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Solar Energy Use Exploding in Germany
Germany Leading the Way with Solar
Photovoltaic Installations
By Mark J. Donovan
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Last week I was in Hinterzarten and
Nuremburg Germany visiting colleagues and attending a sensor show. While
traveling in planes, trains, and automobiles throughout Germany I couldn’t help
but notice all of the solar panels being deployed. Many were mounted on the
roofs of homes, farm houses, and apartment buildings, however, I also saw a
number of fields literally filled with large arrays of solar panels as I drove
from Hinterzarten to Nuremburg.
Talking with some of my German colleagues they said the German government has
recently announced plans to proliferate the installation of solar panels
throughout the country and close all of its Nuclear power plants by 2022. |
Part of the reason for the
announcement was related to Japan’s recent Earthquakes and subsequent nuclear
reactor melt downs. Though Germany’s plans seem ambitious, based on the amount
of solar panel parks already being constructed it appears they are committed and
on track to achieving their goals. My colleagues also stated that the German
government is offering significant tax breaks and incentives for homeowners to
install their own solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on their homes. As of 2010,
Germany had already deployed 17,000 MegaWatts (MW) of Solar generated power.
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Regardless of
whether or not Germany will be able to achieve its goal of closing all of its
nuclear power plants by 2022, their solar PV installation plans and efforts to
date are commendable, particularly when you consider the fact that they have
limited sunny days per year. They are by no means a Saudi Arabia desert with
nearly year round sunshine.
The United States
and other countries around the world should follow Germany’s lead. Though the
United States offers some level of tax credits for residential solar energy
installations they don’t go far enough.
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In addition, with current government
policy that stifles off-shore drilling and oil production, you’d think the
current executive administration would be offering more than lip service for
going “green”. I’m curious why we in the United States don’t hear about large
Solar PV parks being installed to address our country's energy needs and costs.
To me, the silence by the administration on this issue only helps to cement my
feelings that we don’t have an energy policy in the United States, other than to
have the United States citizen revert back to another time in history.
Hopefully Germany’s audacious “going green” plans will be heard around the world
so that the United States and other countries will soon follow suit.
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