german energy transition by arne jungjohann

7/29/2019 German Energy Transition by Arne Jungjohann

1/14

Prepared by:

Batir WardamEnvironmental Researcher

W o r k s h o p o n t h e G e r m a n y E n e r g y T r a n s i t i o na n d i t s i m p a c t s o n J o r d a n

A m m a n 2 5 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2

Does the German Transition

has any effect on Jordan?


2/14

What is there to compare?

Item Germany Jordan

GDP 37,900 5767

HDI Rank 9 95

Energy

security

33% 3%

Share ofRenewable

20% 1%


3/14

Jordan imports 96% of its nationalenergy mix from outside sources

This translates to around 20% of GDPand puts a heavy burden on the publicbudget which is already constrained by

running costs and subsidies.


4/14

Energy (in)security In 2011 about 80% of electricity generated in

Jordan was based on natural gas importsfrom Egypt.

The Arab Spring was an Energy Winter forJordan. Explosions cut-off Natural gas.

Jordan switched to imported fuel at an

additional cost of 2.2 million USD per day.


5/14

The equation is very clear for any politicaldecision maker. Jordan is in dire need ofindigenous energy supply.

Should you go to renewable or nuclearenergy or oil shale?

Jordan is currently looking at having 10% of

its energy mix generated from renewablesources by the year 2020 and 6% fromnuclear.


6/14

Uneven approach

Nuclear energy: strong politicalsupport, an independent commissionwith high budget and quick

procurement/regulatory actions.Renewable: no political will, weak

decision-making process, neglect for

private sector, long regulatory process,and very minor budget.


7/14

Renewable energy Sale Directive 2012

First text: a cap of 25% of feed-in of renewableenergy from private and commercial/industrialsources into national grid. WHY?

The second modified text removed cap from privateentities but maintained the cap oncommercial/industrial.

Not an investment-friendly regulation.


8/14

Impact on the solar vs nuclear debate

The German case of a gradual phase-out of the nuclear energy and strategicshifting into sustainable alternative waswidely cited by legislators, politicians,activists, journalists, and researchers

who oppose the Jordanian nuclearprogramme.


9/14

In an internal memo submitted by theenergy committee in the JordanianParliament, the committee cited theGerman experience as a major reason forshowing how the world is moving away

from nuclear energy into moresustainable alternatives.


10/14

EDAMA, the most prominent NGO working inenergy policy, technology and advocacy fields inJordan jointly organised with HbF in 2011 a

seminar in which Mycle Sneider, a prominentGerman expert showed to a large and enthusiasticaudience how Germany has articulated its pathtowards full transition to renewables.


11/14

The main political party in Jordan, theIslamic Action Front, also cited theGerman example in its numerousstatements against the Jordanian nuclearprogramme and in favor of the renewable

energy agenda.


12/14

What can Germany provide?

Long Term Vision.

Energy diversification.

Support for Renewable energy.

Phase out of nuclear energy. Political Will.

State of the art technology

Democracy, transparency, disclosure and debate Sustainable Transport


13/14

Germany as a neutral partner

The German government has always kept alow-profile approach towards influencinginternal policies in Jordan, and thus has not

raised the issue ofrenewable vs. nuclear

debate to the Jordanian government.

German NGOs have been more active inpursuing a pro-renewable approachwith their development partners inJordan and have succeeded in raisingawareness at the community and

society levels


14/14

The German model of transition torenewables is the most effective tool theJordanian activists can use to convince

their government of the economic andenvironmental feasibility of such atransition. More exchange of

knowledge, experiences and even directinfluence should be accelerated tofacilitate the energy transition process

in Jordan.

german energy transition by arne jungjohann

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