International Press Articles

Article published by Kolya Abramsky, May 2007

Why, What, How and By Whom? Building New Alliances

The article relates to what kind of transition to renewable energies might be desirable, how such a transition might come about and possible obstacles which may hinder or even prevent such a transition. In particular, it aims to situate a discussion of such a transition within a critical discussion of the “global renewables sector”, “global work-force”, and “global market”. Through discussing these concepts, it will pose the question of which alliances may be necessary or useful in order to accelerate the transition to renewable energies, as well as a discussion about how “leadership” in renewable energy might be understood. 

Kolya Abramsky is currently working on a PhD about energy related conflicts in the world economy, in the sociology department at the State University of New York, Binghamton. He has worked in the secretariat of the World Wind Energy Institute at the Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, and has been active for many years in different anti-authoritarian global anti-capitalist networking processes. 

Article  Article "Accelerated and Far-Reaching Transition to Renewable Energies: Why, What, How and By Whom?" (pdf) 

(c) photocase.comArticle published by Wolfgang Palz, WCRE Chairman, March 2007

Energy is a basic need of our economy. Yet the world relies primarily on the polluting and exhaustible fossil energies. Consequently, we are faced today with three essential geopolitical challenges: security of energy supply, depletion of conventional fossil energy resources, and climate change that is by and large a result of current energy consumption patterns. The overarching solution for all these problems is the speedy development of the renewable energies – those derived from the sun, the wind, agriculture and forestry, water flow and other sources.

Article  Article "Renewable Energies: on their way to conquer world markets" (pdf)

(c) aboutpixel.comArticle by Hermann Scheer, General Chairman WCRE, published in Le Monde diplomatique, June 2006 

Renewable energies are a realistic and affordable alternative

There is both bad news and good news for world energy supply. The bad news? Oil is running out. The good news? Oil is running out. And not only oil: sooner or later, every type of fossil energy will run out – including fossil uranium ore which is needed to make atomic fuel rods. The reason why oil became the most used form of energy was simple: because it is liquid, making it easier to use, it became the 20th Century's "Black Gold". Yet even John Rockefeller, the first and best-known of the oil magnates, spoke prophetically of "the devil's tears".

Article published by Wolfgang Palz, WCRE Chairman, March, 2006 

The Strategic Importance of the Renewable Energies for Human Society and the Energy Markets 

Energy is a basic need of our economy. Hence, security of its supply is a political imperative. That energy security is best secured from domestic resources such as the renewable ones, i.e. those being derived from the sun, the wind, agriculture and forestry, and water flows.

Energy is also, however, the major driving force for climate change that is a great threat to our society. Here again, the renewable energies (RE) are the ideal solution for being in harmony with nature and exempt from harmful emissions.

Another advantage of the progressive introduction of the RE into the energy markets is their natural distribution close to the demand in contrast to the conventional energies; the monopolistic nature of the latter leads to excesses in market prices and uncontrolled industrial development policies that place priority on financial profit.

Yet today the world relies primarily on the polluting and exhaustible fossil energies. This situation is unsustainable: except for coal, all fossil resources, including Uranium, are running out in the foreseeable future. The technology for “clean coal” that involves dumping the CO2 under ground is not available.

One cannot repeat it enough; the solution is the speedy deployment of the RE in the markets combined with a more rational use and conservation of all energy. The technologies are available already and competent simulations have shown that the RE can and should become dominant within the coming 50 years in all energy markets around the world.

Article published by Preben Maegaard, WCRE Chairman, Director of the Danish Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, July 2006

Why does the UK not take this opportunity?

UK has the best wind resources in Europe and a variety of other renewable energy resources. During the past decades UK presented ambitious plans to become a leading player within renewable energy. However, intentionally or not, the government till now only chose political instruments that missed. With 1670 MW of wind power UK has less than 10% of Germany’s 20.000 MW and half of little Denmark’s 3.200 MW, that constantly grew till the Blair-type government took over in 2002 and Denmark joined the Iraq war coalition in 2003.
In addition, UK never got the renewable energy employment benefits like Germany and Denmark with 170.000 and 30.000 new jobs respectively.

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