Congratulations To Germany On Achieving More Than 50% Of Its Electricity Production From “Renewables

Germany made some poor choices on their energy portfolio, shutting down their nuclear and relying on Russian natural gas.

 

Yep but they have corrected and are really going hard after wind and solar. It actually is working well for us as they are buying our lng

 

Solar is not an ideal option in a northern country (52 deg N, similar to Newfoundland in Canada) with more cloudy days than sunny days. Energy taxes have persuaded many Germans to install rooftop solar--the price of electricity there is $0.61 per kW-h. My German friend is installing solar panels on his house--he really doesn't have much choice, as he can't afford to pay a full electric bill at those prices with a retiree income. Can you imagine how Americans would react if they woke up to $0.61/kW-h electricity prices?

The extremely high electricity prices have also hurt their heavy industries, which are very energy intensive. German chemical producers said (years ago, when electricity was half as expensive as it is now) that it was very hard competing with companies in Louisiana that are paying one fourth what they pay for electricity. German companies have responded by converting large compressors and similar equipment from electric motors to steam turbines (which still often require fossil fuel burning to produce the steam).

 

I ultimately think there will be limits to wind and solar for most countries, especially those farther north.

 

It should be noted that Germany's economy has expanded every year since 2009 except 2020. So the first line starts with a fabrication. I doubt the accuracy improves after that. Classic version of the Gish Gallop.

World Bank Open Data

 

it looks like gdp went down in 2022

World Bank Open Data

I suspect a byproduct of the Ukraine war and having to moderate consumption during the winter months.

That particular site is the premiere anti global warming site so it’s going to be heavily slanted.

 

For once I agree with you. It isn’t so much of their adopting green energy. It is because they abandoned/lost their two main sources for reasons that had nothing to do with climate change.

Nuclear energy had been very politically unpopular after Chernobyl and later Fukushima. After Chernobyl there was a potential of a radiation cloud going over Europe. After Fukushima Merkel decided to phase it out due to political opposition to it.

The German series “Dark” (on Netflix) gives you a feel for the Germans suspicions on nuclear energy.

Also, Germany, due to East German history and some degree of guilt about a history of invading Russia, and close geopgraphic proximity had decided a much more active economic engagement with Russia. As a result they came to rely on Russia pipelined natural gas, which worked great for them for many years….until Putin invaded Ukraine.

Both of those decisions are costing them now. Both decisions were made with some seemingly reasonable justifications but they definitely put Germany at risk and they are suffering for it now.

 

It did not. GDP growth according to that website was 1.8%.

World Bank Open Data

 

The German economy has grown both of the last two years. If you start with a false premise, then you can't really follow through on the argument.

BTW, Spain is still adding green energy, which is currently much cheaper than adding any other form of energy.

 

Germans probably looking at us over the Nordstream bombing.