3 ms·

The graphs on this article do not appear to show that the U.S. has decarbonized as much as Germany. I guess I’m missing something? Also, as I understand it, Ge

The graphs on this article do not appear to show that the U.S. has decarbonized as much as Germany. I guess I’m missing something? Also, as I understand it, Germany’s government did pay a higher upfront cost for solar panels, but in doing so, single-handedly enabled economies of scale in solar panel manufacturing that didn’t exist before, spurring the dramatic reduction in solar panel prices we’ve seen over the last decade.

codethief 6y ago
> The graphs on this article do not appear to show that the U.S. has decarbonized as much as Germany. I guess I’m missing something? No, I don't think you are. Unless I'm missing something, too. Here's another curious thing: The article says > Meanwhile, during the same 20-year period, the United States reduced the share of fossil fuels in its primary energy consumption from 85.7 percent to 80 percent, cutting almost exactly as much as Germany did. …but looking at the graphs, they didn't actually cut anything. It's only the relative share in the States' primary energy consumption that decreased but it only did that because the total consumption increased. The absolute amount of fossil energy consumption in the US hasn't really changed since 2000.
woodpanel 6y ago
but in doing so, single-handedly enabled economies of scale in solar panel manufacturing ... in China and the US. The economic boon the German Greens sold us the Energiewende with never came to fruition. The RENIXX stock index lost most of its German companies to be largely comprised by Chinese or American ones. Just a few once household names in German renewables that went bust in the last ten years: - Solaworld - Q-Cells - Solibro - Sovello - Phoenix Solar - Centrosolar - Solarhybrid - Solarmillennium and of course financial scam of Prokon AG.

3 ms·

The graphs on this article do not appear to show that the U.S. has decarbonized as much as Germany. I guess I’m missing something? Also, as I understand it, Ge

by mbgerring 6y ago

codethief 6y ago
> The graphs on this article do not appear to show that the U.S. has decarbonized as much as Germany. I guess I’m missing something? No, I don't think you are. Unless I'm missing something, too. Here's another curious thing: The article says > Meanwhile, during the same 20-year period, the United States reduced the share of fossil fuels in its primary energy consumption from 85.7 percent to 80 percent, cutting almost exactly as much as Germany did. …but looking at the graphs, they didn't actually cut anything. It's only the relative share in the States' primary energy consumption that decreased but it only did that because the total consumption increased. The absolute amount of fossil energy consumption in the US hasn't really changed since 2000.
woodpanel 6y ago
but in doing so, single-handedly enabled economies of scale in solar panel manufacturing ... in China and the US. The economic boon the German Greens sold us the Energiewende with never came to fruition. The RENIXX stock index lost most of its German companies to be largely comprised by Chinese or American ones. Just a few once household names in German renewables that went bust in the last ten years: - Solaworld - Q-Cells - Solibro - Sovello - Phoenix Solar - Centrosolar - Solarhybrid - Solarmillennium and of course financial scam of Prokon AG.