Germany Produces Record-Breaking 5.1 Terawatt Hours of Solar Energy In One Month

oritonic1 writes "Germany is rapidly developing a tradition of shattering its own renewable energy goals and leaving the rest of the world in the dust. This past July was no exception, as the nation produced 5.1 TWh of solar power (PDF), beating not only its own solar production record, but also eclipsing the record 5TWh of wind power produced by German turbines in January. Renewables are doing so well, in fact, that one of Germany's biggest utilities is threatening to migrate to Turkey."

Comments

Re:NO NO NO

[Mycroft_VIII]

It can, only problem is last time I checked (a few years ago though) it took about 6 TW of energy to produce solar cells that could deliver that much energy. It also produced more and more highly toxic waste than the same in coal which in turn produces more radioactive contamination than nuclear, which in modern designs is even better and much safer.

Mycroft.

Tell me when the subsidie run out

[Karmashock]

They told you the real story here. The solar and wind guys are getting huge government subsidies and tax breaks. Where as the coal and nuclear providers have to pay all sorts of fees, extra taxes, and of course regular taxes.

So guess who is being more profitable?

You can crush any business by doing that. Anything. You could make growing rice in Antarctica viable doing that. Just offer a big enough subsidy for every ton of rice grown there. Boom. Profit.

The question is can the german government sustain these subsidies indefinitely. As in forever. And if/when they stop providing them what will happen to their renewable programs?

I live in California. We've gone through many renewable programs going back to the 1970s. This has been our experience.

First, we give the renewable company a lot of money.

Second, they build their plant.

Third, we give them big tax breaks for subsidies which last for five to ten years.

Fourth, they operate for five to ten years.

Fifth, the subsidies stop.

Sixth, the renewable power company dies almost instantly.

Seventh, the power station is left abandoned in the desert to rot. There isn't even enough money left after to tear it down. Our deserts are littered with these power plants. Dozens of them. Every time one closes we tend to start up another one. And another ruin is in the making.

I want renewable energy. But I want it to be self supporting.

Re:NO NO NO

[poity]

Please try to run smelters on PV, build cars and planes on wind.
Renewables advocates always forget industry when poo-pooing nuclear.

Re:NO NO NO

[crossmr]

30 seconds of googling to get 4 year old statistics. Wow.. what a great locator of information you are. They've obviously been improving renewable energy so those statistics are outdated and not remotely useful.