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03.11.2009 "renewables - Made in Germany" Newsletter
Thank you for your interest in German renewable energy technologies and welcome to the fourth edition of the "renewables made in Germany" newsletter in 2009. This service is brought to you by the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) – the German Energy Agency, supported by the German Ministry of Economy and Technology. Today's issue features articles on the following topics:
We hope you enjoy reading this issue. The Renewable Energies Division of dena. If you would like to recommend this newsletter to someone else, please feel free to send the following link: New Statistics Published on Market Development in GermanyRenewable energy now accounts for 9.5 per cent of the total energy consumed in Germany, supplying 15.1 per cent of the power consumption, 7.4 per cent of the energy used for heating and 5.9 per cent of fuel come from renewable sources. Wind power accounts for the largest share of the renewable power production, but biomass is of growing importance in this segment. With a share of 22.1 per cent of the ecological power production, biomass has almost caught up to hydropower that is stagnating at 23.0 per cent. Biomass also dominates the regenerative energies used for heating with a share of over 90 per cent. All together, renewable energy sources saved around 110 million tonnes of CO2 and made an important contribution to climate protection. With its Integrated Energy and Climate Protection Programme (Integriertes Energie- und Klimaschutzprogramm – IEKP) that was adopted in August 2007, the German government set the course for these developments. IEKP includes a series of measures that aim to promote the use of renewable energy and the implementation of more energy-efficient technologies. The government not only amended the Renewable Energy Sources Act but also passed the Renewable Energies Heat Act, that since 2009 envisages the use of renewable energy for heating. In addition, the federal government is also supporting the energy-focused refurbishment of buildings. In order to speed up the construction of new, more efficient power plants, the German government has also changed the Law on Combined Heat and Power Generation. Wind Power exceeds 25-Gigawatt LevelWind power still has the leading position in the area of renewable energy sources. At the end of September, the Minister for the Environment, Sigmar Gabriel, inaugurated the Wind Park Ochsenfurt-Erlach near Wuerzburg. This power generation facility has now given Germany a total installed power generation capacity for wind-based power that exceeds 25,000 megawatts. According to the statistics of the German Wind Energy Institute (DEWI), the domestic market was able to maintain its position in comparison to the previous year. The industry assumes that in 2009 the German market will grow faster than the global markets. With the backing from the amendment of the Renewable Energy Sources Act in 2009, it is expected that the year 2009 will see around 2,000 megawatts of newly installed power production capacity – more than 300 megawatts more than in the two previous years. The wind industry is also showing progress out at sea. The first generators have already been installed in the offshore testing area Alpha Ventus and 100 megawatts of offshore wind-energy production capacity are expected to be installed by the end of the year. Economic Stimulus Packages offer Chances for Renewable EnergyEverywhere in the world, countries are investing large sums in economic stimulus packages in order to counterbalance the sharp decline in orders. In these economically troubled times, it is not just the industrial nations but also emerging and developing countries that are offering good conditions for market entry, giving companies the chance to increase their economic power. Companies involved in renewable energies are also profiting from these developments. The preferred areas for public investment, in addition to the health care system, are the construction and the energy industries. Sweden, for example, has planned to spend 265 million euros on the expansion of its renewable energy resources in 2009. The budgets for 2010 and 2011 envisage similar sums. In July 2009, the government declared that it was setting higher goals for energy production from renewable sources and provided the Swedish Energy Agency with the mandate to develop a corresponding package of measures. The political goals in Portugal are even defined more clearly. As the Portuguese Prime Minister declared in mid-February, the country wants to fit 65,000 homes and apartments with thermal solar installations this year. The investment is expected to cost around 225 million euros, of which the government will pay around 95 million euros. In Morocco, the government has supplied the power company Office National d'Electricité (ONE) with new capital. This is to be used by ONE to close the gap between power plant capacities and the volumes carried by the power and distribution grid. The company is planning annual investments of one billion euros for its power industry. They are also planning to use larger amounts of renewable energy. A combined gas-solar thermal power plant in Ain Béni Mathar with a capacity of 472 megawatts is currently under construction. It is expected that by 2015 solar power plants will have been constructed with a total capacity of 500 megawatts. The Argentine government also has very ambitious plans. The state-owned energy company Enarsa has called for tenders for the purchase of a total of 1,015 megawatts of power from renewable energy sources. Mexico Wants to Double Renewable Energy Sources by 2012Mexico wants to increase the share of power generated by solar and wind power as well as biomass to a total of 7.6 per cent by 2012. That is one of the results of the national plan that the Mexican parliament announced in July 2009, which was developed on the basis of the law on the use of renewable energy passed in 2008. For the first time, this plan includes clearly defined goals for the installation of renewable energy systems. In three years time wind energy, for example, is meant to cover 4.34 per cent of the total national power demand (share in 2008: 0.15 per cent). The plan has no concrete goals for photovoltaic energy generation. However, the government is planning to set up a legal framework for the promotion of solar systems. This will help to ensure that in 2012 the country’s first solar thermal power plant will go into operation in Sonora. Even though Mexico has favourable geographic and climatic conditions for the use of renewable energy, the country gets most of its power from fossil fuels. Hydroelectric power generation accounts for 19.9 per cent of the installed capacity, but solar energy, wind power and other renewable energy sources only account for a further 3.3 per cent. The country now wants to more than double this share and reduce its energy dependence. Prize Awarded to Innovative German CompaniesThe main prizes in this year’s Clean Tech Media Awards go to the most energy efficient office building in the world, an innovative hybrid power plant and groundbreaking research results on the ecologically friendly production of silicon. With its Environmental Technology Prize, the German high-tech industries award sustainable solutions for an ecological existence. The winner in the category “Sustainability” was juwi Holding AG for their office building that produces the power that it needs. Just as visionary was Enertrag AG, who, together with partners from industry, science and research, built the world’s first industrial scale hydrogen-wind-biogas-hybrid power plant. For this achievement, they received the Clean Tech Media Award in the “Technology” category. Jan-Philipp Mai from the Technical University Braunschweig won in the category “New Scientist” for his research work in energy efficient silicon production. The 22-year-old student has developed a method that also allows the use of so-called “dirty silicon”. This means that the complex production of pure silicon is no longer necessary. By using this kind of production, Jan-Philipp Mai saves at least 30 per cent of the energy involved in production compared to established processes. The special prize 2009 went to the DESERTEC Foundation for their plan to generate solar power in the deserts of Africa. PEP-East AfricaPopulation growth and the burgeoning economy in emerging markets and developing countries lead to a sharp rise in energy requirements which can often not be met by the existing outdated and inefficient power plants and networks. Thus, demand for alternative and innovative supply options is growing. The “Project-Development-Program” (PDP) implemented by GTZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) support the promotion of renewable energy technologies as a feasible alternative to conventional power generation. By facilitating business partnerships and the exchange of experience and know-how between German renewable energy-companies and those in developing countries, the PDP forms a vital basis for sustainable market development. Solar Roof Programme in RussiaWithin the framework of the German Energy Agency’s (dena) solar roof programme, a solar roof was installed on top of the building of the Electro-Technical College of Schachty University, in the heart of the city Rostov-on-Don. The system consists of 40 square metres of direct pass-through air collectors that support the heating system. In the summer, a further area of 40 square metres of “standard” fluid-based solar collectors power an absorption-based air conditioning system made by Sortech and in the winter it supports the existing heating system. The inauguration of the “Rostov Solar Roof” took place on 09 October 2009 in the presence of high-level representatives of the Russian district government. "renewables - Made in Germany" - Products and ServicesGerman renewable energy technologies have an excellent reputation both at home and abroad. Many years of experience and countless references around the world make “renewables - Made in Germany” a reliable source to meet your project needs. The website www.renewables-made-in-germany.com provides information about German renewable energy industries, companies and products. "renewables - Made in Germany" Get in Touch - Business TripsAre you looking for contacts with experienced German companies in the renewable energy sector, or more information about renewable energy technology from Germany? If so, the German Chamber of Commerce (AHK) in your country may be able to help. As part of the “renewables - Made in Germany” programme, delegations of German business representatives from the renewable energy sector travel to all parts of the world to showcase their expertise and products and to explore possibilities for future cooperation. Each event includes a one-day seminar where you receive information about current developments in renewable energy technology and the products of the German companies that are represented. If you would like to get in touch with individual companies, the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad in your country has the ability to act as a liaison. For more information please contact: renewables@dena.de "renewables - Made in Germany" Business Trips
The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology Takes "Renewable Energy Technologies" AbroadAnother opportunity to make contact with German companies in the renewable energy technology sector is to attend the trade fairs organized by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. Visit the German community booth to speak directly with German companies and receive information about the latest technologies!
Useful LinksRusso-German Energy Agency (rudea) foundedThe Russo-German Energy Agency rudea was established on 16 July during the Russo-German government talks in Munich. The memorandum of association was signed by Stephan Kohler, Chief Executive of dena, and Sergey A. Mikhailov, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Russian Energy Carbon Fund. More information: www.rudea-energy.com
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