New book ‘102 Things to Do with a Hole in the Ground‘ spotlights global reclamation projects
Stories of reinvented coal mining regions, regenerated communities and rebuilt ecosystems are told in a new book published this month.
Denmark is well on its way to achieving its goal of 50 percent wind power by 2020. In 2013, the Danes generated an impressive 33.8 percent of their electricity through wind, a share most other countries are eyeing with envy. According to the Earth Policy Institute, the country’s grid can accommodate ample amounts of wind power, with wind generated electricity already exceeding 100 percent of demand on one evening last November.
Portugal has a wind share of electricity generation of 24.6 percent, placing it second while neighboring Spain rounds off the top three with 20.9 percent. Ireland’s wind share peaked at an impressive 59 percent in September 2013. The country’s standard share of electricity generation through wind for the year stood at 17.3 percent. Germany has been making massive strides in its drive to ditch nuclear energy and embrace renewables. In 2013, Germany had a wind share of electricity generation of 7.9 percent.
This chart shows the wind share of electricity generation in leading countries in 2013.
6 Comments
klgmac
Aren’t those countries all struggling economically? I wonder if high priced every has anything to do with it? I wonder if these quixotic attempts to control the earth’s temperature are effective?
KenRobinson
Alternative energy is a must for the long term survival of our race. Those of you poo-pooing it for cheap fossil and nuclear generation are only thinking about the “now”. Why can’t we tap and use alternatives to prolong the availability of fossil fuels for a much longer time. We might even one day find alternatives cheaper than fossil fuels very soon!
I just hate seeing us burning up a finite fuel source and thinking about what will be left for those born 200, 400 or more years from now! We must be much more responsible.
frankinca
So far running out of fuel for various purposes has not had a major world impact. If energy becomes expensive in the cities, people will move to the desert areas where solar generated electricity is more feasible. Somehow people modify their location and behavior when it becomes too expensive. Trust me we are an adaptable lot, even us older ones are willing to move where life can be more affordable. It does hurt to leave family who can afford more, but it opens other doors to life experience that are only open when one moves to another location and lives with those of another culture.
Don’t be so afraid, fear is the reasons most wars are started, and gives the elite an upper hand when they promote fearful things.
Scot Lee
Germany gets 31 percent of it’s electricity from renewables according to Businnessweek.com. In an article for ABC.net.au South Australia wind energy is generating 27 percent of annual electricity demand. As a result, the wholesale price of electricity dropped substantially and the state’s two coal-fired power stations are closed for half the year. (Notice I did my own research and cited my sources.)
TheHappyMiner
Sure Germany has been making “massive strides in its drive to ditch nuclear…”. But it is largely being replaced with NEW lignite coal plants. Germany will have opened something like 9 or 10 new coal plants between 2011 and 2015. If they are replacing more or less emission-free nuclear plants with a combination of coal and some renewables, their average CO2 output per kWh is going up….
OwainS
This is good to see, but could be difficult to duplicate elsewhere. Denmark has good connections to Norway, and so can access their on-demand hydropower for times when there is high demand and low wind output.