Fishing for Solutions - Innovative Energy Concepts Made in Hamburg
On October 16th 2014, the Gästehaus (Guest House) of the University of Hamburg once again offered the perfect setting for an exciting and fruitful debate on a sustainability related topic. Thomas Effenberger, founder of Effenberger Vollkornbäckerei (Effenberger Whole-Grain Bakery), and Matthias Albrecht, member of the Environmental Committee of the Hamburgische Bürgerschaft (Hamburg City Parliament), were invited as speakers to share and discuss their ideas on innovative energy concepts made in Hamburg. While Mr. Effenberger represented the entrepreneurial side of the debate and Mr. Albrecht gave interesting political insights. The debate was moderated by Philipp Darkow, a key organizer of the MIBAS debates and current MIBAS student.
As an introduction, Mr. Effenberger gave an overview of the groundbreaking energy concept he employs at his bakery. For instance, by reutilizing thermal energy, his business consumes about two-thirds less energy than other more traditional companies. Mr. Albrecht followed by stating his views on the issue. He shared examples of Hamburg’s efforts to promote Germany’s green energy revolution (Energiewende) and emphasized that the surge in renewable energies exceeded all expectations. For instance, the city of Hamburg is promoting energy-efficiency in the building sector by renovating schools and universities such that they meet optimal energy standards. Also the HVV is using green electricity and buses should drive emission-free by 2020. This investment by the city of Hamburg will lower energy costs in the long-run and simultaneously help advance climate protection: a win-win situation.
Nonetheless, Albrecht admitted that there is still much room for improvement. Albrecht is part of a working group which in the near future hopes to introduce an energy storage system that converts excess energy from, for example, wind energy into heat (“Power to Heat”) and/or gas (“Power to Gas”). These procedures would not only prevent wasting of clean energy, but would also help stabilize the energy grid. Furthermore, he emphasized that the city has yet to find a solution for the growing number of people unable to afford electricity for their homes.
What followed was a lively exchange of information and experiences between the two speakers guided by the moderator’s well-formulated questions. Consequently, even such controversial issues as the recently updated EEG (Renewable Energy Law) were discussed. Finally, the debate was opened up to the audience. Students raised many critical questions, which not only revealed barriers to the implementation of new energy concepts, but also explored what citizens can do to advance the green energy revolution and lower their individual CO2 footprint. One point here was that awareness should be raised beginning in school and addressing children so that they grow up with an enhanced consciousness of the issue. The closing discussion between the students and the speakers once again underlined the truly inspirational, positive and informative nature of the overall event.