Germany sets 2030 target for total energy shift
Keeping in view the fast depleting hydrocarbon energy sources in the world, Germany has set a target to entirely shift to renewable energy sources by 2030 and in the process the country has not only been phasing out its 17 nuclear power plants, but also many of its coal mines and thermal power plants have been converted into heritage sites with Unesco certifications.
Set to achieve total migration to renewable energy sources for the country’s requirement, the energy department has fixed 2030 as its deadline and has accordingly been providing substantive incentive to end users and producers. “Solar and wind power are being promoted in a big way. Power generated through the two energy sources are being integrated with the national grid. So every household, which has bought solar panels, has become a power generating plant, as the surplus power is fed into national grid and each generating unit gets an assured return of 28 euros per kilowatt,” said a senior energy department official. He added that with this policy, every household achieves break-even in almost one year against their capital investment for the equipment and solar panel. Conventional energy sources like coal are getting fossilised in the country, as its one of the oldest and largest coal mine — Zollverein — in the north of Essen city with 12 shafts has been converted into a world heritage site with a Unesco certification. Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Rolf Kuhlmann, head of communication and marketing, said, “The site was inscribed on the Unesco world heritage list. Preservation through conversion is the motto. History, culture, creativity, events, gastronomy, leisure, all these what Zollverein offers to about two million visitors every year.”
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