Author Archives: Scarlett

Renewable Offshore Energy from Wind in Germany

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Popularly known as the “Energiewende” in Germany, is the energy transition from the concentrated use of fossil fuels to a shift of renewable energy. This coined termed is based on the context of lowering the worlds greenhouse gas emissions in hopes to not exceed the 1.5-degree goal. Within the top 90 oil and gas firms, 63% of the global carbon and methane emissions are sourced within them (Ekwurzel, 2017). As a result, Germany is trying to diversify its energy sources in hopes to produce less greenhouse gas emissions by investing more funds into renewable energy.  Wind energy is a key component of Germany’s renewable energy mix.

As of early 2023, Germany’s share of renewable energy throughout all the energy sources is 44.2% (Wehrmann, 2023). Of the renewable energy sector, nearly half of the renewable energy is sourced from wind power at 21.6% (Wehrmann, 2023). By increasing levels of renewable energy, they are trying to shift away from fossil fuel. While in the United States, they are still very far behind in their energy transition and only have about 17.5% of their energy sourced from renewable energy (Gearino, 2020).

One way Germany has really set the precedents is their offshore windfarm projects. They realized that they were running out of land space to put their windfarms and in order to reach their renewable energy goals their best option would be to increase off-shore wind farms. Because of Germany’s shoreline to the Baltic and North Sea, they were able to install 29 operating offshore wind farms and 1 is in construction out of 188 offshore wind projects that have been approved (Offshore Wind farms in Germany, 2023). It has also been a great way to boost the economy as it has around 21,400 people working in the industry and has generated an annual turnover of 7.4 billion euros in the industry (Wehrmann, 2023). It has also brought numerous investors into the renewable energy industry markets.

Moreover, the United States currently has only 2 offshore windfarms (Offshore Wind Energy, n.d.). The United States has 8 times more coastline than Germany giving them ample opportunity to invest more into their offshore windfarms (Geography Stats: compare key data on Germany & United States, n.d.). Increasing offshore wind capacity is a viable option for the United States however, there has been a lot of pushbacks from communities as it may not be aesthetically appealing. In addition, U.S. policies are delaying the development of offshore wind farms by enforcing the Jones Act of 1920 permits all parts of a windmill to be constructed, registered, and managed by crews within the United States (Marshall, 2023). It is predicted that by 2050 there could be windfarms in every coastal region within the United States (Offshore Wind Energy, n.d.).

Germany started their first windfarm in 2014 and has since expanded their operation to help combat climate change and increase their economy. The United States is capable of creating more windfarms, but they lack the large political backing for environmental issues that Germany has.

References:

Ekwurzel, B. e. (2017). The rise in global atmospheric CO2, surface temperature, and sea level from emissions traced to major carbon producers. Climatic Change, 579–590.

Gearino, D. (2020, April 30). How Dying Forests and a Swedish Teenager Helped Revive Germany’s Clean Energy Revolution. Retrieved from Inside Climate News: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/30042020/germany-energy-renewables-solar-wind-climate-change-warming/

Geography Stats: compare key data on Germany & United States. (n.d.). Retrieved from Nation Master: https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Germany/United-States/Geography

Marshall, M. (2023, February 14). What’s holding the United States back from being a global leader in offshore wind? Retrieved from Yale Environment Review: https://environment-review.yale.edu/whats-holding-united-states-back-being-global-leader-offshore-wind

Offshore Wind Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved from WIND Exchange : https://windexchange.energy.gov/markets/offshore

Offshore Wind farms in Germany. (2023, April 30). Retrieved from 4 C Offshore: https://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/germany/#:~:text=Germany%20has%20188%20offshore%20wind,or%20have%20applied%20for%20consent.

Wehrmann, B. (2023, February 13). German onshore wind power – output, business and perspectives. Retrieved from Journalism for the energy transition : https://www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/german-onshore-wind-power-output-business-and-perspectives

 

East Side Gallery-Birth of Kachinas

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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/571816483932758457/

       “Birth Of Kachinas” is a mural painted in the East Side Gallery. It was painted by Indiano in 1990 and then restored in 2009 by a local Berlin artist and digital media creator named Yvonne Matzat (Google Arts and Culture, n.d.). This painting represents much more than what meets the eye at the first glance. The painting is a cry for change for the environment as pictured above. The scene displayed behind the pop of words “Save our Earth” is a city melting away after it is rained on by the acid rain clouds from above. On the right-hand side of the mural are pictured cartoon faces from the bottom being more realistic as human figures with plastered smiles. As the figures drift toward the direction of the sun, one can interpret that their facial expressions change into an uneasy and sickly gestures. In particular, the male-looking figure in the bottom right might be depicted as the Kachina doll that represents the culture of the Navajo people which is known for their belief in the idea that all things of the earth carry a life force (The History of the Kachina Doll, 2019). This could be interpreted to mean that the people on this earth should be mindful and thoughtful of the impacts that they have on the Earth.

         While the artwork itself is pertaining to sustainability, so is its canvas. Originally, known as the Berlin Wall, and has since become a place of fostering a relationship between memorialization and urban development (Thomas, 2018). Now known as the East Side Gallery, it has developed into a popular tourist spot for people to be able to view a piece of Germany’s past by looking at present-day art. The art shared on the sides of the wall encompasses the emotions, thoughts, politics, and opinions of the people surrounding it. Which was captured by the 118 artists from 21 countries who contribute to the 1316 meters of restored wall left that represented such a divide in the country for 28 years (East Side Gallery , 2022). These paintings help mirror the world connected as one through art to symbolize a change for the future. This also is a way Germany has been able to use its urbanized environment to showcase the need and want to help “Save our Earth”. By sustainable transforming the Berlin Wall into an open-air gallery, it has made a remarkable impact on the world to show that there must be a remembrance of the past in order for growth in the future.

         As the “Birth of Kachinas” is viewed by more than 3 million visitors each year, they can interpret the mural based on their thoughts to be able to connect them with current climate change issues (East Side Gallery Berlin , n.d.). “Save our Earth” written in bold should not end at a first glance but have an impactful meaning to each visitor.

 

 

Bibliography

East Side Gallery . (2022). Retrieved from Visit Berlin: https://www.visitberlin.de/en/east-side-gallery

East Side Gallery Berlin . (n.d.). Retrieved from Künstlerinitiative East Side Gallery E.V. : http://eastsidegallery-berlin.com/data/eng/index-eng.htm

Google Arts and Culture. (n.d.). East Side Gallery . Retrieved from Google Arts and Culture: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/OgUhQELocAoA8A

The History of the Kachina Doll. (2019, November 18). Retrieved from Faust Gallery: https://www.faustgallery.com/the-history-of-the-kachina-doll/

Thomas, M. C. (2018). The Ever-Changing Role of the East Side Gallery: The Relationship Between Memorialization and Urban Redevelopment . TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange, 1-45.