Germans want to power themselves TOTALLY with wind/solar ...

[doodab]

Well, 2050 is a long way off. It's a lofty ambition but not impossible.

[Doggy Styles]

They'll need a lot of extra room to fit the required number of turbines and solar panels.

Perhaps they'll ask to borrow Poland again.

[pjclarke]

The target is for all renewables, not just wind/solar. There's a lot of biomass in the mix and I think solar is on average pretty puny. I think renewables are at around about 20% now, on track for 35% by 2020. The increase of the EEG-Umlage to 5.8 cents per KWh compares with a reduction in price to industrial users from 94.6 Euros per KWh in 2007 to 86.0 Euros this year. And this 'industry killer' employs 400K people.

The wholesale price of natural gas can vary by several hundred percent over a few years. Looks like by 2050, Germany will be protected from the fluctuations of the oil and gas markets, the sector will probably employ say half a million people and she will be a world leader in emissions reduction.

[d000hg]

Well, 2050 is a long way off. It's a lofty ambition but not impossible.

I agree. It could be madness, on the other hand it could put them in the driving seat when it comes to renewable R&D and manufacturing if it works, and the rest of the world want/need to follow. It could totally re-invent & re-invigorate their current position of strength.

But it seems a long shot.

[Troll]

she will be a world leader in emissions reduction.

Aye...once you've destroyed your industrial base then your emissions are bound to go down

[sasguru]

Well, 2050 is a long way off. It's a lofty ambition but not impossible.

The target is for all renewables, not just wind/solar. There's a lot of biomass in the mix and I think solar is on average pretty puny. I think renewables are at around about 20% now, on track for 35% by 2020. The increase of the EEG-Umlage to 5.8 cents per KWh compares with a reduction in price to industrial users from 94.6 Euros per KWh in 2007 to 86.0 Euros this year. And this 'industry killer' employs 400K people.

The wholesale price of natural gas can vary by several hundred percent over a few years. Looks like by 2050, Germany will be protected from the fluctuations of the oil and gas markets, the sector will probably employ say half a million people and she will be a world leader in emissions reduction.

I'm not knocking it, it's an admirable ambition.
But no one seems to have sat down and thought about whether it's possible to do this for 100% of a heavily industrialised country's needs.
Yes to a certain extent they've protected industry by stinging consumers like Lord Haw Haw (still makes me chuckle his thinking his bill is low ), but I think they're coming to the limit of this already.
My mate in Berlin tells me "energy poverty" cases, people who can't pay their bills, are rising dramatically.
And I talked to a businessman the other day from North-rhine Westphalia who claimed his bills have risen in the last 2 years - not sure how they're subsidising small businesses in that case - I think each region has a different policy, so its all a bit of a mess.

[DodgyAgent]

The target is for all renewables, not just wind/solar. There's a lot of biomass in the mix and I think solar is on average pretty puny. I think renewables are at around about 20% now, on track for 35% by 2020. The increase of the EEG-Umlage to 5.8 cents per KWh compares with a reduction in price to industrial users from 94.6 Euros per KWh in 2007 to 86.0 Euros this year. And this 'industry killer' employs 400K people.

The wholesale price of natural gas can vary by several hundred percent over a few years. Looks like by 2050, Germany will be protected from the fluctuations of the oil and gas markets, the sector will probably employ say half a million people and she will be a world leader in emissions reduction.

In the meantime the climate carries on changing just as it always has

[scooterscot]

... by 2050.
As a result Lord Haw-Haw pays Euro 310 a quarter leccy bill for his tiny one-bed flat.

I should add that includes my hot water, otherwise known as hot rent.

[scooterscot]

It's a very simple things to achieve as long as you don't mind power cuts.

Why would there be power cuts?

Unlike the UK most German supplies are underground, not ugly pylons littering the landscape.

[vetran]

The increase of the EEG-Umlage to 5.8 cents per KWh compares with a reduction in price to industrial users from 94.6 Euros per KWh in 2007 to 86.0 Euros this year.

you sure? I thought my leccy was expensive.