Posts filed under ‘Germany’
Demand response can help Europe’s vulnerable energy market
At the recent E-World energy and water trade show in Germany, it became apparent that the European energy market is showing significant signs of vulnerability. These problems could even lead to blackouts. Here’s how demand response can help.
Full post, by Alicia Carrasco: Europe’s energy market is vulnerable; demand response can help
Renewable energy: disruptive technology
I’m sitting in a café on the Champs d’Elysees amid the electric atmosphere of streetlights, neon signs, cars, trucks, shoppers, gawkers, storekeepers, and restaurateurs — an abundance of energy.
Energy has driven the development of modern civilization and conveniences. And renewable energy supplies are growing fast. But like any disruptive technology, the growing flocks of wind turbines and expanding acres of solar-equipped rooftops around the world are causing temporary growing pains for the energy industry.
Fortunately, these “problems” are really opportunities. And utilities like TXU Energy in Texas are pioneering solutions…
Reliability: What does it mean to energy regulators?
Germany’s energy regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA for short) just announced 2010 results for reliability associated with the power grid.
What exactly does this mean? As with many things in the electricity industry, the answer is neither obvious nor consistent from one regulatory jurisdiction to another…
Full post: What does “reliability” mean to energy regulators?
Germany: Energy leaders debate the grid’s future
The last time I visited Bonn, Germany was divided into East and West, and Bonn was the capital of West Germany. Times have changed.
This week the Federal Network Agency (which regulates Germany’s power industry) held a workshop in Bonn. There, energy industry leaders discussed the future of this now-united nation’s now-united electricity grid…
Germany: New energy policy moves the smart grid forward
Germany has fully approved its new energy policy, which aims to phase out nuclear generation by 2022 and move the smart grid forward there through the Grid Expansion Acceleration Act.
Here are some highlights…
Full post: Germany’s new energy policy moves the smart grid forward
Summer of European energy reform
This summer, Europe is making significant strides toward a smarter energy future. Recent moves by the governments of Germany and the U.K. will save more energy and increase renewables. Also, new legislation before the EU Parliament includes many specific energy-saving targets and requirements…
Full post, by Alicia Carrasco: 2011: Summer of European energy reform
German utility introduces smart home services
German consumers can choose their power company, although most have remained with their traditional utility. Today the German utility RWE Energy introduced three new smart home services for residential customers. The goals: increasing revenues and customer loyalty…
Full post: Germany: Utility debuts smart home services
Energy data art: German video
Most people think data is boring. So in order to get consumers to watch and manage their real-time energy use, energy suppliers must conquer that “eye-glaze factor.”
But Yello Strom (“Yellow Power”), the leading retailer in Germany’s competitive electricity market, has found a way to make energy data fun…
Full post: Energy data as art, from Germany
German election upset sparked by fallout from Japan’s nuclear crisis
Recently in Germany, “angst” over Japan’s nuclear crisis resulted in regional election results which were unimaginable before March 11.
Forty five percent of voters saw nuclear power as the key issue. They voted out the conservative Christian Democratic Union party, which had held power in Germany’s most prosperous state for 58 years…
Full story: Fallout from Japan’s nuclear crisis sparks German election upset
UK to boost small solar by revising feed-in tariff
Residential renewable energy production may get a boost in the UK if that nation decides to join Spain, Germany, and Italy in tailoring its feed-in-tariffs (FITs) to provide better financial incentives to homeowners, local municipalities (“councils” in the UK), and small businesses…
Full story: UK joins Spain, Germany, Italy in reviewing feed-in-tariffs
Smart Grid Watch 