Lovely comment backed up by lots of fact. Well said /sarc.
Actually during the weekend before last, 50% of German electricity demand was covered by solar power.
Are there a lot of challenges? Absolutely. Is it technically feasible. Absolutely.
I remember a few years ago when Americans used to believe that anything was possible and that they were the country that could make it happen. Nowadays and unfortunately very frequently at FR when it comes to energy-related topics, the comments seem to be about how anything that embraces systematic energy change is a left-wing plot and that there is no way the US can do it. It’s a shame that belief in yourselves has been so intensely sapped.
“Actually during the weekend before last, 50% of German electricity demand was covered by solar power.”
Unless you can cite a link from a reputable source, I call bullsh*t. There simply isn’t enough energy in sunlight to do that for an economy of Germany’s size.
Oops, should have added: unless they’ve quietly added arrays of photovoltaic cells that cover an are about the size of Delaware (and nobody noticed).
I have lousy luck looking up past articles.
But examples of how poorly the “Green” charade actually works are legion.
Once the “Subsidies” subside, so does the “success” of the companies involved.
I mentioned Scotland, several articles make it clear that wind has been an utter failure there, particularly since the dread “Carbon” is required in order to keep the turbines warmed and viable when the temperature and wind both drop.
“Solyndra” ring a bell?
How about the sudden death of Solar companies in Spain?
No subsidy = “Green” cannot compete.
Gov. Org. can fake it for a while, but in the end reality becomes apparent.
Carbon is king because it WORKS the best, that is reality, good intentions and fairy dust will not change that reality.
BTW, I have a “Green” propane powered truck (which I despise, very anxious to be rid of it!), my home is run from a grid that has one of the largest percentages of Geo-Thermal in the world.
So do not assume I dismiss the “Green” fantasy out of hand, I’ve done more research than the average poster here.
This article is all about whistling in the dark. The German people are fed up, read the articles about Merkel and the perception that she is forcing this issue which is hurting the German economy and standard of living. You ignore logic and common sense to ignore the facts that: available forms of green energy are double the cost,are dependent on sunny days and no nights, require backup carbon based energy because of inconsistent generation. The thing that has caused the standard of living to rise as nations develop is increase in productivity. Solar/green energy has proved it severely decreases productivity by increasing costs via subsidies, increased generation costs, decreased efficiency of production and the need for backup systems. Therefore green energy will decrease the standard of living for great swaths of people as was seen in Spain and as is being seen in Germany. Climate change is a fairy story, being maintained by those eager to control us and get rich by schemes to purportedly fix what isn’t broken. The Germans are waking up so the compliant press is attempting to cheerlead them back into line. Your”facts” are cherry picked” factoids that dissolve when examined.