BERLIN, Germany — Sigmar Gabriel, vice chancellor of Germany, sits in an interesting position. The left-leaning democrat has been the center of attention for some time now, and he only is getting more for his ambitious plan as the boss of Germany’s energy and economy, two platforms he will run on for chancellor in 2017.
Gabriel’s renewable energy record is more than commendable. Following setting the record for total wind-generated energy in late 2013, then posting a record 27 percent of energy coming from renewable sources, the run peaked when the country was using a whopping 74 percent of energy from renewable sources on a Sunday in May.
Energiewende is the name of the vice chancellor’s plan for the future of renewable energy. The word translates roughly to energy turn or energy revolution, although many are calling it something of a marketing ploy. But if the criticism leveled at the plan is due to a lack of precise strategies, Energiewende makes up for it in outright boldness.
The plan calls for Germany’s final nuclear plant to be shut down by 2022. The plan then leaps ahead a quarter of a century and declares that sun, wind and biomass will be supporting 80 percent of electricity production and 60 percent of overall use. Emissions might fall by up to 95 percent.
German voters, who applauded the daring nature of the plan, are beginning to note the unpleasant factors that go hand in hand with energy efficiency. The cost to start the trend was a 20-year law that set electricity at fixed rates that some considered exorbitant, with the average cost around $360 per household. Still, the law gives preferred access to electricity, and politicians and business owners say Bavaria shines brightly with the solar panels that dominate rooftops.
Here is where it gets troublesome for Germany, and particularly Gabriel, who seems unable to win the economic battle and the energy battle. In July, he was forced to grant subsidies that were once reserved for domestic companies to foreign imports of energy, due to pressure from the EU.
While that seems to be the beginning of Germany’s journey and the hopeful chancellor candidate, it is also where other countries can glean information on providing reliable energy with modern technology. There are promising signs for developing countries who, like all countries, can learn something from what can be described as Germany’s trademark efficiency.
Germany’s decision to shut down nuclear plants and rely on modern technology is something that can be emulated around the world. While start-up costs and subsidies add up, experts agree that long-term costs will be far lower.
Countries cannot expect to emulate Germany’s success entirely, as historical context, cultural differences and geographic situations make Germany and developing countries around the world quite different. And while critics say this with pessimism about the future of energy in developing countries, some countries might be better off to start on their own paths toward energy efficiency and sustainability.
Where Energiewende is weakest is in Germany’s weather pattern. The sun does not have enough power to provide for the entire country at some points, most notably in the winter. Additionally, the erratic wind pattern over the country leaves the windmills motionless for long periods of time. Whether Gabriel’s Energiewende will prove effective despite this potential obstacle, time will simply have to tell.
– Andrew Rywak
Sources: EcoWatch, Climate Progress, The Economist
Photo: Wikimedia