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Is Germany Responsible for High European Electricity Prices?
Germany, in case you don't know, is renewable energy nirvana, or so I've heard, but apparently "renewable energy" nirvana includes burning coal with promises to end the practice "by 2038." Regrettably, I'll be dead "by 2038" and unable to see the outcome of what is sure to be a declaration in 2038 that Germany will phase out fossil fuels "by 2060."
Anyway, there are some complaints in Europe about Germany's use of so called "renewable energy" which I'm often told is "cheap," but is being blamed by some other nations, Norway and Sweden for instance - numbers don't lie - for high electricity prices in Europe according to the following article, which among other things, has a nice bar chart of the cost of electricity in all the major (and minor) European countries:
Is Germany to blame for rising electricity prices in Europe?
Subtitle:
Some are blaming Germany for high electricity prices in other parts of Europe. Are they right? How connected is the European market and does weather really influence the price of electricity?
Excerpts:
The winter in Europe is having an impact on renewable energy production and electricity prices in general. At least that is what some Scandinavian countries are saying.
Since companies cannot store vast amounts of electricity yet, power must be used when it is generated. In the past, the European energy market was stabilized by power produced by fossil-fuel or nuclear plants.
The introduction of more renewables into the system brings more volatility. As the percentage of renewables goes up, so does the dependence on the fickle sun and inconsistent wind.
The winter in Europe is having an impact on renewable energy production and electricity prices in general. At least that is what some Scandinavian countries are saying.
Since companies cannot store vast amounts of electricity yet, power must be used when it is generated. In the past, the European energy market was stabilized by power produced by fossil-fuel or nuclear plants.
The introduction of more renewables into the system brings more volatility. As the percentage of renewables goes up, so does the dependence on the fickle sun and inconsistent wind...
Since companies cannot store vast amounts of electricity yet, power must be used when it is generated. In the past, the European energy market was stabilized by power produced by fossil-fuel or nuclear plants.
The introduction of more renewables into the system brings more volatility. As the percentage of renewables goes up, so does the dependence on the fickle sun and inconsistent wind.
The winter in Europe is having an impact on renewable energy production and electricity prices in general. At least that is what some Scandinavian countries are saying.
Since companies cannot store vast amounts of electricity yet, power must be used when it is generated. In the past, the European energy market was stabilized by power produced by fossil-fuel or nuclear plants.
The introduction of more renewables into the system brings more volatility. As the percentage of renewables goes up, so does the dependence on the fickle sun and inconsistent wind...
Nice word I've bolded, "yet," which implies that of course that it's a sure thing, maybe "by 2038," I presume. I suggest they call on King Elon and his cobalt slaves to make sure it happens.
The Number of Tesla Powerwalls Required That Would Address the Current German Dunkleflaute Event.
The article continues...
Renewables can add to instability
Germans have a word for a period where little or no energy can be produced because there is limited wind or sunlight: "Dunkelflaute" or "dark doldrums."
The technical name is "anticyclonic gloom," which doesn't sound nearly as menacing, though experts cannot agree what exactly needs to happen to get this designation.
Even if it is a slippery term, the phenomenon is serious. With lower renewable output, other sources of electricity need to be tapped, which can lead to short-term price spikes. Sometimes this means importing it from other countries...
Germans have a word for a period where little or no energy can be produced because there is limited wind or sunlight: "Dunkelflaute" or "dark doldrums."
The technical name is "anticyclonic gloom," which doesn't sound nearly as menacing, though experts cannot agree what exactly needs to happen to get this designation.
Even if it is a slippery term, the phenomenon is serious. With lower renewable output, other sources of electricity need to be tapped, which can lead to short-term price spikes. Sometimes this means importing it from other countries...
The article continues with some German handwaving and a statement of "no problem..." from coal burning "green" Germany.
Norway, the offshore gas drilling and gas selling hellhole on the West Scandinavian coast that makes almost all of its own electricity using hydropower, despite having Germany as a good customer for its gas, is complaining, as is nuclear powered Sweden. Norway does not have membership in the EU, and is not sure it wants to power Europe at its own expense.
Germany is sure they can buy power from nuclear powered France and coal powered Poland. What could go wrong?
The article is open read it for yourself.
I will merely reproduce a graphic from the article about how "cheap" so called "renewable energy" is, as I often hear from people who say "nuclear energy is too expensive" but the collapse of the planetary atmosphere is not "too expensive," and dumping coal waste into that degrading atmosphere is not "too expensive."
The graphic, electricity prices in Europe:
Earlier this week, Volkswagen proposed laying off 30,000 workers because of high energy prices, but apparently they've been convinced the rescind the plan. It's a good thing for those workers since the German energy policy is definitely not idea for helping poor people keep the lights on.
Don't worry; be happy. King Elon is endorsing the reestablishment of Nazism in Germany. How could that go wrong?
I hope you're doing your part by finishing up your Holiday shopping in our consumer nirvana.
Have a nice weekend.