While some governments continue to rely on traditional energy sources to “solve” their energy problems, Germany set a new national record on the past April 30. The 85 percent of electricity consumed during midday in that country was generated through renewable sources, deploying a formidable combination of solar, wind, hydroelectric, and biomass. The next step in its energy plan is to begin retiring nuclear plants in 2022, and to reproduce this percentage on a daily basis by 2030.
More and more regions are viewing the energy market with an abundance strategy, not scarcity. The key is the accelerated adoption of renewable technologies, whose costs keep falling. We recently discussed solar cells that surpassed 26 percent efficiency and monsters like the Vestas V164 9 MW turbine but an advanced energy plan doesn’t put all its eggs in one basket; it uses all alternatives at its disposal. One of the most solid examples is Germany, which closed April by breaking a new national generation record.
According to Patrick Graichen director of Agora Energiewende, coal-based plants almost did not operate during Sunday April 30, and the contribution of nuclear plants was minimal, while the renewable grid covered 85 percent of demand between 1 PM and 3 PM. A combination of clear skies and good wind helped achieve that percentage, to such an extent that the market temporarily established negative prices to compensate. Graichen added that inflexible energy plants no longer have anything to do in the electricity system and will have to accept greater losses, which at the same time “ruins” the tariff structure.
It is estimated that the first step to correct this will happen in 2022, when Germany begins retiring its nuclear plants (a direct response to the Fukushima disaster). Graichen said that days like April 30 will be “completely normal” toward the year 2030, but it will only be possible with strong public and political support (which exists today).
