How building is revolutionized
dated 09/27/2018 - 28:49 min.
www.zdf.de/gesellschaft/plan-b/plan-b-das-haus-von-morgen-100.html
(unfortunately no longer online; 15.2.2021)
Here is another text description:
www.youtv.de/tv-sendungen/3290827-plan-b-das-haus-von-morgen
On 12 December 2015, the parties to the climate negotiations in Paris agreed that global warming should be limited to a maximum of 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius. This was presented with such confidence that one could almost forget that the Earth's atmosphere does not have a thermostat. No one can guarantee that this target will be met, especially not on the basis of a resolution: the CO² concentration of 400 parts per million (ppm) is already significantly higher than the 280 ppm required for climate stability. Methane emissions released by permafrost melting and peatland destruction are adding to the flood of exhaust gases from coal, gas and oil. The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius cannot be achieved without an actual and immediate reduction in emissions. However, the current pledges of the climate parties may allow for 2, 4 or even 5 degrees.
So much for the critical findings from Paris. On the positive side: this was the first COP in which renewable energies (RE) were given a clear and strong mandate. The initiatives, 100% RE movements and programmes of the developing countries for the use of renewable energies were finally given as much respect as the island states, which had previously only been heard marginally. However, not much else of significance was decided - if you want to look at it positively, it was a historic consensus of almost all nations, and an implicit consensus to initiate the expansion of renewable energies. Worldwide and already massive investments have only just begun and can now only intensify. Thousands of communities, banks, companies, foundations and millions of people have recognised this. The installed capacity of photovoltaics alone has increased fifty-fold in the last 10 years. The signal to the countries of the world, but also to Berlin and all other national decision-makers: the immediate, unrestricted switch to renewable energies must not be delayed any longer - the contracting parties must no longer slow down the movement towards the 100%-EE target. (*)
The 'miracle of Paris' is therefore, at best, the realisation that the time for climate negotiations is over and the time for national action has come.
The Paris Agreement can only be celebrated as an achievement of international diplomacy, process management and sustainability marketing. To leave everything else as it is would mean accepting it as a sham agreement. It would allow the nominally agreed targets to be confused with actual measures.
Fossil fuels are in no way specifically limited by the treaties. (**) Their influence is particularly evident in Germany, where the government has deformed the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and thus curbed the energy transition. The expansion of solar and wind energy is now to be massively slowed down by a planned economy-style allocation system. Bioenergy and tens of thousands of jobs in the solar industry have already been sacrificed.
The transition to renewable energies is a local and regional process of innovation that must be facilitated by national legislation, but must essentially take place in a decentralised manner. The basis for this is a new energy market organisation that brings about the convergence of energy markets and ends the structural economic disadvantage of renewables. The clear message and admission from Paris is that no global climate agreement can replace the necessary country-specific and regional implementation of the energy transition. Our task therefore remains the demand for a global energy supply with 100% renewable energy, which is more important and urgent today than ever before.
Professor Peter Droege
President, EUROSOLAR
General Chairman, WCRE
*) The only reference to the central topic of energy only occurs in one place where reference is made to renewable energies - in connection with the 'need for universal access to sustainable energy supply in developing countries through renewable energies, especially in Africa.' However, the importance of promoting renewable energies through the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), which was pushed through by Hermann Scheer (EUROSOLAR, SPD), Hans-Josef Fell (Greens) and Hermann Fellner (CSU) in 2000 and which was modelled on similar laws in many other countries and led to the breakthrough of renewables, is not mentioned in the treaty documents.
**) On the contrary, the Paris Climate Agreement allows the fossil fuel economy to continue to exist until the end of the century, and even permits the further expansion of fossil fuel power plants. Dystopian high-risk technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) are firmly planned in some participating countries - even if they are not enshrined in the final document. Also firmly planned in many places - and even still in many 'scientific' minds - is a massive expansion of nuclear energy, including the dangers of accidents and the nuclear waste problems that cannot be solved responsibly. Even the aberrations of nuclear fusion supporters continue to be rewarded with growing budgets. The multinational nuclear, coal and oil companies have obviously exerted their influence on governments here.
Source: Eurosolar statement from 18 December 2015
Keywords:
DE-News, Renewable, Climate protection, News Blog France, Environmental policy
After a significant decline in the previous year, greenhouse gas emissions in Germany are on the rise again. Thus, around 762 million tonnes of greenhouse gases were released in 2021 - a good 33 million tonnes or 4.5 percent more than in 2020. Overall, emissions in Germany have thus fallen by 38.7 percent since 1990. The increase in the last year is particularly noticeable in the energy sector: This shows an increase of 27 million tonnes CO2-equivalents, as increased demand for electricity, lower electricity generation from renewable energies and the higher gas price led to increased use of coal for electricity generation. Electricity generation from renewables fell by seven per cent, mainly due to poor wind conditions. In the transport and building sectors, emissions were above the annual ceilings set by the Federal Climate Protection Act. This is shown by the latest calculations of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), which are based on the specifications of the Federal Climate Protection Act and the EU-Renewable Energy Directive (RED) were presented today.
Climate State Secretary Patrick GraichenThe increase in greenhouse gas emissions has unfortunately become apparent. The Federal Government will now quickly counteract this with an immediate climate protection programme. The key is a much faster pace in the expansion of renewable energies. We must manage to install three times as much capacity as before in order to increase the share of renewables in electricity generation to 80% by 2030. There must be no more of the kind of stalemate we have seen in recent years. The Russian war of aggression on Ukraine has also made it dramatically clear to us how closely security and energy supply are linked. We can no longer afford to ignore this. That is why we must now quickly remove every stumbling block on the path to more wind and solar power. The faster shift away from fossil energies must encompass all sectors - from industrial production and buildings to mobility and agriculture. It is crucial to maintain the social balance in the process."
UBA-President Dirk Messner: "Almost half of the 2020 reduction in greenhouse gas emissions has already been lost. Our figures clearly show that the federal government's targets must be addressed as quickly as possible. We need to build more solar and wind power plants quickly. We must convert our buildings to heat pumps and stop installing oil and gas heating systems as soon as possible. We can also achieve a lot with our houses by saving energy, especially by making them more energy-efficient. This will also help to reduce our energy dependence on Russia. Each and every one of us can do something here that also helps the climate: heat a little less, leave the car parked more often or, if it is necessary, drive more slowly."
Current emission data in detail
Since 1990, emissions in Germany have fallen by 38.7 percent. The target for 2030 is a reduction of 65 percent. In 2021, there were increases in emissions compared to the previous year in almost all sectors. The available data show that since 2010, the energy transition in particular has contributed to the reduction of emissions. All other significant sectors have more or less stagnated since 2010.
© BMWK / Federal Environment Agency
In the sector Energy industry are with around 27 m. tonnes - this corresponds to 12.4 per cent more than in 2020. With around 247 tonnes, the m. Tons CO2-equivalents, however, emissions were still a good 11 m. There is no annual emission quantity for 2021 in the Federal Climate Protection Act for the energy sector. Emissions from hard coal and lignite-fired power generation increased particularly significantly due to the increased use of coal. The use of lower-emission natural gas, on the other hand, decreased in the second half of the year due to the significant increase in gas prices. The main reason for the increased use of fossil energy sources for electricity generation is the 17.5 TWh Significantly reduced electricity generation from renewable energies, in particular the lower wind power generation, and a 13.5 TWh increased gross electricity consumption.
At Traffic in 2021, around 148 m. Tons CO2-equivalents are emitted. This means that greenhouse gas emissions from this sector are both 1.2 per cent above the 2020 value and around 3 m. tonnes above the annual emission quantity of 145 tonnes permitted in the Federal Climate Protection Act for 2021. m. Tons CO2-equivalents. One reason for this is road freight traffic, which has risen again on the motorways to a level slightly above that of 2019. The CAR-In contrast, the level of traffic is still lower than before the Corona pandemic (2019), which is reflected in fuel sales figures and data from counting stations on motorways and trunk roads.
In the sector Industry emissions rose by a good 9 % compared to the previous year. m. Tons CO2-equivalents increased (plus 5.5 per cent). With around 181 m. Tons CO2-equivalents, they were almost at the 2019 level again, but just below the annual emission quantity of 182 m. Tons CO2- equivalents. Catching-up economic effects in the wake of the Corona crisis and increased use of fossil fuels play an important role here. The most significant percentage increase was in the steel industry, where crude steel production rose by around 12 percent. In the manufacturing industry (energy-related share), emissions increased by around seven m. Tons CO2-equivalents respectively 6.4 per cent.
At Buildings In 2021, there was an emission reduction of just under 4 m. Tons CO2-equivalents (minus 3.3 per cent) to around 115 m. Tons CO2-equivalents. Despite this reduction in emissions, the building sector, as in the previous year, exceeds the permitted annual emission quantity according to the Federal Climate Protection Act, which is 113 m. Tons CO2-equivalents. The reduction in emissions is mainly due to a special effect of significantly reduced heating oil purchases. Heating oil stocks were already increased extensively in 2019 and 2020 due to the favourable prices and in anticipation of the Fuel Emissions Trading Act. Natural gas consumption, on the other hand, increased due to the weather.
In the sector Agriculture Greenhouse gas emissions decreased by a good 1.2 m. Tons CO2-equivalents (minus 2.0 per cent) to 61 m. Tons CO2-equivalents. The sector thus remains significantly below the annual emission level of 68 m. Tons CO2-equivalents. The decline in animal numbers continues. Cattle numbers fell by 2.3 percent, pig numbers by 9.2 percent. As a result, there was less manure, which is why the emissions associated with fertilisation also fell (-4.0 percent compared to 2020). However, the significant undercutting of the set annual emission quantity is mainly due to methodological improvements in the calculation of emissions.
The emissions of the Waste sector fell by around 4.3 per cent compared to the previous year to a good eight per cent. m. Tons CO2-equivalents. This means that the waste sector once again remains below the annual emission level of nine m. Tons CO2-equivalents. The trend is essentially determined by the decreasing emissions from landfilling as a result of the ban on landfilling organic waste.
© BMWK / Federal Environment Agency
Further procedure under the Federal Climate Protection Act
The emission data for the year 2021 will now be reviewed by the Expert Council on Climate Issues, as provided for in the law. The expert council submits an assessment of the data within one month. After that, according to the law, the respective responsible ministries have three months to submit an emergency programme containing proposals for measures to bring the building sector and transport sector onto the intended target path in the coming years. However, the federal government is already working on an emergency climate protection programme that is intended to meet these requirements as far as possible.
© BMWK / Federal Environment Agency
Dirk Messner: "In order to achieve the German government's goals by 2030, six percent of emissions must now be reduced per year. Since 2010, the average has not even been two percent. To achieve this, Germany now needs a joint energy effort. Together, we must put all our energy into making ourselves independent of Russian energy and protecting our climate.
Current data on renewable energies
As early as 2020, the project, which was launched as part of the EU-Renewable Energies Directive (Renewable Energy DirectiveRED), Germany's binding target of 18 percent of gross final energy consumption was exceeded with 19.3 %. In 2021, the gross final energy consumption from renewable energies in the electricity, heating and transport sectors rose according to the calculation specifications of the RED further slightly to 483 Billion kWh an. This corresponded to a share of 19.7 per cent of total gross final energy consumption.
The main reason was that more renewable energies were used for heating and cooling due to the cold winter. For this reason - and because heating oil sales, which are decisive for the calculation of the share, also declined due to high inventories and rising oil prices - the share of renewable heat increased significantly from 15.3 to 16.5 percent in 2021. The heating and cooling sector accounts for more than half of Germany's total gross final energy consumption.
Electricity generation from renewable energies declined by seven percent in 2021 due to a comparatively poor wind year. At the same time, the expansion of onshore wind energy plants stagnated in recent years. The renewable share of gross electricity consumption fell accordingly from 45.2 percent in 2020 to 41.1 percent. Electricity consumption represents about a quarter of Germany's total gross final energy consumption. For the European monitoring according to RED the real decline in renewable electricity generation is, however, mitigated by a normalisation rule for compensating for weather effects over several years.
In the transport sector, the share of renewable energies in total final energy consumption fell from 7.6 percent in the previous year to 6.8 percent in 2021. This decline can be explained by special carry-over arrangements from earlier years under the greenhouse gas reduction quota and a higher crediting of upstream emission reductions. Transport is responsible for a good quarter of total energy consumption.
These and many other up-to-date and quality-assured data have been published in the background paper "Renewable Energies in Germany - Data on Development in 2021" by the Working Group on Renewable Energies Statistics (AGEE-Stat), which appeared today. The first available data on the use of renewable energies in the electricity, heat and transport sectors are supplemented by calculations on the associated avoided emissions and economic effects.
Further information:
The accuracy of the data
The present emission data for the year 2021 represent the best possible calculation at present. They are associated with corresponding uncertainties, in particular due to the limited statistical calculation basis available at this time. The calculations are derived from a system of model calculations and trend updates of the detailed inventories of greenhouse gas emissions for 2020 published in January 2022.
The complete, official and detailed inventory data on greenhouse gas emissions in Germany for the year 2021 is published by the UBA in January 2023 with the transmission to the European Commission.
Links
Source: PM from BMWK and UBA 15.03.2022
Keywords:
DE-News, Renewable, Climate protection, Mobility, Quarters, Settlements, City, Environmental policy, Housing, Housing policy
6/2014 Swedish housing association awards major timber construction contractSwedish housing association Rikshem Ab has signed a major contract with the northern Swedish timber construction company Lindbäcks Bygg, Piteå, to build 2,000 rental flats across the country over the next five years. The volume of the order is estimated at SEK 2 billion (equivalent to around EUR 220 million). The contract includes an option for a further 500 units. The rental flats are to be built in the country's urban centres, primarily in the capital region and the Öresund region in the south, where there is a housing shortage. Lindbäcks Bygg is a family business that was founded in 1924 as a village sawmill and generated sales of SEK 600 million in 2013 with around 200 employees. Lindbäcks started building industrially prefabricated wooden apartment blocks 20 years ago.
(Source: Holzbau Deutschland-Institut e. V.)
3/2014 large sustainable construction areas in Germany:
2/2014 Fuel cells: The world's largest fuel cell park has gone into operation in South Korea. The plant was built by the American company Fuelcell Energy in Hwaseong City. With an output of 59 megawatts, the plant converts natural gas into electricity and heat and is said to be particularly efficient. (Bloomberg)
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Europe's largest ecological neighbourhood is being built in France
A sustainable neighbourhood is to be built on more than 200 hectares for 30,000 private individuals in Montreuil, France. The neighbourhood is part of a new development area covering a total of 892 hectares and is being funded with 3.5 million euros from the NQU initiative (Nouveaux Quartiers Urbains = New Urban Districts).
www.montreuil.fr/grands-projets/les-hauts-de-montreuil
1/2014 New book publication by Rob Hopkins: "Simple. Now. Do!" Hopkins is the founder of the Transition Towns movement
www.oekom.de/buecher/vorschau/buch/einfach-jetzt-machen.html
Keywords:
DE-News
The Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy Management of Baden-Württemberg is again supporting investments in photovoltaic systems in combination with battery storage with a total of five million euros in the coming year.
It is thus responding to the enormous demand. Since the launch of the "Grid-serving photovoltaic battery storage" funding programme in March of this year, over 2,500 applications have been received. The programme is part of the state government's solar offensive. It ends on 31 December 2019.
"The expansion of battery storage systems has increased significantly. This benefits the climate and the economy in the state. It is important to me to maintain this momentum," said Environment and Energy Minister Franz Untersteller in Stuttgart today (14 December). The state is therefore happy to support investments in solar battery storage.
The Ministry of the Environment draws attention to the fact that the subsidy rates will decrease as planned on 1 January 2019. From the new year, there will be a subsidy of 200 euros (instead of the previous 300 euros) per kWh for storage units in connection with a photovoltaic system with a nominal output of up to 30 kilowatt peak, and 300 euros (instead of 400 euros) per kWh for larger storage units.
As a result of an expert hearing, new funding conditions will apply from 1 February 2019. Investors will receive a bonus of 500 euros for grid-serving charging stations for electric vehicles. The bonus for forecast-based battery management systems, on the other hand, will no longer apply. Photovoltaic systems between ten and 14 kilowatt peak will receive an additional one-time subsidy of 400 euros from the Ministry. Further changes concern the minimum installation ratio and the active power limitation. In addition, the support programme will be opened up to farmers.
https://um.baden-wuerttemberg.de/…foerdermoeglichkeiten/pv-speicher/
Keywords:
Stakeholders, DE-News, Energy storage, Renewable, Funding, News Blog Baden-Württemberg, Electricity storage, Environmental policy, Economics
