Think 1.8-million jobs in the environmental sector with 8% of GDP accounting for green technologies.
‘Going green†in Germany has developed into an economic sector of its own. The side effects: contributing to a healthier environment and taking global responsibility. And the good news is that it can be duplicated.
The economy ‘going green†has been a long process shaped by many national and international influences. Shocking events such as the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe in the 1980s opened up a broad public debate on environmental issues.
The commitment of politicians and individual public officials have contributed as much as the development of a Green Party or international factors such as environmental initiatives by the European Community or the Kyoto Protocol.
A particularly important economic kick-off effect proved to be the Renewable Energy Sources Act of 2000. It has become an effective instrument in increasing the use of renewable energies.
Grid operators are obliged to give priority to connecting installations for the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources to the general electricity supply grids. Further elements are the priority purchase and transmission of such sources.
Grid operators have to pay producers for this electricity, albeit with a consistent, decreasing fee, generally over a 20-year period. Since its implementation, jobs in the renewable sector have increased from 94 000 (2000) to 278 000 (2008).
The German company SMA Solar Technology AG, which is a university spin-off, develops, produces and sells solar inverters and monitoring systems for photovoltaic applications. It employs more than 3 000 people.
The ecological and technical advantages of renewables are their availability, reliability and cleanliness (emission-free).
Further, they offer large future market and job prospects, bring down logistical and transaction costs and reduce the risk of conflict in the scramble for fossil energy. The cost of such technologies has sharply decreased and will continue to do so. Renewables are a key factor to energy security.
The German greening process was challenged by a well-established industrial sector as a threat to development and prosperity. That has changed dramatically. Nowadays, the ‘going green†environmental policy is a cross-cutting element of all political parties’ programmes, the industrial sector and the power supply industry.
In a nutshell, it was a rough political journey of more than 30 years to get to where we are now. South Africa will need less time. It can and will build on experience and expertise from other countries that have ‘gone greenâ€. The window of opportunity has never been larger. The country has shown its ability to develop at a tremendous pace over the past 15 years.
The energy crisis, which became a painful and costly reality to all South Africans in late 2007-08, triggered initiatives in the green sector.
Environmental awareness among citizens has risen significantly. The media keep the topic on the agenda and a feed-in tariff for renewable energies has been launched.
South Africa has abundant renewable energy resources, in particular solar and wind. Whereas solar radiation a year in Germany is measured at between 0.95 and 1.2 kWh/ m2, South Africa’s measures fivefold that amount.
But, as the German publicist Gero von Randow points out: ‘It is not enough that technology works. It has also to fit into the world.â€
In South Africa there are pressing issues such as widespread poverty, unemployment and public health on the agenda that understandably require the bulk of the country’s political and financial resources.
Going green is not a ‘cure for all†recipe and is certainly not a short-term process. Yet it could be one piece of the puzzle for sustainable solutions by ensuring that South Africa’s increasing demand for a sustainable and safe energy supply and new jobs will be compatible with environmental and climate protection concerns.
Germany is committed to cooperating with South Africa in building up an economically viable environmental sector. Our private companies have developed innovative products and services ‘made in Germanyâ€. At the same time we are determined to help kick-start South Africa’s own production and service capacities.
Germany is planning to establish a vocational training centre for solar technicians by providing hands-on training courses. We would also like to assist in job creation and skills development through, for example, direct investment of German companies.
In addition to proven and market-ready technologies, we can provide expertise in the development of regulatory frameworks. Scientific research provides the basis for technological progress.
The German-South African ‘Enerkey†project aims at developing and implementing innovative pathways and projects in urban energy supply. The international arena sets the framework.
Climate change protection has become one of the major topics on the international agenda as the effects of climate change affect us all. Renewable energies and clean technologies are closely linked to the necessary reduction of emissions.
As a German initiative the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) was established in January 2009 and its headquarters will be based in Abu Dhabi.
To date, 136 countries have signed the statute of the agency. Mandated by these governments, Irena will act as a global voice for renewable energies. It envisages providing practical advice and support for both industrialised and developing countries, thereby helping to improve frameworks and build capacity.
I appeal to South Africa also to become a part of this dedicated network. The world trade volume in environmental goods has increased by an average of 9.5% a year since the early 1990s. The estimated worldwide turnover by 2020 is €2.8-trillion.
Germany expects to double its jobs in the environmental sector to three million in 2020. This much is certain: the green market is not a short-term wonder but is a market with unlimited future opportunities including a recipe for jobs.
Dieter W Haller is ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to South Africa