r/oilisdead

Just wanted to share whats happening in Germany right now because I feel like the rest of the world doesnt really know about it. We have this thing called Balkonkraftwerk which is basically a plug and play solar panel you stick on your balcony, 800W max feed in. Theres now like 3 million of these installed and the storage market is exploding because people realized they produce way more than they use during the day. The interesting part is the new regulations keep the 800W feed-in limit but panel input can go well beyond 2000W now, some systems take up to 5.000 Wp of panels, so with storage you can capture everything the panels make and use it at night. Brands are competing hard right now on capacity, cycle count, smart features. Some are doing 5kWh single units, others are modular. Its like the early days of powerwall but for apartments

The world is changing rapidly: geopolitical conflict, shifting trade relationships, rapid technological change, and resulting volatility are placing strain on global energy systems and intensifying competition for resources, investment, and supply chains. More recently, consumers are being buffeted by energy pressures, exacerbating the affordability squeeze.

Major economies are moving decisively to strengthen their electricity systems, which are critical to economic growth, energy security, and long-term competitiveness. China is investing in clean technology and grid expansion at an unprecedented scale and now leads globally in manufacturing electricity technologies. Europe is making substantial investments in electricity systems, including new generation and major upgrades to its transmission and distribution networks. Traditional energy exporters like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are also diversifying, investing heavily in clean electricity.

Access to abundant, affordable, and reliable electricity is – more than ever – fundamental to competitiveness, energy security, and economic sovereignty. It shapes where investment flows and influences where industries decide to locate. It defines how productive economies can be.

It also drives critical progress towards climate goals. Mass electrification, advanced in a way that balances reliability, sustainability, and affordability, will enable countries to drive down economy-wide emissions in the most cost-effective way. In Canada, it will be a key element of our climate approach which, in addition to reducing emissions, will generate billions in total energy cost savings for Canadian households over coming decades.

Canada must act now to seize our window of opportunity. Electricity systems must be strengthened to reduce exposure to external shocks and help protect affordability for Canadian households and businesses at a time when price pressures are significant. Given the increasingly uncertain global environment, we must bolster reliable domestic energy supply to strengthen Canada’s sovereignty and economic stability.

We must also keep pace with Canada’s increasing power needs. Domestically, industrial growth is accelerating, buildings and transportation are electrifying, and demand is rising from emerging sectors such as critical minerals development, artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, and advanced manufacturing. These shifts are driving a sharp increase in electricity demand, which is expected to double by 2050, placing unprecedented demands on our electricity systems.^(Footnote 1)

Affordable, clean power

• Canada has the lowest-cost residential power in the G7, and 4th lowest-cost in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2024)
• Canada has the 2nd lowest-cost industrial power, in both the G7 and OECD (2024)
• Canada has the 2nd highest share of non-emitting electricity generation in the G7, and the 3rd highest in the G20 (2023)

Canada is entering this critical moment with a strong competitive advantage: a reliable, low-cost, low-emission electricity system that ranks among the most affordable in the world, with abundant, affordable natural resources to help generate additional power. This achievement, built over decades, reflects the leadership and sustained investment of provinces and territories, utilities, generators, system operators, and ratepayers. This foundation must now be both protected and strengthened in the face of rising demand and a more complex global environment. Recognizing that a stronger, more resilient grid will, in turn, strengthen Canada’s overall energy security, the task facing Canadians will be to carry these advantages forward. This means scaling the electricity system to meet the country’s growing needs, while preserving affordability for businesses and households.

Given the scale of the system build-out required, all levels of government will need to work together, and the approaches adopted will need to reflect varied regional realities. In Canada, jurisdiction over electricity rests primarily with the provinces and territories, and the evolution of provincial and territorial electricity systems reflects the different resources that they can access (for example, hydro in British Columbia, Quebec, and Manitoba, nuclear energy in Ontario, and low-cost natural gas in Saskatchewan and Alberta). The federal government also has a role to play, centred on its responsibilities for international and inter-provincial trade, nuclear energy, and its shared responsibility for environmental protection.

Pakistan has been demonstrating the power and speed of distributed PV in a debt-laden grid.