iass institute for advanced sustainability studies – dr. armin haas – july 2014 1 dr. armin...

IASS Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies – Dr. Armin Haas – July 2014 1

Dr. Armin Haas,with the collaboration of Prof. Klaus Töpfer and Patrick MatschossInstitute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V. (IASS Potsdam)

Perspectives on Regional Renewable Energy Cooperation

Innovative solutions for climate finance, the energy transition and an EU narrativeParis, July 8-9, 2014


Rationale of the Presentation

• Sketch why regional cooperation may be key for an economically and ecologically sustainable development of renewable energy in Europe.

• Sketch the main challenge for regional cooperation.

• Highlight the need for social learning.


A Vision of Plenty

Rubens: Abundance


Plenty in Europe

• 100 per cent cheap renewable electricity for Europe.


European Renewable Domains

Source: RGI


The Supergrid

• Using renewables in a wide area network.

• Getting rid of 80 per cent of fluctuations.

• High Voltage Direct Current Grid.

• Costs using 2005 technology: 4.6 Eurocent/kWh.

Source: Gregor Czisch, 2005


The Big Question

• Is Czisch’s vision technically sound?


Smart Grids

• Local generation.

• Demand and load management.

• Telematics.

• Virtual power stations.

Source: European Commission


Three Issues

• Are the SuperGrid and Smart Grids mutually exclusive?

• Is there a route from here to there?

• Technical visions do not sufficiently reflect the social dimension.


The SuperSmart Grid

• Synergy of SuperGrid andSmart Grids.

• Connecting concepts and communities.

• Paying attention to the social dimension of the challenge.


Enhanced Renewables Cooperation

• Enhance cooperation of pioneering EU states.

• Deploy renewable energies where they perform best.

• Jointly create business opportunities for the private sector.

• Trigger large-scale investments in Europe.


The Social Dimension

• Humans come with interests.

• Humans come with ideologies.

• Humans are humans: Some are mindfulness, and some are ignorant; some are clever, and some are dumb; and some pretend to be ignorant or dumb.


A Socio-Ecological System


Social Learning

• A fully renewable electricity system is a concrete and practical topic for social learning.

• Organise a search process for experimenting with building blocks for such a system.

• Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.


Case Study I: Desertec


Desertec

• Desertec Foundation.

• Desertec Industrial Initiative.


Founding Members of DII

• Desertec Foundation

• Schott Solar

• M+W Group

• Deutsche Bank

• ABB Group

• RWE

• Munich Re

• Abengoa Solar

• Flagsol

• HSH Nordbank

• Cevital

• E.ON


State of Play

• Most observers perceive Desertec not as a success story.

• What happened?

• What can we learn from Desertec?


Case Study II: RGI


State of Play

• The RGI seems to be a success story – so far.

• How did it develop?

• What can we learn from the RGI?


A Social Learning Exercise

• What can we learn from Desertec, from the Renewables Grid Initiative, and from other initiatives for regional renewable energy cooperation?


Inside the Cornucopia


Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V.Berliner Straße 130D – 14467 Potsdam

Web: www.iass-potsdam.de

Thank You for Your Attention

http://www.iass-potsdam.de/

iass institute for advanced sustainability studies – dr. armin haas – july 2014 1 dr. armin...

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