Power plants fueled by brown coal produce a lot of steam which then turn into mountains of clouds, and clouds, well they carry the wet precipitation we dread so much. And thanks to this contribution this area gets a lot more rain than it would get without the power plant.
Close to those power plants lies the energy source which is collected through surface mining or better strip mining. The pit is named after the town Garzweiler, which has been eliminated through the exploitation process. The mine has eaten up 48 sqkm so far, and will spread out and be active for another thirty years.
Below is
Excavacator 288, a mobile strip mining bucket wheel machine. Look at the small white car for comparison, this thing is the largest land vehicle in the world.
As much as it hurts to see the Earth scarred like this, this coal is one of the few conventional fossil resources that Germany doesn't have to import (there is no oil, and gas can be extracted through fracking only), and gives our country some illusion of independence from foreign sources.
I think most countries need a variety of energy sources. I thought I read that Germany was using solar energy quite a bit (when the sun cooperates) and nuclear. So yes, a variety.
ReplyDeleteSolar, wind and water are heavily used as alternative energy sources but the main contributor for the energy hungy industry are foreign oil and gas. Hence the talk about fracking which is a regional source but people fight it as they know what bad it can do to the land, the water and the environment.
DeleteWow. Too bad you couldn't rely on solar power or hydro electric dams on the rivers more. I am sure they are used, but it would be nice to use over the coal, not that that is always realistic.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to see the earth battle scarred but it is better than using foreign oil.
I agree although I am a somewhat green person. A certain independence has its price. I guess that half a century later the terrain will make a nice lake...
DeleteWe also get most of our power from coal as it is a fraction of the cost of oil and more readily available. The largest coal mine is a strip mine about 20 miles north of Denali Nat'l Park.
ReplyDeleteYes, variety is important.
Richard, as long as they don't destroy the National Park to get closer to the resources... it is a matter of balance I suppose.
DeleteInteresting point of view, David. Nature might survive the process, not sure about the people though.
ReplyDeleteIn 10,000 years someone will look down on those striations from space and wonder whether intelligent life existed on earth!
ReplyDeleteEric von Daniken mark2.
I rather believe, they've seen us already, turned around, and never looked back.
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