My friend LK compares the United States and Germany on wages. Short version: the German middle class gets better wages and better work hours than we do. The Germans get more from less---ah, German efficiency.
On that note, I turn to Prairie Business, which finds German efficiency outperforming the United States on solar power:
With cold and often long winters, Midwesterners may wonder if this region even has the potential to explore solar power. The answer is yes. Photovoltaic solar works pretty well in most places, according to the SEIA. A striking example is Germany &ndash Germany is the largest solar market in the world, and it has the solar resources equivalent to Anchorage, AL. That should speak volumes that this region, too, can participate fully in solar technologies and what they can mean to the economy.
Germany is the world leader in solar electric installations, followed by Italy, the U.S. and Japan [Kristin Brekke Vandersnick, "Midwestern Potential to Harness Solar Power," Prairie Business, June 2011].
O.K., being beaten by the Germans, I can understand. But by the Italians?!
To understand what Vandersnick says about solar energy potential, check out this map from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory:
All the blue-purply stuff means most of Deutschland gets 1000 to 1200 kilowatt-hours per square meter per year. South Dakota's green-orange colors mean we get 1700 to perhaps 2000 kWh per square meter per year.
Dr. Blanchard apologetically insists that fossil fuels are our future and that progress depends on burning more oil and coal and natural gas. I respectfully suggest that progress depends more on burning the midnight oil to figure out better storage for all the solar power raining down for free and forever on the prairie.
Of course, we might not have to think that hard. We could just copy the Germans. That, and get Noem and Thune to redirect unnecessary Big Oil subsidies to the sunny energy of the future.
Germany also plans to phase out nuclear power completely by 2022.
They still import 2.7 billion barrels of oil daily. Looks like the have better luck with making friends with Iran and their oil and natural gas potential than hanging solar panels on a frozen weinerschnitzel.
Cory, that solar potential map of the USA constitutes a gross oversimplification.
Here in the Black Hills, we experience frequent cloud cover during the daylight hours as a result of the "island effect." I've seen similar effects around the mountains west of Sheridan, Cody, and Lander (all in Wyoming). These clouds reduce the solar potential compared to the levels that the map suggests.
My particular house also happens to suffer from a serious problem in regards to solar potential, which one might succinctly describe in one word: "Trees."
Stan, I imagine your mileage may vary. Germany likely has similar cloudy and shady nooks and hilly hideaways (and the Black Forest) where actualy solar panel output underperforms the iso-chromo-bars on the map. I'm willing to wager that local variations and errors are equally common on both maps, leaving the overall nation-to-nation comparison intact.
Public radio had a long piece yesterday (June 8) about lithium batteries and storing solar or wind energy. Developing improved lithium batteries is critical to a successful electric economy. Potentially lithium batteries have the ability to store on an ounce for ounce basis as much energy as gasoline. Expect the oil industry to quietly lobby against federal funds for development and research on this front.
OK I didn't mean for there to be a smiley face in my last post. It should read June 8 closed parenthesis.
I always wondered how to get those things but never cared enough to figure it out. Now I know. If I start using them on a regular basis please come looking for me and give ma a dope slap along the side of my head.
[Interesting! My apologies for an overzealous stylesheet, Nick. My current WordPress theme automatically converts those text emoticons into those cute color smileys. Evidently "8" + ")" gets us sunglasses!]
The oil industry has tried a big lie about lithium shortage.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/12/news/companies/electric_vehicle_lithium_shortage.fortune/index.htm
1. Winnipeg and Frankfurt are both on the 50th parallel. Thus Germany's latitude is little limit on their ability to produce solar energy - it's about attitude, not latitude.
2. The weather in Germany is frequently cloudy; frequently with multiple layers of overcast caused from the moisture-laden air from the north Atlantic flowing and rising over west-central Europe. The sky condition does not turn preponderantly clear until one is south of the Alps. Again, emphasizing the dominance of attitude to produce and use solar energy.
JohnK, could we say German solar power is like Canadian tar sands oil? It's hard to get, but if you decide you want it bad enough, you'll find a way to get it?