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Czech Republic/Germany: The Czech Republic on the Verge of a Blackout

January 7, 2013

European energy policy has become a highly-charged issue because the rapid expansion of green electricity in Germany is putting a strain on the power grid in neighboring countries.

Brandenburg/ ARCHIV: Ueberlandleitungen fuehren in Neuenhagen bei Berlin zum und vom Umspannwerk des Unternehmens "50Hertz" (Foto vom 06.03.12). Der Vorsitzende der Gruenen-Bundestagsfraktion, Juergen Trittin, fordert vor dem Energiegipfel im Kanzleramt ein einheitliches Stromnetz. Die vier bestehenden Netzbetreiber seien nicht in der Lage, den notwendigen Netzausbau zu gestalten, sagte Trittin der "Neuen Osnabruecker Zeitung" (Freitagausgabe vom 02.11.12) laut Vorabbericht. Beleg dafuer seien unter anderem die Netzengpaesse, die zur Abschaltung von Windraedern fuehrten. (zu dapd-Text) Foto: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dapd
Image: dapd

Twenty percent of the electricity in Germany is generated from sustainable resources. Much of this is generated by wind farms in northern Germany and consumed in the southern part of the country. On especially windy days, the flow of electricity is spilling across Germany’s borders and straining the power grids in neighboring countries. Now the Czech Republic is saying it will install security switches to avoid potential overload and blackouts.

Image: picture-alliance/dpa
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