...87 percent of the power being used in Germany was...

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Bandit99, May 20, 2016.


  1. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    I saw this on Fox, not sure anyone on this side of the pond is interested but it shows that clean energy has come a long way...

    "Quartz reports that around 1pm Sunday, about 87 percent of the power being used in Germany was coming from wind, solar, hydro, and biomass power plants."

    Germany basically had to pay people to use electricity Sunday | Fox News
     
  2. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    N.B. The time of day is critically important to note. It is also instructive to note that there weren't any mentionable clouds. Gotta wonder how much of the demand at 0200 was served by "green" sources. Use percentages, if you like. Yes, it has indeed come a long way, just about completely due to subsidies and grants from governments. Gotta wonder where the government gets its money ---
     
  3. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    The government can subsidize all it wants... when it is the peoples tax money they are using.
     
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  4. duane

    duane Monkey+++

    Germany doesn't have oil or natural gas and the "green" parties have about killed coal and nuclear power, so they have no other real choices. One of these days we in the USA may not be able to just print money to pay for our trade deficits and have to cut our imports and make some real decisions on how our economy is to be balanced and not just kick the can down the road. Not until after the election of course and we have to keep the sheep happy and what is a few trillion more in debt in a rapidly growing economy. We all know how well things are going, Obummer and the main stream media tell us all how many improvements we have made in the last 8 years and to not worry, just be happy. Well it may well be that renewable energy isn't the answer, but at least someone in Germany is trying to solve the energy problem given their political restraints. Although Merkel etc may just give it all to the "refugees" and that is another whole tar baby.
     
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  5. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    A bit of research will show that one way the NAZIs came to power was with give aways. Each newly wed couple was provided an allotment for starting as a married couple. All was well as long as you went along with the Party Line. Later another allotment was given for the purchase of a home.

    Least we forget, Prof Porsche, a major player in WW1 design and manufacture of battle field equipment, developed the German "People'sCar" now known as the Volkswagon. The car was meant to be yet another incentive and "Bennie" to entice the German people to follow the Party Line.

    Of course in America, Henry Ford had already produced a great design for Americans. We think of it as the Model T.
    Henry Ford did his design without Government input or Tax Money. So think of that the next time some one whines about the American Industrial Complex and the need for private run business.

    There is no free lunch.
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2016
  6. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    Yes, I caught that also as it would have been more interesting to see the percentage rate during a work week day when all the factories of Mannheim, Stuttgart and Munich are running full blast. Nevertheless, it is interesting to see that these technologies are making an impact at least on one major country. Germany has about 80M people the last time I looked so subsidies/grants or not that is quite a lot of juice to generate in that way even on a Sunday.

    My understanding is most States/Federal gives tax breaks or even grants for solar but I have not looked into it yet. Of course, there are major differences between there and here. The size of country is one of course and the cost of electric in Germany has been outlandish so I imagine the people would do anything to get the price down especially if the government will pay for a portion of it. I have seen major wind farms in California and other areas and I would venture to guess the USA is probably generating as much clean power as Germany is now due to our size.
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2016
  7. John Grit

    John Grit Monkey

    From what I've read, the same people who pushed for wind power are now attacking it because of all the birds that fly into the blades and get killed. They have the same problem out west with mirrors focusing sunlight on tanks of water to create steam for turbine generators. Birds fly into the beam and are burned to a crisp while in flight. Wealthy environmentalists who pushed for wind power have fought plans to construct the towers in their county because they make noise and look bad. They obviously want them put in poor people's backyards.
     
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  8. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Or on public lands to rot the view for all equally. See also the mess at the Ivanpah solar plant.
     
  9. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    " ...the same people who pushed for wind power are now attacking it because of all the birds that fly into the blades and get killed..."
    That's funny! Can't please them...

    Actually, I have never been that interested in Wind power but truly interested in Solar and would like to experiment a bit with it now that I am back. Numerous folks on the forum have it up and running well. I read a few books but haven't gotten to it yet, thinking might try it as a power back up to my cistern pump first.
     
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  10. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    We had a pretty good straight line wind storm a couple of weeks ago. Between the wind and the hail no panels, within in my normal drive to town, were operational.
     
  11. Altoidfishfins

    Altoidfishfins Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    I started that about 10 years ago. Learned a lot and it was quite interesting. I live where there is a bit of sun throughout the year - southwestern deserts. Don't know how well solar would work in places such as western Washington state (cloudy) or Alaska (twilight for months on end, and cloudy).

    But one thing is for certain. Reading about it first, then trying it on a small scale is just about the best teacher you will ever have. I purchased the equipment to experiment back in 2004, over the objections of my wife for spending the money. Now it easily powers the travel trailer on our remote property (everything except the air conditioner, which we've never had to use), at least 15 miles from nearest commercial power. She enjoys using her computer, the microwave, running water and most of all, the lights. Eventually it will power, with an upgraded system, a small house.

    If you have remote property with commercial power available, economically you're better off going that route unless you simply want to stay off grid.
     
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  12. John Grit

    John Grit Monkey

    Solar is great on a small scale for emergency use or for a cabin in the woods. It's very expensive for a full size home. I use it for a cabin.
     
  13. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    We are sort of remote...I wouldn't call it that but some would, have 5 acres and about 30 minutes by car to nearest town. What I hope to do in the near future is provide an alternate source should I lose grid power on some essentials: freezers, cistern pump, and a few lights. I have 2 big fridges (with big freezers) in the house and 1 big freezer in the garage. I keep frozen water in gallon milk jugs in the freezers to help should we lose power but need to get some alternate source in place this summer so intend to hook in a generator (probably propane) but thinking about solar also.

    Hail...yeah, that easily could ruin a lot of your effort and money. And...even though we don't get that much hail we definitely do get it.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 21, 2016
  14. techsar

    techsar Monkey+++

    Small hail (<.5") hasn't damaged any of my panels, and hurricanes did no damage, other than my nerves ;)
    Adding in more circuits - one at a time - until it's time to get more panels and batteries...and without gov't handouts. I don't want any hidden strings attached.
     
  15. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    If you live in Hail'sville , use the 4.2mm glass that is for hail & snowload as I do . Canada Solar .
    Wind turbines that are all over USA are high speed , while the euro Denmark / Finnish ones are slow & low speed that kill little amount of birds .

    Many a story is made so you stay on the HC Titty .

    RRick solar for that amount of power of what you listed is 20G while alot of propane & a 5000w inverter gen is 2G
    JFI

    Sloth
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2016
  16. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

  17. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    Yup , I did a QUICK adding of what you listed for appliances and such , did mind math on loads for a 24hr day , your 9-12KW /24 hrs , Soooooooooooooooooo = 20g minimum ..

    Sloth

    Edit adding info
    So take your power bill wattages used & the length of time & divide days into the watts
    38KW is 38 X 1000 = 38,000 watts and the days between billing should get you in the daily consumption.
    @RickR
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2016
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  18. arleigh

    arleigh Goophy monkey

    There are a number of wind mills available that mount on the peak of the roof and rare screened so birds can't fly into them.
    But it is my experience that bird still do dumb things any way .just like people.
    They challenge me on the road and in my yard and some times they loose.
    None have ever hit my wind mill in 5 years and I have birds here all the time. I feed them along with my chickens.
    DSCN4197.JPG
     
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