While the sound barrier of 100,000 installed fuel cells was already broken in Japan last year, numerous heating technology suppliers presented natural gas fuel cell heaters for the first time at the ISH in Frankfurt in March of this year, which are now to conquer German boiler rooms after decades of development and testing.
For the Badger InnoGen by SenerTec with a Japanese fuel cell from Toshiba and the Viessmann Vitovalor 300-P with a Panasonic fuel cell, a subsidy of around 7,600 euros awaits. In addition, Viessmann recently reduced the price of the Vitovalor 300-P to 19,500 euros, so that, taking into account the new subsidy, a complete fuel cell heating system with Japanese roots can be had for as little as 11,900 euros.
In the construction of three new apartment buildings in Wieblinger Weg, Stadtwerke Heidelberg Umwelt GmbH implemented an innovative overall energy concept for Baugenossenschaft Neu Heidelberg eG. PV systems with a total output of 30 kWp and a module area of 200 square metres were installed on the roofs of the new buildings. The tenants are supplied with electricity from a PV system and battery storage. The remaining electricity is supplied in the form of certified green electricity from the public grid. Photo: Stadtwerke Heidelberg Umwelt GmbH
Bonn/Düsseldorf. The fast, affordable and complete energy transition towards 100 percent renewable energy needs thought leaders and pioneers who inspire others. With the annual awarding of the German Solar Prize, EUROSOLAR puts these actors in the public eye and offers new impulses for a decentralised, citizen-oriented and regenerative conversion of the energy system.
EUROSOLAR e.V. and the EnergyAgency.NRW will jointly present the winners of the German Solar Prize 2017 on Saturday, 14 October 2017, at VillaMedia in Wuppertal.
In the run-up to the award ceremony, EUROSOLAR, in cooperation with the Hermann Scheer Foundation is organising a symposium to tie in with Hermann Scheer's visionary work "Der Energethische Imperativ" (The Energy Ethical Imperative). Together with the audience, the speakers will discuss how the rapid path to a renewable energy age can be implemented.
The award ceremony of the German Solar Prize begins with greetings from Lothar Schneider, Managing Director of EnergyAgency.NRW, Bettina Brücher, Mayor of the City of Wuppertal and Jörg HeynkesManaging Director of VillaMedia GmbH. Give an introduction Prof. Dr Andreas Pinkwart, Minister for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and Stephan GrügerMdL and Vice-President of EUROSOLAR e.V. Afterwards, the award winners will be honoured. Dr Axel BergChairman of EUROSOLAR Germany, the highlight of the event.
This will be followed by a get-together with snacks.
Participation in the event is free of chargeRegistration is requested by 6 October.
Further information and registration
The German Solar Prize 2017 is awarded to nine prize winners:
Category: Cities, municipalities, districts, public utilities
- • Stadtwerke Heidelberg Umwelt GmbH
Pioneer and pioneer for tenant power projects
Category: Solar architecture and urban development
- • elobau Plant 2, Leutkirch im Allgäu
Integral building concept with regenerative and efficient energy technology and high architectural standards
Category: Industrial, commercial or agricultural enterprises/companies
- • ALDI SÜD Group of Companies, Mülheim an der Ruhr
Extensive use of solar energy in retail with integration of
E-mobility and targeted customer communication
Category: Local and regional associations/communities
- • Friends of Prokon e.V., Dortmund
Tireless commitment to citizen-owned renewable energies
Category: Media - Frank Farenski, Berlin
Longstanding commitment to transparent and freely accessible reporting on the energy transition
Category: Transport systems
- • StreetScooter of Deutsche Post DHL Group, Bonn
Comprehensive realisation of environmentally friendly city logistics and wake-up call for the German automotive industry
Category: Education and training
- • :metabolon - Bergisches Energiekompetenzzentrum, Lindlar
Innovative use of a landfill site as a learning, research and information location for resource management and energy and environmental technologies
Category: One World Cooperation
- • Solar Energy Foundation, Freiburg im Breisgau
Sustainable and holistic contribution to poverty reduction in developing countries with the help of solar energy
Category: Special prize for personal commitment
- • Environmental Group Elbvororte, Hamburg
30 years of outstanding commitment to environmental protection and renewable energies
Members of the jury:
Dr Axel Berg, Chairman EUROSOLAR Deutschland e.V.
Prof. Peter Droege, President EUROSOLAR e.V.
Wibke Brems, Member of the German Parliament, EUROSOLAR e.V.
Dr Joachim Frielingsdorf, EnergyAgency.NRW
Stephan Grüger, MdL, Vice President EUROSOLAR e.V.
Thomas Günther, EUROSOLAR e.V.
Rosa Hemmers, EUROSOLAR e.V.
Dr Nina Scheer, Member of the German Bundestag, Hermann Scheer Foundation
Irm Scheer-Pontenagel, EUROSOLAR e.V.
Prof. Eberhard Waffenschmidt, SFV Germany e.V.
"The world's water resources are currently facing the greatest threat in the history of mankind," write aquatic ecologists in their recently published statement paper. More than one hundred professional societies of aquatic ecosystem research around the globe have signed the joint statement. In it, the researchers show the dramatic effects that climate change is having on aquatic ecosystems worldwide. They call for immediate concerted action by politics, business, science and society to halt the progress of climate change.
"Climate change is here - and it is leaving clear, partly irreversible traces in aquatic ecosystems," says Prof. Markus Weitere, President of the German Limnology Society (DGL) and Head of the Department of Stream Ecology at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). (DGL) and head of the Department of Stream Ecology at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). "We aquatic ecologists see the effects of climate change every day through our work. And the exchange with colleagues from all over the world shows: The problems reach around the globe - and they are massive." In a joint statement paper, professional societies from all over the world that study aquatic ecosystems have now compiled the effects of climate change on aquatic ecosystems and substantiated them with relevant studies. The paper was published on 14 September 2020. The DGL is one of the 110 signatory professional societies with more than 80,000 members.
"Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth." (quote statement paper)
Water is essential for the survival of all organisms. Aquatic ecosystems are therefore an indispensable basis for all life on earth. Due to climate change, however, water bodies are losing their ecological balance. "The extreme droughts we have experienced in Germany in recent years are signs of climate change and will become more severe," says Weitere. "The associated consequences for our water bodies are serious. For example, flowing waters carry less water, riparian areas and floodplain landscapes are falling dry. All this has a negative impact on the water ecosystem." The dwindling availability of water is also a problem for humans, as the groundwater level is sinking and drinking water reservoirs can no longer be sufficiently replenished.
Water quality is also suffering from the effects of climate change. "High temperatures and changes in water flow favour the eutrophication of water bodies, which leads to an increased development of algae as well as potentially toxic blue-green algae. "When this algal biomass is degraded, favoured by high temperatures, oxygen depletion occurs," explains Weitere. "This damages the organisms and can cause mass fish kills, as seen in the 2018 and 2019 droughts." In their statement, the professional societies further point to the risk of increased pollutant loads in water bodies. Rising temperatures can mobilise pollutants bound in permafrost soils and release them into water systems. "These and numerous other effects of climate change are leading to an increasing loss of biodiversity in water ecosystems," says Weitere. "This process is further exacerbated by immigrant species that benefit from changing conditions in water bodies and displace native species." Climate change is also leading to an increasing deterioration of water quality in the oceans. In their statement, the expert societies explain that shifts in species composition and abundance, for example, are already visible - with consequences for fishery yields and food security. "The global economic consequences of climate change should not be underestimated," says Weitere. "Failure to tackle climate change, loss of biodiversity and water crisis - these three issues have now been ranked for the first time among the top 5 risks of the coming decade by the World Economic Forum in its assessment of global risks."
"Governments, the public, industry, science and all other sectors of society need to prioritise and act in a concerted way to halt man-made climate change and prevent dire consequences."
(Quote statement paper)
What must be done now to slow down the progress of climate change and to keep the impacts as low as possible? In their statement paper, the aquatic ecologists call for a rapid, consistent and drastic reduction in the release of greenhouse gases. In addition, natural processes that sequester carbon must be promoted - e.g. by preserving, protecting and developing wetlands as natural carbon sinks. "Some consequences of climate change will be irreversible, however," says Weitere. "To best buffer the negative effects, we need to take regionally adequate measures." This includes promoting research and training in water ecology and ensuring capacities in water monitoring and management. The effects caused by climate change - eutrophication, oxygen depletion, pollutant mobilisation, immigration of alien species and loss of biodiversity - are not unknown in water ecology and can therefore still be managed in many cases. "Climate change is both a trigger and an accelerator. We can still make a difference - for that we have to take the scientific findings seriously and act boldly and decisively," says Weitere.
This statement is being released to coincide with the start of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) Virtual Annual Meeting on 14 September 2020 (afsannualmeeting.fisheries.org).
Publisher: German Federal Foundation for the Environment / Sabine Djahanschah
The ecological model settlement "Prince Eugene Park"on a former barracks site in Munich sets new standards in timber construction. Various timber construction methods and building types up to seven storeys are being tested side by side in eight building projects with the aim of a final scientific evaluation. Timber frame, timber frame and timber hybrid construction methods are being used.
Close cooperation with the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) and research commissions from the Ruhr Universität Bochum (RUB) and the Technische Universität München (TUM) ensure a sound evaluation of the monitoring accompanying construction. Beyond the realization of living space, the project makes an active contribution to climate protection and sustainable urban development.
Embedded in the surrounding parkland, the new quarter will also offer an attractive range of social, cultural and commercial infrastructure. Building volume 4 presents the eight building types and examines the potential of the different construction methods in detail.
Authors: Zeno Dietrich, Sabine Djahanschah, Annette Hafner, Wolfgang Huß, Ulrike Klar, Wolf Opitsch, Arnim Seidel and Michael Storck
First edition: 2020 Format: 112 Pages, German, 21 x 27 cm, Swiss brochure Publisher: Detail Business Information GmbH, Munich
Roof extension offers enormous living space potential
A great opportunity for more flats in Germany lies on the roofs: More than 1.5 million additional flats could be created by adding storeys to roofs. And in places where living space is already scarce and housing is expensive: in large cities, conurbations and university towns.
This is the conclusion of a study presented today in Berlin by the Technical University of Darmstadt and the Pestel Institute in Hanover. To ensure that this potential can be utilised quickly, the German government should create incentives and allow special depreciation for additional storeys, according to the scientists. The study assumes an average size of around 85 square metres of living space for flats that can be built as "on-top floors" on the roofs of existing residential buildings.
The study focuses on the housing reserves of apartment blocks built between 1950 and 1990. According to the study, an additional 1.12 million flats could be built in regions with a tight housing market simply by adding storeys to the roofs of around 580,000 of these post-war buildings. In addition, a further 420,000 flats could be built on buildings constructed before 1950. "The potential is enormous. And this is despite the fact that the study takes into account both the protection of historical monuments and the preservation of the cityscape when selecting the buildings that are eligible for a roof extension," says Prof Dr Karsten Tichelmann from TU Darmstadt.
The advantage of the extension is that no additional building land is needed. This also means that no new green spaces would be sealed. There would also be no need to build new infrastructure - no new roads, sewers or supply lines would be required. This means that the land and development costs are already two important points where savings can be made. With an extension, the energy requirement on the floor below could be reduced by up to half.
The press release, short and long versions of the study as well as the political demands of the associations can be found in the download area on the following website: www.impulse-fuer-den-wohnungsbau.de/...wohnraum-potential.html
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