Energiewende - '..a thriving, decentralized system generating power from renewable sources all over the country.'

'..Within the next decade, Germany will have shifted from a coal- and nuclear-powered industrial economy with four large, centralized power producers to a thriving, decentralized system generating power from renewable sources all over the country..'

<blockquote>'Within the next decade, Germany will have shifted from a coal- and nuclear-powered economy to a thriving, decentralized system with power from renewable sources. This transformation, writes John Mathews, will not only make a real reduction in global carbon emissions. It is leading to a democratization of economic power that is unprecedented in the industrial world.

..

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Energiewende (and of the years leading up to it) is the almost complete destruction of Germany's erstwhile power generation oligopoly. Over many years, four large firms had dominated it — E.ON, RWE, EnBW and Sweden's Vattenfall.

By 2010, these four once-mighty firms accounted for only 6.5% of electricity generated in Germany — with their role being supplanted by hundreds of local co-op, municipal and small-scale producers that have sprung into existence. This is a democratization of economic power unprecedented in the industrial world.

So there is no doubting the scale of the changes unleashed by the Energiewende and their long-term impact. Within the next decade, Germany will have shifted from a coal- and nuclear-powered industrial economy with four large, centralized power producers to a thriving, decentralized system generating power from renewable sources all over the country.

All of this is managed through a modernized and IT-enhanced smart grid. No central energy "czar" required.'

- John Mathews, Germany's Energiewende: What Have We Learned So Far? March 12, 2013


Context The nuclear retreat - '..the global transition to sustainable 100 percent renewable energy.' - '..in Europe by 2050.' - ('..turning away from nuclear power..' ) Nuclear '..a dangerous design, aging reactors and diminished margins of safety.'

<blockquote>Energiewende

RenewableLNG

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems

[Portugal] 'The generation of electricity from renewable sources supplied around 70% of consumption.', April 5, 2013

'On 23 May 2013, in Eindhoven's futuristic Evoluon center, the fifth edition of 'The Solar Future: NL' will take place.'

Solarplaza.com