Why the energy transition is worth it: book presentation of “End of the World”
There is no shortage of scenarios that threaten climate change. In his book, Hegenberg outlines what we need to change and why it’s worth it.
At the latest with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the topic of energy supply has reached the breadth of social debate. Levels of gas storage tanks are now making headlines, something that hardly anyone could have imagined before. The question of how we can – and should – supply ourselves with energy in the future has been simmering for some time. Because apart from hard-line deniers of climate change, it should have long been clear to many that things won’t go on like this for much longer. In his book “End of the World” Jan Hegenberg describes a path in which the energy supply could develop and why it is worth taking it.
Something has to change
The consequences of climate change are getting closer, which can be clearly seen here in the increasing number of extreme weather conditions. Local catastrophes may quickly disappear from the collective memory. Nevertheless, a majority should be clear: something is changing, and it will also affect Germany. Enormous price increases for electricity and gas provide a foretaste of how expensive it will be to continue to rely on fossil fuels. Of course, these are only the immediate consequences. So something has to change, due to the war in Europe even more quickly than was required before.
Which hasn’t worked so well so far
Because two things have worked poorly or not at all in the past few years. On the one hand, primary energy consumption is too high, especially in the areas of mobility and living space heating. Taking transport as an example: While fuel consumption per kilowatt has fallen over the past 30 years, the demands on performance and vehicle size have increased. Despite all the moaning about the high costs at the gas station, it must be said that consumption often plays a subordinate role when buying a car.
Hegenberg brings two numbers into play that make you think or at least should make you think: In the EU alone we burn 10 million liters of palm oil in the transport sector – every day! In the same period of time, we consume almost 16 billion liters of crude oil worldwide. More than 80 percent of it is incinerated. Figures that you should let sink in when it comes to raw materials for batteries and electric motors in a discussion. Especially since these can be recycled, because there is a difference between consuming and using. If you need a further argument for phasing out the use of fossil fuels: 40 percent of what is transported across the world’s oceans every day is oil, coal and gas.
Faster decarbonization
We also have some catching up to do with the decarbonization of primary energy requirements. If things continue at the same pace as before, compliance with the Paris climate protection agreement, which Germany has also ratified, will not be possible. We have to get away from fossil fuels as soon as possible, which is a powerful challenge for an industrialized country that hangs on them like a junkie on a needle. After all, it doesn’t help anyone if we exhaust ourselves so much economically that we don’t have the strength to bring about the necessary turnaround.
(Picture: Pillau)
There are, however, a few glimmers of hope that are too timidly illuminated from time to time. It is comparatively easy to generate electricity from renewable sources, and with a switch from combustion engines to electric motors, for example, the primary energy requirement drops drastically. The same applies to replacing the oil heating system with a heat pump. Contrary to what some people think, Germany is by no means alone in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. China is building new coal-fired power plants, but coal consumption has at least not increased for years. Globally, enormous sums of money are flowing into research into how to get away from fossil fuels.
Expansion of renewables
There is certainly no shortage of gloomy forecasts of what will await us in the coming years. In numerous studies, scientists have repeatedly described the dramatic consequences of climate change. Jan Hegenberg takes a different approach. In his extensively researched book “End of the World” he describes what needs to happen in the energy sector and why there are mainly opportunities there. He does not bring anything sensational to light, but a solid basis in this debate. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the massive expansion of renewable energy suppliers, for which he is essentially advocating, is ecologically worthwhile. Hegenberg explains in detail why a rapid turnaround is also economically profitable. With linguistic wit, he also cleverly clears away the undead classics “Where is all the electricity supposed to come from” and “Germany can’t do anything on its own” as well as the eternal mantra “But electric cars need so many raw materials…”.
It is noteworthy that Hegenberg manages almost without malice for those responsible for politics in recent years. In view of a few brakemen, this must not always have been easy for someone who has obviously worked deeply into the topic. This is one of the reasons why the result is a well-founded, readable basis for everyone who wants to arm themselves with solid arguments in the debate beyond extreme positions.
“Downfall of the World” was published by the publisher Complete Media for 22 euros. ISBN: 978-3-8312-0604-9
(mfz)
