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Wind und Sonne – Energierevolution? | Mit offenen Karten | ARTE
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Wind und Sonne – Energierevolution? | Mit offenen Karten | ARTE

Welcome to the Discussion on Renewable Energy

Overview of Wind and Solar Energy Developments

  • The largest county in Norway, Gorsch, is located on the Fossen peninsula, which hosts Europe's largest land-based wind farm. This development benefits climate efforts but disrupts the Sami minority's reindeer herding due to noise pollution from turbines.
  • Critics highlight issues such as landscape alteration and noise disturbance caused by wind energy projects. However, the urgency of climate change drives a surge in renewable energy adoption, particularly solar and wind.
  • In Rajasthan, India, one of the world's largest solar parks has been operational since 2015, covering 56 km² with a capacity of 2.25 gigawatts—enough to power 1.3 million households.

Technological Insights into Renewable Energy

  • Polycrystalline silicon solar cells convert light into direct current (DC), which is then transformed into alternating current (AC) by an inverter. This process emits minimal CO2, crucial for a country still reliant on coal for 34% of its electricity.
  • Denmark leads in wind energy utilization, sourcing 58% of its electricity from this resource due to its optimal geographical position between the Baltic and North Seas.

Historical Context and Current Trends

  • The first wind turbine was built in Denmark in 1891; since then, advancements have led to significant offshore developments making Denmark a leader in this sector.
  • Historically, humanity relied on fossil fuels like wood and coal for energy needs until renewable sources gained traction post-oil crisis in 1973. By 2010, only 2% of global electricity came from solar and wind; however, investments have increased this share sevenfold over thirteen years.

Global Potential for Solar and Wind Energy

  • Projections indicate that by 2028, one-quarter of global electricity could be generated from solar and wind sources. Regions with high solar potential include Northern/Southern Africa and parts of America.
  • Wind potential is notably high along southern hemisphere coasts as well as areas around Greenland and East Asia; however, investment disparities exist globally.

Investment Disparities Among Nations

  • Countries rich in oil or gas like Russia show little interest in renewable investments while many low-income nations struggle with funding for photovoltaic systems—only achieving about 1% capacity.
  • Some countries are leading efforts: Namibia, Morocco, Kenya among others generate at least 15% of their power from renewables; similarly notable progress is seen across Latin America including Uruguay and Chile.

European Union's Commitment to Renewables

  • Within Europe, Germany stands out as a frontrunner aiming to phase out coal while increasing reliance on renewables—ranking fourth globally for photovoltaic capacity behind China, USA & Japan.
  • France lags behind EU targets despite having a low-emission mix due to nuclear power; ongoing projects face scrutiny regarding their viability amidst ambitious goals set by other nations like Denmark aiming for extensive offshore developments by 2050.

Future Outlook on Offshore Wind Farms

  • The EU plans significant expansion in offshore wind farms with collaborative efforts targeting up to 300 gigawatts by mid-century across several member states alongside Britain and Norway.
  • Denmark aims to establish two energy islands by 2030 capable of generating substantial amounts through offshore installations while Belgium also pursues similar initiatives aimed at exporting green energy regionally.

EU's Renewable Energy Strategy and Global Dynamics

The EU's Commitment to Renewable Energy

  • The European Union aims for climate neutrality by 2050, focusing on the expansion of solar and wind energy.
  • Historically, renewable energy development was heavily subsidized; however, prices for solar panels and wind turbines are now decreasing due to competition from China.

Global Leaders in Renewable Energy

  • China and the USA lead in installed capacity for solar and wind energy, with Germany, India, and Japan following.
  • Both countries must transition their electricity generation away from fossil fuels (60% reliance on gas and coal).

Investment in Renewable Technologies

  • The USA has initiated significant investments through the Inflation Reduction Act, amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars benefiting states like Texas and Florida.
  • China's industrial policy prioritizes renewable energy production, with a substantial share of global wind turbine components sourced from Chinese manufacturers.

China's Dominance in Production

  • China produces nearly two-thirds of all components for wind turbines globally; major companies include Goldwind and Envision.
  • Additionally, China controls 69% of rare earth metal production essential for renewable technologies.

Implications for Europe

  • A significant discovery of a large deposit in Kiruna, Sweden offers hope for reducing the EU's dependency on imports from China.
  • There is concern that Europe's reliance on Chinese renewable technology could mirror its past dependence on oil and gas.

Future Considerations Amid Geopolitical Tensions

  • In light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there are discussions about rebuilding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure using renewables as a faster alternative to traditional power plants.

Conclusion

  • The episode concludes with an invitation to explore more insights into secure energies and peace through additional resources available online.
Video description

Von Indien über China und die USA bis nach Dänemark entstehen immer mehr Großprojekte rund um erneuerbare Energien. Das Ergebnis: Der Anteil von Wind- und Sonnenenergie am weltweiten Strommix ist in den letzten Jahren geradezu explodiert. Zudem sind die Kosten für Windkraftanlagen und Solarpanele deutlich gesunken - nicht zuletzt, weil China massiv in die Branche investiert. Vor dem Hintergrund des sich beschleunigenden Klimawandels erscheinen Wind- und Sonnenkraft mehr denn je als die Energiequellen der Zukunft. „Mit offenen Karten“ zeigt, wie diese seit Jahrtausenden bekannten Ressourcen im 21. Jahrhundert genutzt werden. Von Indien über China und die USA bis nach Dänemark entstehen immer mehr Großprojekte rund um erneuerbare Energien. Das Ergebnis: Der Anteil von Wind- und Sonnenenergie am weltweiten Strommix ist in den vergangenen Jahren geradezu explodiert. Zudem sind die Kosten für Windkraftanlagen und Solarpanels deutlich gesunken – nicht zuletzt, weil China massiv in die Branche investiert. Das Reich der Mitte produziert günstiger als der Westen und exportiert seine Komponenten in die ganze Welt. Erneuerbare Energien sind für die ökologische Nachhaltigkeit unverzichtbar, werden aber zunehmend auch zu wirtschaftlichen und geopolitischen Machtfaktoren. Magazin (F 2024, 12 Min) #erneuerbareenergien #klimawandel #nachhaltigkeit Video verfügbar bis zum 17/07/2031 Link zur Mediathek: https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/114573-029-A/mit-offenen-karten/ Abonniert den Youtube-Kanal von ARTE:  http://www.youtube.com/user/ARTEde Folgt uns in den sozialen Netzwerken: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ARTE.tv Twitter: https://twitter.com/ARTEde Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arte.tv/