The nuclear incident in Fukushima has led the Germans to reconsider their nuclear-generated energy. Their decision is to phase out nuclear-generated energy by the end of 2022 and increase the use of renewable energy.
Since 2010, Germany is aiming to increase the use of renewable energy:
- 2010 – 17 percent
- 2011 – 20 percent
- 2020 – at least 35 percent
- 2030 – at least 50 percent
- 2040 – at least 60 percent
- 2050 – at least 80 percent
This plan will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent in 2020 and about 95 percent in 2050.
The German Federal Parliament has revised the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) in order for the Germans to start their plan. The revised act is scheduled to come into action on January 1, 2012.
Hydropower renewable energy resources:
- Wave power
- Tidal power
- Salt gradient and flow energy
- Wind energy
- Solar radiation
- Biomass
The major renewable energy of the future is the offshore winds but could have a large demand for onshore wind parks.
The EEG promises that the renewable sources will be fed to the public grids at a reasonable price.
Tariff Comparison For Selected Renewable Energy Sources
of EEG 2009 and EEG 2012
| Renewable Energy Source | Tariff under EEG 2009 in €/US$ | Tariff under EEG 2012 in €/US$ |
Tariff Difference in Percent |
| Biomass for plants less than 150 kW in size | €0.11/kWh (US$0.16/kWh) |
€0.14/kWh (US$0.20/kWh) |
+30 percent |
| Geothermal plants (irrespective of plant size) |
€0.16/kWh (US$0.22/kWh) |
€0.25/kWh (US$0.36/kWh) |
> + 50 percent |
| Offshore wind | €0.13/kWh (US$0.19/kWh) |
€0.15/kWh (US$0.21/kWh) |
+ 15 percent |
Sources:
http://www.mayerbrown.com/publications/detail.aspx?publication=4738
I like how you used a graph to show the comparisons.
Salt gradient and flow energy is a very unfamiliar source of renewable energy to me. Could you go more in depth on how salt gradient can be used as a renewable energy source? because i myself cant think of a method to transform it into energy.
This blog is very informing and i agree, I like the graphs.
I think this is a very well made blog. You got alot of information and presented it in a clear way. The bulleting and the graph were helpful too.
Really clear comparison on the old and revised EEG.
And I believe the difference of the tariffs shows the difficult of producing such energy?