Bjørn Lomborg: Germany’s solar experiment collapses | FP Comment | Financial Post
Now the German government is vowing to cut the subsidies sooner than planned, and to phase out support over the next five years.
According to Der Spiegel, even members of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s staff are now describing the policy as a massive money pit.
Philipp Rösler, Germany’s Minister of Economics and Technology, has called the spiralling solar subsidies a “threat to the economy.”
Unfortunately, Germany — like most of the world — is not as sunny as the Sahara.
And, while sunlight is free, panels and installation are not.
It also has the distinct disadvantage of not working at night, when much electricity is consumed.
German Association of Physicists says, “solar energy cannot replace any additional power plants.”
On overcast winter days, Germany’s 1.1 million solar-power systems can generate no electricity.
The country is then forced to import considerable amounts of electricity ...to fill the supply gap.
Despite the massive investment, solar power accounts for only about 0.3% of Germany’s total energy.
(exceeded only by Denmark, which aims to be the “world wind-energy champion”).
Financial Post
Bjørn Lomborg is the author of "The Skeptical Environmentalist".
Germany’s solar experiment collapses
by Bjørn Lomborg:
Feb 21, 2012
Germany once prided itself on being the “photovoltaic world champion,” doling out generous subsidies to citizens to invest in solar energy, totaling more than US$130-billion, according to research by Ruhr University.
Now the German government is vowing to cut the subsidies sooner than planned, and to phase out support over the next five years.
What went wrong?
According to Der Spiegel, even members of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s staff are now describing the policy as a massive money pit.
Philipp Rösler, Germany’s Minister of Economics and Technology, has called the spiralling solar subsidies a “threat to the economy.”
Enthusiasm for solar power is understandable.
We could satisfy all of the world’s energy needs for an entire year, if we could capture just one hour of the sun’s energy.
Even with the inefficiency of current PV technology, we could meet the entire globe’s energy demand with solar panels by covering 250,000 square kilometres, about 2.6% of the Sahara Desert.
Unfortunately, Germany — like most of the world — is not as sunny as the Sahara.
And, while sunlight is free, panels and installation are not.
Solar power is at least four times more costly than energy produced by fossil fuels.
German Association of Physicists says, “solar energy cannot replace any additional power plants.”
On overcast winter days, Germany’s 1.1 million solar-power systems can generate no electricity.
The country is then forced to import considerable amounts of electricity ...to fill the supply gap.
Despite the massive investment, solar power accounts for only about 0.3% of Germany’s total energy.
Germans now pay the second-highest price for electricity in the developed world
(exceeded only by Denmark, which aims to be the “world wind-energy champion”).
Germany’s experiment with subsidizing inefficient solar technology has failed.
Financial Post
Bjørn Lomborg is the author of "The Skeptical Environmentalist".
Posted in: FP Comment Tags: Bjorn Lomborg, government spending, solar energy, subsidies, wind energy
