Recently, Germany has taken a very progressive, and aggressive approach towards green and renewable energy and fighting the global climate change issue.  However, this is proving to be both positive and negative for many Germans.  In 2001, the German Federal Government passed a law stating that all nuclear power plants in Germany were to be closed by the year 2022.  This is a major undertaking for any country, and thus propelled Germany into renewable energy with such fervor.

According to Wikipedia, as of recently, Germany has the most innovative and successful renewable energy sector worldwide.  In fact, most solar panels, wind turbines, and rotors are made in Germany.  The companies Nordex, Repower, Enercon, and Fuhrlander are all German-based wind companies, while SolarWorld, Conenergy, and Q-Cells are all German-based solar power companies.  Again, Wikipedia states that “these companies dominate the world market.  Every third solar panel and every second wind rotor is made in Germany.”  It would only make sense that Germany is a big competitor in solar electricity with the United States, Japan, China, and in wind power competes with the United States, Spain, and Denmark.

One way that the Germans are harnessing renewable energy is in the form of giant wind turbines.  Off of Germany’s coast, there are wind turbines where “each one has three 61.5 meter blades, which in a good breeze make one revolution every 5 seconds, producing 5 megawatts of electric power.”  This is very green because they are just harnessing wind power, and there will always be wind; you don’t need a massive coal factory to run wind turbines.  Another way that the Germans are using renewable energy is using photovoltaic solar power, geothermal power, hydroelectricity, biofuels and biomasses.  Overall, this combination of green energy will greatly reduce Germany’s contribution to negative global climate change.

Lastly, there has been some public backlash from the citizens of Germany.  Because Germany jumped full force into renewable energy and into things such as electricity, many Germans are having to go without electricity due to skyrocketing electric prices.  According to the Canada Free Press, “this past year, over 600,000 households had their power shut off in Germany because they can’t afford the skyrocketing electric bills… Since January about 420 suppliers have increased their  prices by an average of 3.5%.”  Sadly, many Germans are being forced out of electricity.  As much as renewable energy is important, the German government needs to think of its people and try to find a solution to either slow down their rapid progress or compromise on pricing so no one will be left in the dark.

References:

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/47243

http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/policy/germanys-green-energy-gap/0

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323751104578149144050909144.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_Germany