EDMONTON - Dr. Christine Wörlen, an independent international expert and the former director of renewable energies with the German Energy Agency, will be speaking in Edmonton on Tuesday, Sept. 13, about Germany's renewable energy revolution and opportunities for clean energy development in Alberta.
The growth in clean energy has brought Germany more than 300,000 jobs, a robust renewable energy export economy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and revenue from thousands of successful community-owned projects.
Since Alberta has more solar and wind resources than Germany, the province faces a significant opportunity to diversify and clean up its electricity supply.
Dr. Wörlen is an international authority on renewable energy and an expert the economic impact of renewable energy development. Her presentation will focus on applying Germany's experience with renewable energy to the context in Alberta, and her visit to Edmonton comes just as the city's Task Force on Renewable Energy is preparing to deliver its report on urban opportunities to develop renewable power.
Event details
Where: Edmonton
City Hall (City Room)
When: Tuesday, Sept. 13, noon to 1 p.m.
Address: 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton
Where: Grant
MacEwan University (CN Theatre Rm
5-142)
When: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
St. Building 105 St. and 105 Ave.
Download poster
Note: Both events are open to media and the public.
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Contact:
David Dodge
Communications advisor
The Pembina Institute
780-232-6162
Tim Weis
Director, Renewable energy
The Pembina Institute
780-667-6519
Background:
About Dr. Christine Wörlen
Dr. Wörlen has worked in Germany and for the United
Nations on the deployment of renewable energy in 60 countries and is presently
coordinating a team of 23 scientists from five institutions evaluating
Germany's National Climate Initiative.
Dr. Wörlen is being presented by the Solar
Energy Society, the Pembina Institute, and the German Embassy in Ottawa.
About renewable energy in Germany
In 2011, the supply of renewable electricity in Germany topped 20 per cent for the first time, as part of Germany's plan to phase out nuclear power within 10 years, and coal after that.
Germany's interest in renewable energy is not new - the country has led global growth in renewable energy for 15 years. The country's goal is to generate 35 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2022, and 100 per cent by 2050. Last year Germany generated enough electricity from solar panels to power one-fifth of Alberta's electricity needs.
About renewable energy in Edmonton
The City of Edmonton's Task Force on Renewable Energy has gathered a substantial amount of information about urban renewable energy opportunities and has heard from speakers including Pegeen Hanrahan, the former mayor of Gainesville, Florida, who started one of the most ambitious municipally led renewable energy programs in North America.
Edmonton tested the waters in Alberta with a very small solar program that generated strong interest and participation from citizens wanting to get involved. In Medicine Hat, citizens responded very well to the renewable energy component of the Hat Smart program, installing solar systems on businesses and homes across the city.