VOA常速英语2007年-German Investments in Clean Alternative Energy

By Brian Padden
Washington
25 December 2007

With virtually no oil or natural gas resources of its own, Germany relies on Russia for 20 percent of its oil and one-third of its gas imports.  But with Russia displaying a willingness to use oil as a political weapon, Germany is placing new emphasis on achieving energy independence - especially by developing alternative energy sources.  As part of his series on the politics of oil, VOA's Brian Padden reports how German efforts to reduce pollution have led to new ways to produce energy.  

Wind turbines dot the landscape in rural Germany.  In some regions, wind energy produces up to 20 percent of the electricity used in German power grids¹.  Engineer Hendrich Ziese says how much a single turbine can produce depends on the weather.  

"When we have good days, we can [produce] 20,000 kilowatts² per hour," Ziese said. "On bad days we make nothing." 

Germany began investing heavily in alternative energy to meet the targets set out in the Kyoto Protocol³, the 1997 global environmental agreement to reduce greenhouse gases. 

Germany has achieved a 19 percent reduction in CO2 emissions⁴, in part by providing subsidies⁵ to companies willing to invest in new technologies. 

Hauke Eggers-Mohmann with Notus Energy, which develops wind turbines, says the government guaranteed them a fixed⁶ price over a 10-year period for alternative energy.

"Also it would support with fixed prices not only wind energy, but also other forms of energy, so that it was possible for private companies to develop and carry out other projects," Eggers-Mohmann said.

The government subsidies helped companies develop new energy related technologies at a time when oil and gas prices were relatively⁷ low.  Now with petroleum⁸ prices at record highs, Germany profits twice: it produces cheaper alternative energy and exports this technology around the world.  

A case in point is the Puralube Company, which recycles waste oil to produce clean lubricant oil, fuel and gas.  The process was invented in the United States, but developed here because Germany guaranteed a return on the company's investment. 

The firm is now making plans to open an oil recycling plant in the United States.  Puralube's Andreas Schuppel says investments in environmentally-friendly energy technology are paying economic dividends⁹.

"We are business guys that is for sure, but we live in a market where we have decreased resources," Schuppel said. "Mostly everybody worldwide knows that we cannot live like in the past 20 years."

But Germany is far from being energy independent.  Despite the investment in alternative energy,  Susanne Droge with the German Institute for International and Security affairs says there is not enough wind or sun to meet the country's energy needs. 

"For Germany, I will guess we can increase the share of alternative energies made at home, but we will not become independent," Droge said. "It is a dream."

Droge says to keep the lights on in Germany, the country must continue developing domestic alternative technologies, while also relying on multiple international energy suppliers.  

1 grids   

n.格子( grid的名词复数 )；地图上的坐标方格；（输电线路、天然气管道等的）系统网络；（汽车比赛）赛车起跑线

参考例句：

• Typical framed structures are beams, grids, plane and space frames or trusses. 典型构架结构为梁、格栅、平面的和空间的框架或桁架。 来自辞典例句
• The machines deliver trimmed grids for use or stock. 这种机器铸出修整过的板栅，以供使用或储存。 来自辞典例句

2 kilowatts   

千瓦( kilowatt的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• It's about 500 kilowatts per hour on average. 年用电量平均为每小时500千瓦。 来自商贸英语会话
• We have an emergency-standby electric generator with a capacity of 300 kilowatts. 我们有一台三百千瓦的事故备用发电机。

3 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

4 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

5 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

9 dividends   

红利( dividend的名词复数 )； 股息； 被除数； （足球彩票的）彩金

参考例句：

• Nothing pays richer dividends than magnanimity. 没有什么比宽宏大量更能得到厚报。
• Their decision five years ago to computerise the company is now paying dividends. 五年前他们作出的使公司电脑化的决定现在正产生出效益。