The electricity for the electric car can come from the socket - or from the fuel cell. On the road, however, this technology is an absolute rarity. A car rental company in Munich now wants to change that.
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www.heute.de/muenchner-autovermieter-versucht-es-mit-brennstoffzelle-44823736.html
Berlin, 24.6.2021: Commenting on today's discussion of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) in the German Bundestag Sascha Müller-Kraenner, Federal Executive Director of Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH):
"The grand coalition is breaking its promise to set higher expansion targets for renewable energies for the year 2030 before the end of this election period. An agreement failed mainly due to the energy transition brakemen within the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. In doing so, the federal government is ignoring the implementation of the new EU climate targets and disregarding the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court to tackle more ambitious climate protection measures before 2030. The amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act is missing the heart of the matter. As recently as the end of 2020, Federal Economics Minister Peter Altmaier had announced an ambitious expansion path for wind and solar energy for the first quarter of 2021. After a long wait, there was only the famous drop in the ocean: four gigawatts of onshore wind energy and six gigawatts of photovoltaics are the targets for 2022. Longer-term expansion targets? No such thing. Quite obviously, the need for a rapid transformation of our energy supply has not yet reached the CDU/CSU, despite all their climate protection pledges in the election campaign."
The rising demand for electricity from electric heat pumps and electromobility necessitates the expansion of at least six gigawatts of onshore wind energy and at least ten gigawatts of photovoltaics - and this annually until 2030. The financial participation of municipalities in ground-mounted photovoltaics and easier repowering of wind turbines, on the other hand, are fundamentally positive measures.
Source: PM of DUH from 24.6.2021
Keywords:
DE-News, Renewable, Climate protection, PV, Environmental policy
The industry figures published annually by BVES show a fundamentally positive development in retrospect for 2020 and in the forecast for 2021. Across all technologies and segments, sales in the energy storage industry grew by over 10 percent to EUR 7.1 billion in 2020.
The growth drivers are the trends towards system integration, flexible sector coupling and electromobility, particularly in the household and commercial sectors. 300,000 home storage units alone are now installed in households and ensure a secure self-supply of green energy in the electricity, heating and mobility sectors. 300,000 home storage units provide 2.3 GWh of green electricity, enough for the annual washing of more than 20,000 households or to drive an e-car around the world more than 170 times.
Urban Windelen, Federal Managing Director BVES: "An addition of over 100,000 home storage units alone in one year is a great result. And at the same time a clear signal that citizens in households, commerce and industry increasingly want to rely on storage technologies to make their energy supply secure, green and cost-efficient. Politicians should finally listen to this signal and provide the highly innovative German storage industry with a suitable framework for its products. Relying solely on grid expansion and squeezing people into an outdated energy system will not be enough for a successful energy transition."
While the household segment was able to grow disproportionately in the Corona year 2020, the industrial and commercial storage segment suffered a decline of around 20 percent due to the pandemic. Germany also continues to evade the international trend towards the increased use of large-scale storage in the system infrastructure. This market segment is stagnating at a low level. The trend towards hydrogen solutions finds a difficult environment in Germany, so that market applications on an industrial scale cannot (yet) establish themselves. In contrast, thermal storage systems are developing well and are increasingly being used in industry in particular, contributing to decarbonisation.
Overall, the industry expects a significant recovery of the storage market in the industrial segment in 2021. The drivers here are flexible sector coupling in the direction of heat, the trend towards electromobility with clever charging solutions including storage, and self-supply solutions with green electricity to green hydrogen.
"Without energy storage, the energy transition is missing something. This is becoming increasingly obvious. Technically, the industry can do pretty much anything. Various technologies for all sectors and all applications are ready and operational. Now all that needs to be done is to finally release the regulatory brakes. Especially if we want to secure and support the domestic technical excellence and high value creation of the industry in Germany and Europe." says Urban Windelen.
The BVES industry figures 2021 are available via this link available.
The occasion for the publication is the international conference ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS 2021, organized by BVES in cooperation with Energy Storage Europe and EUROSOLAR e.V.. The two-day online conference ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS 2021 will feature parallel discussion panels and workshops on current trends in the storage industry.
Source: PM of the Bundesverband Energiespeicher from
Keywords:
DE-News, Energy storage, Renewable, PV, PlusEnergy house/settlement, Electricity storage
The Federal City of Bonn was awarded the "StadtGrün naturnah" label on Thursday, 19 September 2019. With this award, the alliance "Municipalities for Biodiversity" honours exemplary commitment on urban green spaces to promote biodiversity. Bonn was able to score points in the labelling process with species-rich wildflower meadows, sustainable forest management and innovative environmental education offers and is now one of the few large cities certified with the silver label for more nature in the city.
The awarding of the label took place during the "StadtGrün naturnah" conference in Bonn, where around 100 participants from municipalities and authorities learned about the activities of the award-winning municipalities and exchanged views on the scope for action for more diversity in municipal green spaces. Dieter Fuchs, Head of the Office for Urban Greening of the City of Bonn, accepted the award together with his staff.
"Already today, near-natural, species-rich green spaces characterise Bonn's cityscape. The labelling process supports us on our way to further strengthen ecological green space management," says Fuchs. "Especially in large cities with growing populations like Bonn, it is important to continue to give nature space in the city. In the labelling process, intensive cooperation has been established with local partners who are committed to biodiversity. Together we want to inspire citizens for more nature in the city and invite everyone to contribute in their own way."
In the multi-stage labelling process, the participating municipalities were closely accompanied by the project office "StadtGrün naturnah" for one year. Together they analysed how the urban green spaces could be further ecologically upgraded and which strengths and potentials already distinguish the city. A local working group, in which representatives of the city, the Biological Station, nature conservation associations, the University of Bonn and the Vebowag are represented, accompanied the process.
The city of Bonn has been committed to more biodiversity in the city since 1993 with the Bonn Meadow Programme. Today, there are meadows on around 63 hectares in the city area where bees, bumblebees, butterflies and other insects cavort. Species-rich perennial beds have been planted along paths and streets, for example at the Windeckbunker and on the banks of the Rhine below the Beethovenhalle. At Bonn's South Cemetery, 5,000 square metres of unused lawns were transformed into brightly coloured flowering areas. In the future, species-rich meadows will also be created on unused areas at other cemeteries in Bonn.
In the city forest, the city promotes and protects insects, birds and many other animals and plants by leaving over twelve percent of the forest area to natural development. The Bonn city forest has been certified since 1999 according to the strict criteria of the Naturland Association for ecological and sustainable management. For example, the employees of the Bonn city forestry do not clear-cut or use pesticides and fertilisers.
Since its reopening in summer 2019, the Haus der Natur has been the central starting point for environmental education programmes in Bonn. The programme of workshops and guided tours will be significantly expanded and specified in the future. In connection with the farmer's garden, the path of biodiversity, a meadow orchard and the adjacent Kottenforst, it offers numerous opportunities to observe, discover and experience nature.
Bonn citizens who would like to support biodiversity in their city will find a variety of opportunities, for example as a sponsor for a green space or as a flowering ambassador for the "Bonn blossoms and hums" initiative. There is also the possibility of leasing urban areas for urban gardening.
Further information on ecological green space management and the labelling process in Bonn is available at www.bonn.de/stadtgruen-naturnah.
The "StadtGrün naturnah" label was developed jointly by the Alliance of Municipalities for Biological Diversity and the German Environmental Aid (DUH). The award is part of the project "City Green - Species-Rich and Diverse", which is funded by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation with funds from the Federal Ministry for the Environment from 2016 to 2021 as part of the Federal Programme on Biological Diversity. In the first public tender, 14 municipalities were awarded the label. The label is valid for the period 2019 to 2022 and can be renewed after three years through recertification.
More information on the "StadtGrün naturnah" label at www.stadtgruen-naturnah.de.
Source: Press release City of Bonn, 20.09.2019
Keywords:
Greening / climate adaptation, Bonn, Communities, Near-natural open space design, News Blog NRW, Contests & Prizes, Wildlife/animal friendly construction
German cities consider greater cohesion in society to be necessary and want to make their contribution. The President of the German Association of Cities, Mayor Markus Lewe from Münster, said at the start of the annual general meeting of the leading municipal association in Dortmund: "Sticking together in our cities - that is reality, demand and hope at the same time. We are experiencing developments in Germany and throughout Europe that are calling into question our previous consensus on the values of a free and democratic society. In addition, some people feel left behind. We need more cohesion again. This is not an issue for cities alone, but it is a major issue for cities. Because we in local politics are the first point of contact for the people. They come to our town halls with their concerns, whether we are responsible or not. We want to strengthen the cohesion in our cities, and we are committed to a diverse and tolerant society."
The general assembly of the German Association of Cities, which takes place every two years, this time has the motto "Sticking together in our cities". Around 1300 delegates and guests are expected in Dortmund. The most prominent speakers on Wednesday are Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and NRW Minister President Armin Laschet. The German Association of Cities and Towns represents around 3,400 cities and municipalities with almost 52 million inhabitants vis-à-vis the Federal Government, the Federal Council and the European Union. It sees itself as the voice of the cities because it represents all independent cities including the city states as well as most cities belonging to a district.
In addition to cohesion, the German Association of Cities is currently particularly concerned with the topics of transport, housing, climate protection and the reform of property tax. On the occasion of their general meeting, the cities are calling on the federal and state governments to make much more progress on the transport turnaround. To this end, the German Association of Cities demands an investment offensive worth billions. It is also pushing for greater success in housing construction in growing cities so that more affordable housing is created for people with low incomes and for broad sections of the population.
Getting the transport revolution off the ground
President of the Association of Cities Markus Lewe explained: "We must not be timid and hesitant when it comes to transforming our transport systems. And we must make do rather than spill the beans. The municipal transport infrastructure is dramatically underfinanced, there is an investment backlog of over 38 billion euros. In order to reverse the trend towards sustainable mobility, the municipalities need an investment offensive from the federal and state governments that goes beyond previous programmes, with additional funds of 20 billion euros for at least ten years, i.e. 2 billion annually. Climate protection in transport has also been neglected for too long. That is why action must be taken quickly now. The transport turnaround must get going. We must help a sustainable, environmentally friendly and climate-friendly mobility for all to achieve a breakthrough. Many people want this and it will make our cities more liveable. To this end, the cities are demanding an overall concept for sustainable mobility from the federal and state governments, in which climate protection plays an important role. Above all, we need more attractive offers to switch from car to train, public transport, bicycle and footpaths". Of course, the cities are also investing in low-emission buses and trains, improving transport networks and expanding the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Around 11 billion passengers travel on public transport in Germany every year, and the trend is rising. In reality, however, public transport has been living on its substance for years. Tunnels and tracks need to be renovated, new buses and trains need to be purchased and stops need to be rebuilt. The federal government must now quickly implement its promise in the coalition agreement to increase the federal programme for major projects in the Municipal Transport Financing Act (GVFG) from around 330 million to 1 billion euros. For the expansion and reconstruction of roads, railways and tracks, the federal states are also required to increase the GVFG funds in line with demand, for which they will be financially responsible from 2020.
"Bicycle traffic is increasing significantly, more and more people are cycling further distances themselves, and electric scooters will soon also be using cycle paths more. That's why we also need a cycle path offensive from the federal government, the federal states and the municipalities."Lewe demanded.
It is also necessary to reallocate the limited public space in cities. On average, passenger cars transport only 1.4 people per trip, but they need the most space per passenger. Lewe made clear: "We need more areas in public space for encounters and for sustainable mobility. The face of our cities should not be a car park or a four-lane road. In consequence, this will have to mean: less space for cars, but more space for people travelling by public transport, by bike or on foot. Cities must negotiate this new balance in dialogue with their citizens. Success is measured above all by the acceptance of the population and the local businesses.
Housing is a basic need - implement housing offensive with more speed
Despite the housing offensive announced at the housing summit in autumn 2018 and some positive decisions by the federal and state governments, too few new affordable flats are being built, especially in conurbations and growing cities, emphasised the president of the Association of Cities and Towns. What is currently needed are about 400,000 new flats every year. In fact, only 290,000 were built last year. The lack of building land, high land prices and construction costs make it difficult to create affordable housing.
The cities themselves are developing building land strategies, in some cases giving away land at a reduced price and obliging larger investors to provide affordable housing on a pro-rata basis. However, the existing problems can only be overcome in a concerted effort by all parties involved, Lewe made clear: "Housing is a basic need for every human being. Creating sufficient affordable housing cannot be left to the market alone. All actors are called upon. We must build, build and build. The housing offensive must be implemented with more speed. The cities want to contribute to this. They will continue to mobilise building land and enable redensification. And they will do so in a way that builds in good quality and ensures a social mix of the population in the neighbourhoods."
Social housing construction and the availability of building land remain essential. That is why the cities are glad that the federal government will continue to share responsibility for social housing promotion and will not withdraw at the end of this year. And that is why it should be easier again for cities to actively provide building land for affordable housing. To this end, for example, the municipalities' right of first refusal should be strengthened. "What is needed are 80,000 to 120,000 new social housing units per year. Currently there are only about half as many," says Lewe.
Quelel: PM of the German Association of Cities from 4.6.2019
Keywords:
DE-News, Communities, Mobility, Social / Culture, City, Environmental policy, Housing, Housing policy
