German Shifts Energy Investments From Sun to Water
A new German energy plan includes an increased investment in hydroelectricity. Currently, 3% to 5% of the country’s electrical energy comes from dams along the five major German rivers. Deutschland is not building major dams. German mini hydroelectric dams will drive growth in hydro power.
TU München, a major Bavarian technology institution, is demonstrating smaller scale min-dams that operate in more streams and rivers. Similar to wind turbines, one mini-dam will not light-up a city, but a network of these miniature hydroelectric power stations will grow German renewable power in a cost-effective manner.
Up until recently, German solar power was the focus. At a government/utility payer cost of one billion Euros per month, German individuals and companies installed 250,000 solar installations in 2010. After a decade of investment, solar only reached 2% of German electric power. The new energy plan shifts some of the solar budget to hydroelectricity and other renewable technologies.
TU München believes private investment will flow with government funding and mini-hydroelectric power stations will become a profitable German export business.
No other country is investing in such a variety of energy technologies, as Germany. Using wind, sun, and water is far better than digging and burning coal from the earth.