GERMANS TRADE LAND FOR NEW ENERGY

Biofuel Crops, Solar Panels to Cover 11% of Germany by 2020
Jeremy Van Loon, January 18, 2010 (Bloomberg News_

"Efforts to boost production of renewable energy in Germany means the amount of land used to generate power and heat from corn, solar panels and wind turbines will more than double by 2020.

"Almost 4 million hectares will be needed for growing biofuel crops and operating windmills and solar parks within 10 years…That compares with 1.77 million hectares used for renewable energy now in a country of 35.7 million hectares."

Land use is one of the big reasons the biofuels community is becoming so interested in algae. (click to enlarge)

"Germany may be able to generate about half of its electricity using renewable sources at the end of the decade…Most of the land will be used to grow crops such as corn, sugar beets and rapeseed for products including biodiesel, ethanol and biogas that are used in transportation fuels and electric production…

"Fuels from distilling and converting plant material should be integrated into existing infrastructure such as natural gas pipelines…Bioenergy has the potential to provide as much as 15 percent of the country’s energy needs…"

Though some prominent Germans oppose it, the land use consideration is why others are interested in developing tranmission and solar power plants in North Africa. (click to enlarge)

"Much of the terrain used for the expected increase in renewable energy will be under-utilized agricultural, military or industrial land…

"Rising demand for fuels made from corn and other crops may contribute to increases of as much as 72 percent in food prices by 2020…"