Contributions of Bottom-Up Energy Transitions in Germany: A Case Study Analysis
<p>Primary energy supply versus the Human Development Index, based on International Energy Agency (IEA) and UNDP 2013 data.</p> "> Figure 2
<p>Ecological Footprint versus the Human Development Index, based on GFN and UNDP 2013 data.</p> "> Figure 3
<p>German energy system consumption per capita in 2013, based on IEA data.</p> "> Figure 4
<p>Popularity of bottom-up energy transition cases in Germany.</p> "> Figure 5
<p>Sustainable managed forests firewood based energy extraction capacity in Germany according an equitable sharing, concept developed by Sieben Linden ecovillage.</p> "> Figure 6
<p>Goals achieved in the three case studies in comparison with the national average.</p> "> Figure 7
<p>Summarize of contributions from the analysed bottom-up transitions to national transition strategy.</p> ">
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Overview of the German Energy Consumption System
2.1. Current Energy Consumption Levels in Germany
2.2. Current Major Energy Consumption Sectors in Germany
3. Methodology
4. Case Studies
4.1. Sieben Linden
4.2. Feldheim
4.3. Solar Settlement
5. Results
5.1. Quantitative Results
5.2. Qualitative Results
6. Conclusions and Policy Implications
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Initiative | Subject | Object |
---|---|---|
Sieben Linden (Category: Intentional community, ecovillage) | “A group of people”, united by grassroots anti-nuclear movements, created a low-energy consumption community. | Communal use of resources, rather than technological efficiency to reduce energy consumption. |
Feldheim (Category: Rural village) | Energy self-sufficient village, linked to a renewable energy generation cooperative. | Economic viability of energy transitions. |
Solar Settlement (Category: Urban neighbourhood) | An architect, inspired by sustainable building and living principles, builds an energetically sustainable neighbourhood that produces more electricity than it consumes. | The role of sustainable residential areas in energy transitions. |
Land Use in Germany | (m2·cap−1) | (%) |
---|---|---|
Land used for food | 1600 | 36 |
Land used for Forestry purposes | 2200 | 49 |
Non-usable land (road, rivers, city…) | 700 | 16 |
Total available land per capita in Germany | 4500 | 100 |
Residential Consumption Items | Sieben Linden Community (kWh·cap−1) | Germany (2013, IEA) (kWh·cap−1) |
---|---|---|
Heating | 3500 (firewood + solar) | 5650 |
Residential Hot Water | 600 (firewood) | 793 |
Cooking | 400 (propane) | 595 |
Electricity | 350 (300 solar + 50 grid) | 1586 |
Generation, transmission and distribution losses | 130 (propane and grid) | 3535 |
TOTAL | 4980 | 12,159 |
Compared to the National consumption level | 41% | 100% |
Area | Sieben Linden Community (kWh·cap−1) | Germany (kWh·cap−1) |
---|---|---|
Residential | 4980 | 12,159 |
Transport (food and persons) | 4800 | 11,059 |
Industry, Goods and Services | 1000 | 18,307 |
Non energy uses | 0 | 4434 |
TPES | 10,650 | 45,959 |
Compared to the National consumption level | 23% | 100% |
Energy Type | Installed Energy Power (MW) | Yearly Produced Energy (GWh·Year−1) |
---|---|---|
Wind | 74.1 | 128.8 electric |
Biogas | 0.5 | 4.4 electric + 2.4 thermal |
Biomass | 0.3 | 0.17 thermal |
Solar PV | 2.25 | 2.7 electric |
TOTAL | 77.15 | 135.9 electric + 2.57 thermal = 138.47 |
Family_1 | Family_2 | Family_3 | Family_4 | Average | Values | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adult | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - |
Infants | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2.5 | - |
Household size (m2) | 160 | 160 | 130 | 130 | 145 | - |
Electricity (kWh·year−1) | ||||||
2011 | 3335 | 2389 | 2500 | 2088 | 2598 | |
2012 | 3399 | - | 2431 | 2440 | 577 kWh·cap−1 | |
2013 | - | - | 2202 | - | ||
Heater + Hot Water (kWh·year−1) | ||||||
2012 | - | - | 2593 | 2329 | 2821 | 19.45 kWh·m−2 |
2013 | 4002 | 3200 | 2393 | 2408 | 626 kWh·cap−1 |
(A) Solar Settlement Photovoltaic production | ||
Installed solar generation capacity | 333 | kW |
Average generation | 314 | MWh·year−1 |
Average total generation by house | 6280 | kWh·year−1·home−1 |
(B) Solar Settlement Electric and Thermal consumption | ||
Average electric consumption per household | 2598 | kWh·year−1·home−1 |
Average thermal consumption per household | 2821 | kWh·year−1·home−1 |
Average total consumption per household | 5419 | kWh·year−1·home−1 |
Achievements | Challenges | |
---|---|---|
Sieben Linden |
|
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Feldheim |
|
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Solar Settlement |
|
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Akizu, O.; Bueno, G.; Barcena, I.; Kurt, E.; Topaloğlu, N.; Lopez-Guede, J.M. Contributions of Bottom-Up Energy Transitions in Germany: A Case Study Analysis. Energies 2018, 11, 849. https://doi.org/10.3390/en11040849
Akizu O, Bueno G, Barcena I, Kurt E, Topaloğlu N, Lopez-Guede JM. Contributions of Bottom-Up Energy Transitions in Germany: A Case Study Analysis. Energies. 2018; 11(4):849. https://doi.org/10.3390/en11040849
Chicago/Turabian StyleAkizu, Ortzi, Gorka Bueno, Iñaki Barcena, Erol Kurt, Nurettin Topaloğlu, and Jose Manuel Lopez-Guede. 2018. "Contributions of Bottom-Up Energy Transitions in Germany: A Case Study Analysis" Energies 11, no. 4: 849. https://doi.org/10.3390/en11040849