Green Glitches in Germany: Energy angst abroad and confusion at home

City Journal ^ | April 12, 2010 | Charles C. Johnson

[chickadee]

The worst obstacle to Germany’s grand plans is physics itself. A solar panel converts only 11 percent of the solar energy that it receives into usable energy, while coal and natural gas facilities convert around 40 percent of their fuel into electricity. Vast panel arrays are the only way to make solar economical: a single solar module on a very sunny day in the Sahara can create only enough energy to power one 75-watt lightbulb—and Germany on the brightest of days receives just half the sunlight that the Sahara does.

The government’s intentions were good. Germany’s foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, had hoped that a diversification of the country’s energy portfolio would make it less dependent on Russia, from which Germany buys a third of its oil and gas. And it’s true that unless renewables pick up the slack, Germany will become even more dependent on Russia for its fuel. But that’s partly Germany’s own fault: by 2020, it intends to phase out its 17 nuclear power plants, which now supply about a quarter of the nation’s electricity and provide the only form of renewable energy capable of meeting German demand.

[chickadee]

Another country committing climate change suicide.

[Sen Jack S. Fogbound]

Volksverdummung, a deliberate deception of the public, is a good term for Zero!

[TChris]

The worst obstacle to Germany’s grand plans is physics itself.

I disagree.

Physics is not nearly as large an obstacle as politicians who either don't understand or who willfully deny the laws of physics. They treat the laws of economics in the same fashion. Such "leaders" continue to make one disasterous mistake after another, with other people's money. So-called "green energy" is only the latest one.

[cicero2k]

But that’s partly Germany’s own fault: by 2020, it intends to phase out its 17 nuclear power plants, which now supply about a quarter of the nation’s electricity

Germany: making France look good, LOL.

[chickadee]

Very well said, and, sadly, so true.

[truthguy]

Let the Germans freeze to death for their stupidity. When this happens then they will put their technological know how to building Nuclear Power Plants, Some Coal Power Plants, and some synthetic gas plants. Hell they had these Synthetic Plants in 1944-45. They have the technical know how to solve their energy problems. They have the same problems we have- liberal stupidity. So let them suffer. They will come around.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Germany’s foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, had hoped that a diversification of the country’s energy portfolio would make it less dependent on Russia, from which Germany buys a third of its oil and gas. And it’s true that unless renewables pick up the slack, Germany will become even more dependent on Russia for its fuel.

[neverdem]

LOL!