Author Archives: admin

Book chapter on wind energy use and landscape debates in Poland and Germany (in German)

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My book chapter “Windenergienutzung und Landschaftsdebatten – Erfahrungen aus Polen und Deutschland” [Wind energy use and landscape debates – experiences from Poland and Germany], written together with Antje Otto and Andrzej Ancygier, has been published in the book “Kulturlandschaften in Deutschland und Polen. Akteure und Modi ihrer Konstruktion und Narration” [Cultural landscapes in Germany and Poland. Actors and their construction methods and narratives] (2020, pp. 193-215).

The book has been edited by Olaf Kühne, Thomas Strubel, Robert Traba and Marcin Wiatr and published by Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Verlage.

How about flattening the curve also on CLIMATE and ENVIRONMENT?

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How about flattening the curve also on CLIMATE and ENVIRONMENT? Less fossil fuels, more renewables, more energy efficiency, less cars, less flights, more bikes, more electric public transport, less conventional farming, less meat, more local and organic farming, more organic, regional, seasonal and fresh food, less destruction of green urban spaces, less destruction of environment, less destruction of biodiversity, less waste, less food waste, less plastic, less pullution, less imports and exports, less consumption, less acceleration, more local and sustainable production, more circular economy, more resource efficiency, more sustainable and smart urbanization, more deceleration, better quality of life…

DEA’s and dena’s report on land use planning for renewable energy

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In the last couple of months I have been involved in preparing a report on the issue of land use planning for renewable energy. Dena’s colleagues have been working on this report together with colleagues from the Danish Energy Agency (DEA). It was a part of the joint project energy transition expertise for China CNREC. The report was launched yesterday at the China Wind Power Conference. It is titled: “Distributed Wind and PV in Denmark and Germany”.

About the report from its introduction:

“This report describes the current regulations in Denmark and Germany for land use and planning and siting of RE facilities, especially distributed onshore wind and free-field PV systems. In the first section, the status of both onshore wind power and PV in both countries is presented. Afterwards, the planning and siting processes as well as the approval processes for onshore wind farms and free-field PV systems are explained. In this context, it is important to note that, while Denmark is ruled by country-level regulation, in Germany the regulations for land use differ across the federal states, which have the power to issue own rules. The most important differences are briefly presented in this report. Afterwards, the public participation processes are discussed. Finally, lessons learned for China based on the Danish and German experiences with planning and siting onshore wind power plants and free-field PV systems are suggested.“
You may find the whole report here.

dena’s report on CO2 price

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Next dena’s report, which I contributed to, is out! It is titled “Wirksamer Klimaschutz durch Preissignale? Wege zur Zielerreichung 2030” (“Effective climate protection through price signals? – Ways to achieve the targets 2030”) and it is dena’s contribution to the CO2 price debate in Germany. It summarizes the results of a stakeholder dialoque organized by dena during the last couple of months.

About the report from the dena’s website:

“Die CO2-Bepreisung wird immer wieder diskutiert, wenn es darum geht, wie wirksame Emissionsreduktionen erreicht werden können. Das kürzlich von der Bundesregierung beschlossene “Klimaschutzprogramm 2030” enthält wichtige Grundsatzentscheidungen zur CO2-Bepreisung. Die dena hat mit der Ideenschmiede CO2-Bepreisung einen Stakeholderprozess initiiert, um das Instrument aus verschiedenen Blickwinkeln zu bewerten. Die teilnehmenden Stakeholder aus Unternehmen, Verbänden, Gewerkschaften und NGOs debattierten Über den wesentlichen Elementen verschiedener CO2-Bepreisungsmodelle. Der Abschlussbericht bietet eine Zusammenfassung der Argumente, Unterschiede und Schnittmengen zwischen den Konzepten und Akteursgruppen.”

You may find the whole report here.

dena’s report on PPAs

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Dena’s report on PPAs and how to use them for cost-efficient extension of renewable energies, with some recommendations for China, is out! I wrote this report together with my dena’s colleague, Carolin Schenuit. Experts of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) contributed to sections describing PPA practices in the U.S.

About the report from the dena’s website:

“A power purchase agreement (PPA) is a financial mechanism that allows utilities and corporations to procure renewable energy (RE) from producers with minimal to no upfront capital cost in order to meet their RE goals.

This report comprises a literature review on the evolving practices in PPA implementation in the U.S. and Europe, including PPA types, key factors enabling PPAs, as well as challenges and limitations associated with PPA applications. Built on the experience and lessons learned from the U.S. and Europe, this report sheds light onto feasible options that could be adopted by China to enable the implementation of PPAs for RE investments.”

You may find the whole report here.