budget. Their flagship new nuclear project, Hinkley Point C in England, is years late and has doubled in cost. Meanwhile, Germany is just over ten years away from being 100% renewables powered, and never needing nuclear again either. I still see plenty of people arguing that 100% renewable powered grids are impossible - yet here it is happening, right in front of our eyes.

[–] Endward23 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yet again, renewables prove the naysayers wrong. This time last year people worried Germany couldn’t cope without Russian gas.

And this isn't entirly wrong. Germany is in one of the biggest economic crises into a livetime. Maybe even bigger than 2008 worldwide. And one big issue with this are the hight energy prizes.

Instead, efficiency measures and renewables mean Germany will never need Russian gas again.

Germany, like the United States for that matter, still imported gas! There are even claims that Germany in fact still imports Russian gas with a middleman.

The renewables have big yet unsolved issues with the problem of timing. Renewables produces energy if the wind blows and the sun shines, not when people actually demand energy.

I still see plenty of people arguing that 100% renewable powered grids are impossible - yet here it is happening, right in front of our eyes.

Seriously, I would not bet on the casestudy of Germany for that. I could be backfire horrific.

[–] finishsneezing@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Renewables produces energy if the wind blows and the sun shines, not when people actually demand energy.

Can you explain this? Do transitional winds not cover mornings (the most energy heavy time of the day) rather well?

[–] Endward23 2 points 10 months ago

Can you explain this? Do transitional winds not cover mornings (the most energy heavy time of the day) rather well?

There are times in the year, which are called "Dunkelflaute" in German and in this time you have both: No solar energy and no wind energy. This mean, in this time you have a greater demand than produce.

Another problem is that the main demand of energy (privat households) is between 5 pm O'clock and 10 pm o'clock. At this time frame, you have usually lesser solar energy, while the peak of solar energy is during the noon, when the main part of people worked.

The problem is: How to store the energy for later use?

[–] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

In 2017, 51% of the electricity produced in Germany was low carbon.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

What sources are catagorized as "low carbon" vs "renewable" vs "fossil fuels"?

[–] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 3 points 11 months ago

Renewable energy production is based on renewable energy sources such as wind and water flow, sunshine, and geothermal energy. Low-carbon energy production means that the production involves a very low level of greenhouse gas emissions, such as in nuclear power production.

source

[–] CJOtheReal@ani.social 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

And 100% without nuclear! Based as always.

[–] jack@monero.town 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Germany still imports nuclear energy from neighbors like France

[–] CJOtheReal@ani.social 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

We export more than we import so Net 0 on nuclear. But yes the European grid is one and needs to keep balance, so there is constantly "sell" and "buy"

[–] Endward23 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

We export more than we import so Net 0 on nuclear.

That doesn't mean something. As it is currently not possible to store energy for later use, "we" (Germany) export energy for a negative prize. That mean, we (Germany) pay € to some of our nightbors in order to get them to import our energy surplus. The advocates for the Energiewende just cuts the 2nd part of. As it appears, to make it sound great. Is it actually great?

Maybe, in the future the Energiewende will turn out as great. From the knowleade of our current situation, there are not facts which justify such a inference. We need to wait in the hope our bet was good.

[–] CJOtheReal@ani.social 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

As long as there isn't any fission in Germany its good, and i hate the fact that our asshole neighbors build theirs directly at our borders.

Nobody should rely on stuff that needs imports

[–] Endward23 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Nobody should rely on stuff that needs imports

Doesn't the solar cells need some materials we need to import?

[–] CJOtheReal@ani.social 0 points 11 months ago

We can "import" that stuff but the necessary materials reduce with every generation of cells and the materials can be sourced locally (within EU)