The Move to Alternative
Energy in Germany –
What can cities and
citizens‘ do?
MECINE-Network
Roskilde Meeting
6.-9. June 2012
Dr. Kai Masser,
German Research Institute
for Public Administration
Speyer
Obstacles (mostly
discussed)
• (Alternative) Energy can not
be produced were it is
needed (e.g. Offshore
Windparks ((in the north) and
Metropolitan Regions (in the
south)
• (Alternative) Energy can not
be produced when it is
needed (e.g. the sun is
shining in the summer,
heating is needed in the
winter)
3
Therefore
• (New) ways (Plants, e.g.
storage-lakes) to store
energy are needed
• Energy has to be
transferred (Preferably by
Electricity Grids)
5
But
• There is more and more
resistance from citizens
against new plants and
measures
• Energy prices (might) rise
due to high investments
7
Opportunities
• Locally / Regionally (in
cities and towns) produced
energy might reduce the
need for Electricity Grids
• If municipalities and
citizens’ have (monetary)
benefits resistance might be
less intensive
1. Less transaction costs:
Energy must not be
transferred
2. Less compensational
payments (payoffs to
protesters)
3. Less overcapacities from
“traditional plants”, e.g.
nuclear
11
Techniques
Example: Solarcomplex
• Solar
• Wind
• Biogas etc.
• Cogeneration Units
•?
1. Local ownership
(municipalities and/or
citizens / stocks, Co-Ops
etc.) of plants
2. Local or regional
ownership of Electricity
Grids?
3. New (decentralized)
storage technologies?
12
Silly Ideas
Ringwallspeicher
13