Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Home International Germany accelerates towards sustainable energy: many more windmills

Germany accelerates towards sustainable energy: many more windmills

Germany will accelerate the switch to more sustainable energy to become less dependent on fossil fuels such as coal and lignite or on Russian oil and gas.

Within ten years, the production of sustainable wind and solar energy must have doubled, and in twenty years wind farms at sea must supply ten times as much electricity.

In the so-called 'Easter package' that Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) presented on Wednesday, it is also proposed to significantly expand the production of biogas. Germany thus joins the 'energy package' that EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans presented last month, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The plans represent a compromise in the sometimes controversial debate about biomass as a renewable energy source. Proponents argue that biogas production should be increased in order to become less dependent on Russian gas.

The German Farmers' Union (DBV) is also in favor of expanding bioenergy, but believes the new German plans do not go far enough. Despite the efforts, the financial perspective for the operation of biogas installations is still lacking, says the DBV.

From the point of view of bioenergy critics, all available arable land should now be used primarily for food production and not for the production of animal feed or agrofuels. A similar proposal is also currently being discussed at EU level.

Wherever the use of biogas is possible without additional land use, for example by using residual materials that are produced anyway, this is fairly unproblematic, according to experts.

In addition to energy issues, according to Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir, the Easter package also contributes to preserving and strengthening rural areas and agricultural incomes. He sees opportunities for solar panels and photovoltaic systems on arable land.

The German farmers' union DBV is less optimistic about this. According to the association, photovoltaics should "mainly take place on roofs to protect agricultural property as much as possible". 

Popular

EU gives Britten one more day for Brexit

The European Union gives Britain one day to come up with workable proposals for a severance arrangement. There must be ...

Italian budget still not in order according to EC

Italy's budget may conflict with the European Union's fiscal rules. The European Commission has asked the Italian minister ...

British first go to the polls in December; Brexit on the longer track

The British Government of Conservatives Prime Minister Boris Johnson is willing to meet the opposition to get support for ...

EU and MO soon for the choice: support for Tehran or Washington

Chancellor Merkel, French President Macron and British Prime Minister Johnson are urging Iran to be cautious about the conflict between ...

Merkel brings UN, Libyans, Putin, Erdogan and EU to peace talks

After discussions with Libyan General Khalifa Haftar, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that Haftar is willing ...

Just in

Ukraine threatens WTO complaint against EU import ban

Ukraine has called on the EU countries to end the imposed import blockade of agricultural products to five neighboring EU countries. The scheme runs from 5...

Millions from European crisis fund for climate damage in agriculture and horticulture

Spain, Portugal, France and Italy successfully called on the crisis reserve of the EU agricultural fund in Brussels on Tuesday. Due to climatic...

Spanish rural party gains seats; PP beats PSOE

The new rural party Espana Vaciada ('Empty Spain') won seats in several villages and regional councils on Sunday at local and regional elections in Spain.

Twitter evades EU code of conduct; harbinger of departure ?

The social media platform Twitter, owned by American billionaire Elon Musk, is leaving the European Union's voluntary code of conduct against disinformation on…

Livestock farming also under stricter EU rules against air pollution

The European Parliament's Environment Committee has further weakened the proposal to bring many more livestock farms under stricter RIE emission standards.