Green power generation in Germany surged to a record in the first half of the year, crowding out coal generation and shrugging off weak onshore wind growth in the energy mix.
Renewable sources have supplied half the electricity in Europe’s biggest economy for the six months ending in June, the government reported this week. That increase of 7 percentage points compared with a year ago was buoyed by favourable weather and lower competitiveness of coal.
Germany added just 178 onshore turbines with a capacity of 591 megawatts in the first half, said the VDMA and BWE wind lobbies on Thursday. That’s only a fraction of the pace at which Germany installed new windmills during its best year in 2017. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government decided that wind power needs to grow by as much as 1.7 gigawatts annually to help Germany reach the 65 per cent green power target by 2030.
Environmental-licensing problems have stymied project approvals and lowered the probability that Germany will achieve its 2030 green power target, the lobbies said. Green electricity’s record output by June should encourage the government to seek fixes to snarled approvals, they said.
Wind power growth globally has tapered this year due to supply-chain issues prompted by the coronavirus, though the Global Wind Energy Council expects those figures to rebound 2021.
Despite muted growth, wind remains the largest source of electricity in Germany, providing about 27 per cent of energy generated in the first half of 2020. That output benefited from strong winds especially in February. Coronavirus crimped power demand during the lockdowns and depressed power prices. Utilities are increasingly turning to natural gas and burning less coal to fill intermittent gaps in renewable power. The dirtiest energy source became less profitable because of fuel and emission costs.
Onshore wind’s protracted problems prompted RWE chief executive Rolf Martin Schmitz to say in a June Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung interview that onshore wind power is “practically dead”.
The lobbies Thursday rejected Mr Schmitz’ comments, saying a potential drive to re-equip turbines on sites set up as long as 20 years ago - a process known as repowering - could ramp up capacity while avoiding some of the environmental pitfalls of breaking new ground.
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
The five pillars of Islam
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
