After
the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the German government decided to abandon
nuclear power, closing eight plants immediately and shutting down the remaining
nine by 2022. Their solar power plants were able to produce a world record 22 Giga watts of
electricity per hour - equal to 20 nuclear power stations at full capacity..!!
If they can do it, why can't we? Wind energy alone could provide enough power
ten times over to provide for all of our needs!
Nuclear
plants will be replaced by renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and
bio-mass. 22 Giga watts of solar power per hour fed into the German power grids,
met nearly 50 percent of the nation's midday electricity needs.
It
should be seen as a great auger for bright, clean and safe energy environment
for the entire world and hope for every developing and underdeveloped countries
to cut their huge cost, they are bearing for energy requirements.
Never
before anywhere has a country produced as much photovoltaic electricity. Germany came
close to the 20 GW mark a few times in recent weeks. But this was the first
time they made it over. The record-breaking amount of solar power shows one of
the world's leading industrial nations was able to meet a third of its
electricity needs on a work day, Friday, and nearly half on Saturday when
factories and offices were closed.
Government-mandated
support for renewable has helped Germany became a world leader in renewable
energy and the country gets about 20 percent of its overall annual electricity
from those sources.
Germany
has nearly as much installed solar power generation capacity as the rest of the
world combined and gets about four percent of its overall annual electricity
needs from the sun alone. It aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40
percent from 1990 levels by 2020.
SUNSHINE
Some
critics say renewable energy is not reliable enough nor is there enough
capacity to power major industrial nations. But Germany is eager to demonstrate
that is indeed possible.
The
jump above the 20 GW level was due to increased capacity this year and bright
sunshine nationwide. The 22 GW per hour figure is up from about 14 GW per hour
a year ago. Germany added 7.5 GW of installed power generation capacity in 2012
and 1.8 GW more in the first quarter for a total of 26 GW capacities.
This
shows Germany is capable of meeting a large share of its electricity needs with
solar power, it also shows Germany can do with fewer coal-burning power plants,
gas-burning plants and nuclear plants.
This
should be an eye opener of the nations involved in dangerous nuclear deals or
in nuclear plantation. What for and where they are heading for to keep their
promise of giving light to people or disastrous, dangerous and unlivable
environment to their gen –next.
Hopes lies everywhere and trends, for what have
been achieved so far, are also in favor, now one need a strong will power to
get the things on track for better tomorrow.
"Because we don't think about future generations, they will never forget us" ~Henrik Tikkanen
Source: Reuters Photo Credit: Rooftop Revolution
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