GERMANY, GREEN AND
CLEAN - Leading the world and on the cutting edge in solar, wind
and recycling technologies. Updated 2017.
Still fully functional
after more than two centuries of dependable, clean and non-polluting
production, this 1802 grain mill in northern Germany combines hydro
with wind power, cleanly powering Germany.
Germany may not have
been the first to initiate these green and environmentally clean
power sources but on the eve of the Industria lRevolution they were
there to lead in innovation. An example is the mill pictured above
where two sources of power are tapped so either wind or water will
keep production dependable.
In the above photo,
John and Jane Grimsrud enjoy the world’s best bicycling with their
novel Dahon folding bicycles that fit perfectly with Germany’s
extensive well marked paved bicycle paths. Buses, trains, airplanes
and even the ferry boats are bicycle friendly and accommodating here.
Bicycles are a way of
life in Germany, children ride to school, and adults go to work and
shopping, tourists vacation cross-country staying at bed and bike
hotels. This goes on year round in sun or snow. Electric or E-bikes
are now diminishing automobile usage as they make a big clean air
impact.
Germany, besides having
excellent bike route maps and smooth paved trails, which are clearly
marked with information signs like the one above, has set a world
standard. These information signs are literally loaded with facts.
Even the small red and green tabs above, 9, 10, V, and the
petroleum pump indicate special bicycle tour routes that are
designated on biking maps available at book stores and tourist
offices. Digital versions are available on mobile navigator devices.
From left, natural gas pump, wind farm, and paved bicycle path...clean and green.
Germany has gone
all-out to make your bicycling experience world class. This is one
of thousands of covered bicycle shelters that are conveniently
placed, meticulously clean, and well equipped with tables and
benches. Note the plate glass picture windows and barred off parking
place. For bikers only…no cars.
This historic canal
dates from the 1870’s and was built by the muscle of man and beast.
Connecting to the textile center of Nordhorn, this Ems-Vechte Canal
heads east and links with the Dortmund Ems Canal that was built in
1899.
The busy and sill
active Dortmund Ems Canal connects the German industrial heartland
with the North Sea Port of Emden. Most of these interconnected canals
that crisscross Europe have lovely bicycle paths with numerous
covered shelters and plenty of accommodations. This is cycling as
good as it gets.
The monumental effort
required to complete this European canal system must rank with the
wonders of the world for human engineering and effort.
Initially the canal
traffic was moved by beasts of burden plodding along a tow path, next
steam engines did the work.
Nordhorn, Germany is
still a city of canals, but its heavy industry no longer exists. Now
this beautiful canal is silent except for the birds that have made it
their seasonal home.
The incredibly
beautiful hardwood forest that flanks the border is now quietly
enjoyed by bicyclers. They glide silently beneath the towering shade
trees on the bike paths stopping along the way at the numerous
covered picnic tables like the one above.
In downtown Nordhorn
this neatly dressed lady is doing her shopping by bicycle with her
young child comfortably riding in the attached kiddie cart. Notice
the cleanliness of the brick street.
Even the dependable
German postal service that delivers rain or shine is ecologically
friendly with these specially equipped bicycles.
This photo is taken at
a grocery store where you can see that bicycling clients have top
parking priority.
Also in the above
photos notice the cleanliness that is the German standard.
Now supermarkets and
shopping centers have charging stations for electric bikes.
In the balance of
things ecological, bicycling is as close to an equilibrium with
nature as you can get. Here in Europe, bicycling to school, work,
shopping, and recreation, is an every day part of life.
In 2010 six percent of
Germany’s power requirements were met with wind, by 2015, wind
power in Germany was 13.3 percent with 26,772 wind turbines making it
the third largest producer of wind power in the world.
In Germany wind
generated electric power enters the grid.
Netherlands trains now
are powered exclusively by wind power.
CURRENT WIND POWER
OUTPUT NUMBERS
Even
with solar and wind generation lower emissions of CO2 are hard to
achieve as demand skyrockets. Germany is burning fossil fuel equal to
15 years ago. Residential rates have now tripled as demand continues
to increase. Solar and wind have become imperative for a green and
clean future.
In
June of 2014 Germany achieved
a milestone rewarded
with
50 percent of its electricity demand from
solar power,
which was half of the entire world’s production at the time.
Germany is unquestionably the world leader.
Renewable power now
generates 27 percent of Germany’s electricity. Ten years earlier
it stood at 9%. Ultimately the goal is to do away with coal and
nuclear.
Chancellor
Angela Merkel wants
Germany to
shut all 17 of its nuclear
reactors by 2022. Nine
have already been
retired as renewable
picked up the slack.
Germany
with the world’s fourth largest economy until 2009, has pledged
aggressive emission cuts. By 2020 they are on track for a 40 percent
cut of 1990 levels, and by 2050 they want at least an 80 percent
reduction.
Germany
still gets more electricity from coal than from renewable sources.
Transportation and heating emits more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than
power plants. Dirty lignite mines continue operating and are expected
to do so until 2050.
Determination
and dedication to fulfilling this ecological problem while balancing
economic and demand issues requires a united community spirit.
Germany
was a bombed wasteland 70 years ago and has shown extraordinary
rebuilding resilience.
In
the years after World War II, with a demolished country to rebuild,
there was scant questioning of past governments. The 1970s saw
rebuilding completed. Questions arose about who started and lost the
war. The German people no longer automatically accepted authority.
Germany
plans to continue being an industrial country. Their plans are to use
half as much energy as before and get a minimum of 80 percent of its
power from renewable sources. If anybody in the world is capable of
this it is Germany.
Germany
now produces more than two dozen models of electric cars with plans
of a million by 2020. Forty-thousand electric cars are already in use
and electric bicycles are seen everywhere and fulfilling a large part
of the transportation requirements. All of the above mentioned
quality electric vehicles are made in German.
Enercon
the German company that designs, manufactures, and installs
non-smoking colossal wind generators that make life cleaner and
better has an impressive track record. In the past ten years they
have more than quadrupled the clean electrical power they are
providing, and they are on track to meet their goal of supplying
twenty-five percent of Germany’s electrical power requirements with
wind alone.
In the above photo you
can get a perspective of the size of these wind-powered generators
when compared to Jane on her bicycle.
This wind
generating station at Bimolten, Germany has fourteen generators
producing the electrical energy necessary to power 14,000 four person
households. This wind farm is one of many in the area. Here in north
Germany the homes are truly total electric.
North Germany is at
nearly 53˚North latitude, about the same latitude as southern
Hudson’s Bay in Canada. Photovoltaic or solar electrical generation
has more than come of age here. They top the world in solar
generation.
Solen Energy
Company at nearby Meppen, Germany, is the manufacturer,
distributor, and installer of nearly all of these photovoltaic
panels, but BP, Shell Oil, and Sharp Electronics have also been major
players in this green revolution. The above private home is a good
example of how the people with government incentives have made a
positive impact in leading the world in clean living.
Solar electrical
generation is everywhere in Germany. Private homes, government
buildings , industrial facilities and even farms, are all getting
involved.
This two-hundred meter
long pig farming facility has been fitted with enough solar
generating panels to provide the power to take care of the needs of
at least twelve private homes.
In the back-ground is a
wind farm, one of many in the area, cleanly producing more electrical
power.
Believe it or not, but
Nordhorn, Germany, even has a solar powered excursion boat that gives
canal tours.
Here at these northern
latitudes solar heated water systems in homes are very common and
becoming more popular all the time.
Nothing goes to waste
here in Germany. Propane, butane, methane, and other gases that are
by-products of petroleum and farm product production are separated
and used to heat, generate, and propel. Clean, quiet, and efficient,
the above auto proudly advertises the fact that it is going far with
earth-gas.
Taking bio-energy
another step further, this vibrant field of sunflowers is being
cultivated to provide the component required to make enough heat
energy through gasification to warm the large complex of buildings at
Frenswegen Kloster near Nordhorn, Germany.
This is part of the
building complex to be heated by the above sunflower field.
Again Germany takes the
lead when it comes to recycling. The people are responsible for
disposal of their own glass garbage. Homeowners dutifully remove
corks and caps from their glass containers and according to color,
green, clear, and brown, deposit them in containers like the ones you
see above found in neighborhoods and at shopping places. The grocery
stores have places for disposal of batteries, corks, and even all
merchandise packaging…this is the law.
Most all grocery stores
also have automated bottle returns for bottles with deposit. You put
your bottles in one at a time, they are scanned, and when you are
done, press a button, and the machine then prints out an itemized
credit slip that you turn in at the check-out.
Different colored
refuge containers for sorted garbage are collected on specified days.
Garden waste material is not picked up and must be taken to the municipal disposal
center. The upside of this is that the city then does the complete
composting process and homeowners are welcome to then pick up as much
fully composted material as they want at no charge. In other words,
the city composts, stores and makes available as much as you want
when you want it.
In 2016 Nordhorn
expanded and modernized their garbage recycling facility.
This is garbage pick up
day in Germany. Notice that the canisters are precisely parked
exactly on the curb line. This is something that the Germans take
special pride in…precision!
The plastic bags with
draw-strings are for recyclable plastics disposal and are given out
free of charge at the grocery stores.
Many public park
benches and tables are made from this re-cycled plastic.
This 1600’s vintage
water driven mill at the little town of Lage near Nordhorn is still
fully functional and in service to this day, cleanly operating
without burning a single drop of fossil fuel.
Germany is a tough act
to follow.
May the rest of the
world follow Germany's exemplary example and make this world a better
place for all of us.
