Energy self-sufficiency
Energy self-sufficiency describes concepts in which energy consumers use locally available energy carriers and sources and are therefore not dependent on external energy supplies. The term can be used on various levels, starting with individual devices such as wireless portable devices, through zero-energy houses to political states that want to make themselves independent of energy supplies from other countries, such as coal or oil.
The concept of self-sufficiency and its interpretation also depends on the limits considered. It is often related to certain energy carriers or forms. In some cases, the energy balance of a system is also considered over a certain period of time, which contradicts the literal sense of the autarky term ( autarky from ancient Greek αὐτάρκεια "independence").
3 rough definitions of energy self-sufficiency ( according to McKenna et al. 2014 ):
1. Self-sufficiency: decentralized, regional energy supply, d. H. There are tendencies towards a regional energy supply that covers, for example, more than 50% of the annual demand, whereby self-sufficiency is not (necessarily) explicitly defined as a goal here.
2. Soft or balance sheet self-sufficiency: balance sheet self-sufficient (English. On-grid), ie the municipality or region is energetically self-sufficient over the year; However, the existing supraregional network infrastructure (for electricity, gas, heat, etc.) is often used to compensate for discrepancies between supply and demand. In this case only some energy applications and areas are usually covered.
3. Strong, hard or complete self-sufficiency: completely self-sufficient (off-grid) or island operation: the municipality or region is energetically separated from its surroundings and constantly and completely covers its own energy demand. A prerequisite for this is sufficient capacity ( Electricity and heat storage.
"Energy self-sufficient regions": models
From the current perspective, regions that are self-sufficient in terms of energy can only function through the use of renewable energy sources within the region’s balance sheet boundaries. 100% of the heat, electricity and fuel are produced in the region itself and are in balance with consumption.
The heat generation mostly works through this
generating electricity
the fuel supply
- Biodiesel
- Bioethanol
- Power-to-gas
- alternatively an electric car
storage (see also energy storage )
- Accumulators (see also solar battery )
- Pumped storage power plants
Essentially, all forms of supply use solar energy, which is also temporarily stored in biomass. The use of biomass is not uncritical (see also disadvantages of bioenergy ).
In the last few years, some concepts for energy self-sufficiency have been presented and implemented both in relation to individual building solutions and in certain regions. The latter include u. a. Areas in Saxony, Austria and the Alps. They are all devoted to partial or total independence in generating electricity. Particular attention was paid to the city of Güssing (district, Austria), which has been supplying itself with renewable energies since 1990 (see also island system , island network , island system ).
Criticism of implemented projects for buildings
The previous criticism is primarily directed against the profitability of energy self-sufficient buildings. Because although the technical solutions required for this have existed and function for a long time, they are considerably more cost-intensive to purchase and install than all conventional supply systems.
Large window areas for sufficient solar gain require very good shading solutions in order to avoid overheating. Thermal insulation measures and, in some cases , phase change materials can slow down the internal rise in heat in summer, but they also limit the opportunities to cool down at night. In many highly insulated buildings, air conditioning units had to be installed subsequently, which made the entire energy and ecological balance very negative. In particular in humid and warm areas (e.g. along the Rhine), energy self-sufficient buildings are possible, but often associated with considerable restrictions on comfort in summer.
history
Germany's first energy self-sufficient house, the so-called “Freiburg Solar House ”, turned 20 in November 2012.
Electric car
Cars with internal combustion engines need petrol or diesel. Most countries have to import the oil. An electric car needs electricity. This can be done locally z. B. generated by renewable energies. Countries like Norway want to use the electricity they produce themselves - in the case of Norway from hydropower - and therefore subsidize electric cars. (See also market development for electric cars in Norway )
Energy self-sufficiency of states
Norway wants to use its hydropower to become less dependent on energy imports and is therefore promoting electromobility. In Norway, heating is often implemented with heat pump heating .
According to a study presented by Environment Minister Berlakovich in January 2011, Austria could become energy self-sufficient by 2050 if the framework conditions are appropriate and generate all of the energy required in Austria from water, sun, wind and biomass. According to the head of the study, however, these political framework conditions should already be set today
Political dependencies, such as B. vis-à-vis the Russian energy company Gazprom , are to be reduced through greater energy autonomy and thus at the same time greater energy security, including through renewable energies.
Energy self-sufficiency of places and regions
In the city of Schönau in the Black Forest (see also Elektrizitätswerke Schönau ), after a referendum, a citizens' initiative took over the city's power grid. One has committed to regenerative energy generation. Originally the electricity was only produced for the city.
The city of Güssing in Burgenland in Austria produces significantly more heat and electricity in its own sustainable power plants than is required in the city. ( see also renewable energy in the article Güssing )
The district of Feldheim in the town of Treuenbrietzen in Brandenburg is energy self-sufficient and has its own wind farm with 43 wind turbines (see also Feldheim (Treuenbrietzen) ).
There are a number of places that are energy self-sufficient or strive for energy self-sufficiency (see Bioenergy Village ). Citizens' energy cooperatives also pursue the goal of being independent in terms of energy supply .
The Canary Island El Hierro is the first energy self-sufficient island. The electricity is generated by 5 wind turbines. A pumped storage power plant with the upper basin in the crater of a volcano serves as storage . A seawater desalination plant is also operated when there is excess electricity . Today's energy supply is much cheaper than the previous supply with diesel generators. The diesel generators are retained for emergencies.
Energy self-sufficiency of buildings
Individual buildings can also be operated in an energy self-sufficient manner (see also zero energy house , solar house , solar architecture , passive house , low energy house ). Germany's first energy self-sufficient house, the so-called “Freiburg Solar House ”, was completed in November 1992.
The self-sufficiency of buildings corresponds in the true sense of the word to an “either or” situation ( self-sufficiency from ancient Greek. Αὐτάρκεια “independence”). Either a building z. B. obtain energy via the electrical network, or any energy for operating the building is generated in the context of an island system on the same property and in particular the security of supply is ensured even under any weather conditions.
The proportion of solar coverage is an indication of the proportion to which a building is self-sufficient.
There are also factory buildings that are completely energy self-sufficient. In one example, solar cells, solar batteries and heat pumps are used for heating and cooling. This covers 80 percent of the energy requirement. The remaining 20 percent is generated by a block-type thermal power station that runs on biogas. The solar cells are aligned in different directions in order to achieve the most constant power generation possible. The building is not connected to the electricity grid, which means that there are no taxes for own electricity consumption in Germany. The costs are between 6 and 20 cents per kWh, depending on the current operating mode.
See also
literature
- Bruns, Elke, et al. (2010): Renewable Energies in Germany - A biography of the innovation process . Berlin, University Press of the TU Berlin.
- Pehnt, Martin & Langniß, Ole (2000): Energy in Transition: Politics, Technology and Scenarios of a Sustainable Energy Industry. Berlin, Springer.
- Tegethoff, Wilm (1986): Problems of spatial energy supply. (Academy for spatial research and regional planning, research and meeting reports of the ARL 162). Hanover, Vincentz.
- Warnke, Götz (2013): Paths to energy self-sufficiency. With home energy harvesting for home energy self-sufficiency. ISBN 9783938391020
Individual evidence
- ↑ Energy self- sufficient farm ( Memento of the original from January 29, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , solarbundesliga.at
- ↑ "Energy self- sufficient municipalities" ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Umwelt.sachsen.de
- ↑ An Austrian makes himself independent , Wahrheiten.org
- ^ Report on the energy self-sufficiency project in Güssing , sustainablewirtschaften.at
- ↑ udo-leuschner.de
- ↑ Wulf Rüskamp: When Solar Was Still Exciting , badische-zeitung.de , November 5, 2012, accessed on May 10, 2013
- ↑ a b motor-talk.de , accessed on March 30, 2014, “98 percent of electricity comes from hydropower, there is plenty of energy. (...) Norway wants electric mobility; for environmental reasons, and in order to be able to better use this excess energy "
- ↑ Heating in Norway ( Memento of the original from April 8, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , hp-summit.de, accessed on April 7, 2014
- ↑ Energy self- sufficiency for Austria feasible by 2050 , ORF online, January 26, 2011.
- ↑ Wolfgang Streicher: Energy self-sufficiency for Austria 2050 Inaugural lecture at the University of Innsbruck. March 21, 2011, accessed September 30, 2015 .
- ↑ spiegel.de , accessed on April 11, 2014, “Dispute with Ukraine: Putin warns Europe of gas bottlenecks” and “Putin's warning to the West comes at a time when more and more politicians in Germany are becoming more and more independent from Russian gas and demand oil "
- ↑ Ripe for the island , heise.de
- ↑ Wulf Rüskamp: When Solar Was Still Exciting , badische-zeitung.de , November 5, 2012, accessed on May 10, 2013
- ↑ Self-consumption system without grid connection inaugurated , photovoltaik.eu, September 2014, accessed on September 28, 2014
