Germany launches renewable energy exhibit in Brasília

Germany has launched an exhibit on Energiewende, a program that aims to lead the European country through a complete transition to renewable energy—with innovations, new jobs, and reduced pollution. The exhibit opened Tuesday (Apr. 24), in Brasília, capital of Brazil, and is slated to end Friday (27).

“Thanks to Energiewende, Germany has managed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% over the last two decades,” said Germany Ambassador to Brazil Georg Witschel, who spoke at the opening ceremony. Scientists believe that the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, as a result of the burning of fossil fuels in the last decades, has led to a rise in the world’s temperature.

Germany was one of the first countries in the world to prepare to this new reality, by approving its environmental program in 1972, Witschel noted. Since then, the country has concentrated its efforts around the concept of Energiewende through the adoption of measures to engage the German society in the protection of the environment.

As a result, some 40% of the energy produced in Germany is now renewable, the ambassador added.

Some 40% of the energy produced in Germany is renewable - Soninha Vill/GIZ

The exhibit has drawn visitors in over 30 countries. In all of them, Witschel added, the interest in Germany’s Energiewende is seen to have increased. In Brazil, before coming to Brasília, the exhibit was held in Rio de Janeiro, and will be taken to São Paulo next.

Eduardo Azevedo, secretary for energy planning and development at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, also attended the ceremony. He said that the progress made by Germany in clean energy is shared by Brazil, which has implemented a series of actions to protect the environment.

According to Azevedo, while Germany seeks to make progress in renewable energy, the Brazilian energy grid is almost totally based on this kind of energy. “The only difference is that our energy grid is based on hydroelectric plants, whereas Germany’s is based on different sources, like solar and wind energy,” he said.

Azevedo said that Brazil has made strides in the introduction of wind and solar energy—which could make it easier for Brazil to learn from Germany’s experience.