By Shabbir Ahmad
A village named Wildpoldsried in the German state of Bavaria has gone beyond energy independence and is now globally known for its abundant indigenous energy production. Currently producing the villages energy are almost two hundred households equipped with solar panels, five bio-gas digesters, seven windmills, and three hydro power plants that produce five times the energy needed by the 2500 residents of the village, a surplus which has generated over 5 million Euros in annual revenue. These revenues have brought an enviable prosperity to the village. With this new found source of wealth the village has constructed schools, recreation halls and many other lasting investments for their community’s future.
Their fascinating story all began in 1997, when local people started a series of projects for renewable energy production with wind turbines and biomass digesters. Later the energy conservation project expanded to include not only hydroelectric plants, and the introduction of solar panels, but also waste water system and ecological flood control systems. Wildpoldsried is leading the way in Germany’s extraordinary renewable energy transformation. The villager’s community spirit of self-sufficiency has caused a 65% reduction in the town’s carbon footprint as recorded over the past five years. Wildpoldsried is an extraordinary example of how the challenges of climate change and sustainable energy can be successfully overcome at a local level. To deal with climate and energy concerns globally, there is still a need for action on an international scale but local actions can go a long way towards reaching a more secure future for everyone.
A recent study by European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF) has claimed that half of all Europeans will be able to produce their own electricity by 2050, which in theory, will meet 45% of the European Union (EU) demand. At this time, the European energy market is not only going through the major transformation from fossil and nuclear based energy production to healthier environmental options, but also from a centralized market to one in which individual people can have an active role in their own energy sufficiency.
Renewable energy was once considered as a prohibitively expensive option in comparison to traditional fossil fuel energy but with advancements in technology, this situation has started to change rapidly. In just the last six years, the prices of solar panels and wind turbines have fallen considerably enough to make their energy competitive with conventional energy. Creating the energy is not the only area to show this kind of progress, the storage and distribution of this new energy has also played a large role in the conversion from fossil fuels. The newest technologies being used in batteries has made electric vehicles a practical option for most developed countries and is expected to continue to make electric power plentiful, easily accessible and affordable for everyone someday.
Actively involving people in a community with their own renewable energy production can minimizes many negative feelings about government projects at local levels because it empowers them at all stages to have a more direct say in planning and development, Local and independent investment in renewable energy projects eases the pressure on national budgets, allowing governments to make environmental decisions based on the best choice for the future, not just the cheapest choice at the moment. By producing local energy, communities are also creating stronger economies that will support employment and business opportunities far into the future. It is for these reasons the EU commission has placed citizens at the core of its plans for future energy systems, making them active participants, not just passive consumers, giving much needed recognition of important role ordinary people have to play in energy production in future.
Despite many examples of the potential of renewable energy and self-sufficiency, many developing countries, including Pakistan, are almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels for energy. According to a report published by Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), Pakistan has immense potential for a wide variety of renewable energy sources. There is currently 340,000 MW in wind energy potential, 2,900,000 MW in solar energy potential and several thousand more MW of potential in hydroelectric, bagasse cogeneration, waste to energy and geothermal energy. While many projects for wind and solar energy have been initiated by the government, and about 1760 MW in wind energy is being utilized, it is far from enough. Pakistan is facing an over 5000 MW power deficit which causes people to face 6-12 hours of power outages, negatively impacting private life, businesses and the economy. Different government agencies have spent billions of rupees on several projects, with little progress to show for it, and many projects never reaching more than the planning stage. In order to achieve the stability of self-sufficiency, it will take individual people living in developing countries to step up and make it happen. They must learn from the example of the Wildpoldsried’s residents, and rather than wait for the government to the problems, they must help themselves. The Northern areas are ideal for wind energy, while the Southern regions have immense potential for solar energy production. Unfortunately, many people who would like to use their land and resources for this, especially in the rural areas, have found it difficult to finance the conversion to modern energy generation. Because of this, it would be in the countries best interest for the government and non-government organizations to invest in the financing of local energy projects and home energy systems, instead of the expensive and ineffective projects of the past. By making the initial cost within the reach of an average citizen, the government eases its own future financial burdens of an ever growing population. International organizations must also take an active role in this transition, because projects of this kind will reduce the global carbon footprint and help achieve the ambitious targets set in the Paris Climate Agreement.
It is undeniable as we see the changes in the world around us, and as we witness extreme droughts and extreme floods, and as we watch the increasing rate of plant and animal extinctions, that urgent climate action needs to be taken as soon as possible. With new technology, there are options so we do not have to continue to make the same mistakes from the past, but we must recognize that with these opportunities there will be challenges.
If the right environment of support is created for the people, they are ready and eager to transform the energy system. Being declared as an environmentally endangered country should be a reason for the government to start real action now, Pakistan needs to make more progress forward towards self-reliance on renewable energy and minimize our dependence on imported fuel so we can finally solve the energy crisis faced by the country. We must have strong commitment on the part of everyone, public, government and private. We need to take this task seriously and make it one of our highest priorities, because this is an investment in our future, our children, our country and our entire world and we are all worth investing in.
*The writer is a freelance columnist based in Munich, Germany.