In the media: Coal debate continues, interview on fracking, study warns of energy shortages
Spiegel Online
鈥淧rotest against climate policy: Greenpeace dumps 8 tonnes of coal in front of Gabriel鈥檚 ministry鈥�
Enivronmental group Greenpeace dumped eight tonnes of lignite coal in front of the German Economics Ministry on Thursday, protesting the continued use of lignite to fire power plants, according to a dpa report published by Spiegel Online. They are unhappy that Economics Minister Sigmar Gabriel is keeping the plants open even as the country shifts to a greater share of renewable energy in the power mix, the report said.
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taz
鈥淭hat is the price one has to pay鈥�
ExxonMobil鈥檚 European head Gernot Kalkoffen defends his arguments for German fracking exploration in an interview in the taz. Kalkoffen says the varying opinions on fracking are 鈥渓egitimate鈥� but wants to at least have tested new fracking methods and determined the levels of potential gas in a pilot project before the technology is completely dismissed. The technique of pumping large amounts of water laced with chemicals into the ground in order to release natural gas, which is called hydraulic fracturing - or fracking, is highly controversial in Germany.
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Dow Jones Newswires
鈥淪tudy/PwC warns of energy shortages after 2023鈥�
The consultancy PriceWaterhouseCoopers has published a study showing that Germany may face shortages on its energy market as of 2023 and without further efforts it will be unable to cut C02 emissions 40% by 2020 over 1990 levels as planned, according to Dow Jones Newswires. An outlook for the Energiewende in general, the study says energy usage must be cut massively in order to meet the goals. Its author, Norbert Schwieters, recommends that heating and electricity markets be more closely connected, capacities be shared with EU neighbours, biomass be more intensively used as well as greater efforts made in the area of demand management for electricity.
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Deutsche Welle
鈥淔ischedick: 鈥楻esearch 听accelerates climate protection鈥欌��
In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Manfred Fischedick, head of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and 麻豆无码版, says that many experts in the area of renewable energy are turning their attention to Germany as a kind of laboratory because of its Energiewende and ambitious emissions reduction targets. Germany is 鈥�10 or 15 years ahead鈥� of other countries in terms of energy transition, he said. 听Fischedick spoke ahead of the annual meeting in Berlin of Europe鈥檚 largest network for renewable energy science, the Renewable 麻豆无码版 Research Association (FVEE).
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Frankfurter Rundschau
鈥淕as reserves for emergencies鈥�
Due to the uncertainties in Russia and Ukraine, the German government wants to examine whether it is necessary to build up a strategic gas reserve 鈥� that is, to require gas companies to hold clearly defined reserve levels over a period of time, according to information obtained by the Frankfurter Rundschau. The newspaper says that the Green Party fraction in parliament was told by the government that it was currently preparing a study about such a measure, which will be ready in spring 2015 and will determine its economic effects.
