Germany's Green-Energy Gap

For two decades, Germany has stood at the forefront of the green-energy movement. For example, Germans have decided to phase out nuclear energy.

They also hope to at least lessen their dependence on coal-fired power plants. Such plans depend, of course, on developing alternative ways to generate electricity, such as using wind turbines, which have proven to be the most economical renewable-energy source.

Unfortunately, Germany cannot easily expand its existing wind farms, because the best grounds for locating such facilities are already taken and because many Germans don't want their landscape overrun with 130-meter-tall wind turbines.

The solution is to build offshore wind farms, which are coming to Germany but at a slower pace than required to compensate for the planned nuclear phase-out.

Contact: David Schneider, 919-942-4499, d.a.schneider@ieee.org.