Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Meanwhile, Germany's wind turbine manufacturers have been a success
both domestically and overseas. Two-thirds of the total funds provided
under the initial 100 MW and 250 MW projects went to German manufac-
turers. 64 As Germany sets its sights on ofshore development, some of its
larger domestic wind power turbine manufacturers are beginning to special-
ize in that area. Furthermore, the link between wind power and hydrogen
production is becoming an important area of technical research in Germany.
In short, Germany's wind turbine industry is seen as an increasingly impor-
tant contributor to employment and economic development.
5.4.3 Technological Landscape
here are two factors that render Germany an ideal nation for wind power
development. he irst factor is that Germany's geographic location border-
ing the North and Baltic seas features wind conditions that enable compara-
tively favorable commercialization of wind power. In particular, Germany's
northern coastal region is characterized by high quality wind conditions. 65
In 2000, a study commissioned by the Federal Ministry of the Environment
concluded that commercially exploitable wind power potential was in the
neighborhood of 250 TW hours of electricity per year. If fully realized, this
would fulill approximately 40% of German electricity consumption at the
time. 66 Since 2000, wind power technology has improved signiicantly,
increasing realizable potential.
he second favorable factor is that economic success has been predicated
on innovations in industrial engineering technology that have arisen not
just from German industrial powerhouses such as Siemens, but also from
a host of small-scale manufacturers that specialize in high quality custom
engineering. In fact, it has been said that small-scale manufacturers, who
were ideologically committed to wind power, spearheaded the technological
innovations that allowed German wind turbine manufacturers to excel both
in domestic and overseas markets. 67
hese two technological support factors—a wealth of wind power poten-
tial and motivated engineers—melded seamlessly with popular support for
wind power and Germany's cooperative investment culture to establish the
foundations for success in wind power in Germany.
However, there is another often ignored factor that should not be
overlooked when discussing technological conditions for supporting
wind power. hroughout most of the twentieth century, the structure of
Germany's power industry was predicated on the Energy Industry Act
of 1935. his act created small monopolies in power generation, trans-
mission, distribution and supply. However, as part of a EU directive
Search WWH ::




Custom Search