The paper identifies the necessity of a deep change process in the German wind industry. The need for change in the wind industry was given by the decision of the German government to finish nuclear energy production in the year 2022. The Fukushima accident lead to this decision and showed dramatically the urgency of finding solutions for a stable and sustainable energy production based on renewable energies. The advantages of using decentralized wind energy which is possible through installation of small wind turbines is so far less acknowledged in politics and economics. The amount of investment and the market share of small wind technology are minimal against their potential and compared to the investments which are put in centralized wind energy production with big 3 bladed turbines. The reduction of the costs for the transmission lines and the electrician transmission losses could be a major economical factor to the point that one could have a parallel grid to fulfil the requirements for power of special regions. To increase the percentage of decentralised produced wind energy it is necessary to identify the key reasons which minimise the success of the innovations in the field of small wind technology. Key factors are f.e. high costs for development and high governmental regulations as well as the lack of suitable technology. Another reason can be seen in the thinking of the core persons and decision makers in this business field as well as in politics. To be able to analyse the complex situation and get an understanding of the interconnection of different levels in this industry the systemic model by David Kantor is used which includes the normally less acknowledged level of mental models in economics.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Methods and resources
3. Map of Change Process
4. Team Learning Model
5. Results
5.1 The broader structures of the “German big 3- bladed” wind energy
5.2 The broader structures of small wind technology
6. Discussion
7. Conclusion
8. Summary
Objectives and Topics
The paper examines the necessity of a profound change process within the German wind energy industry following the government's decision to phase out nuclear power by 2022. It investigates the potential of decentralized small wind technology as a necessary complement to existing centralized energy solutions, while identifying the market barriers and structural factors currently hindering its development and adoption.
- The impact of the German energy transition (Energiewende) on wind power requirements.
- A comparison between centralized "big 3-bladed" wind energy and decentralized small wind technology.
- Application of the systemic Team Learning Model by David Kantor to analyze structural complexity.
- Identification of technical, economical, and political barriers for small wind technology.
- Evaluation of the role of mental models and organizational culture in strategic decision-making.
Excerpt from the Book
The broader structures of small wind technology
The small wind technology is an approach which focuses on decentralization of energy production. Through a long period of time, the small wind technology was of less interest but in the last years the interest of the public in decentralized produced energy through wind starts to be increasing. Although it is also an industry in the wind sector, the characteristics are different in comparison to the wind industry with the big turbines. The small wind technology gives the possibility to harvest the energy out of the wind where it is needed and can be built in the current infrastructure. It can be used as street lighting, it can be put on roofs and under bridges if you have the right technical design.
The small wind technology is mainly represented by small- and middle sized companies which joined together and, in the year 2008, founded the “German association for small wind turbines BVKW” to grasp ground and to get more political influence in order to establish better conditions for this type of wind technology (Otter, 2009). This association was also founded because in the “German wind association” there was no interest to include small wind turbines (Kroeger, 2010). The BVKW differentiates between micro turbines, turbines for houses, turbines for an autarkic energy system and turbines up to a rotor area of 200 m².
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter outlines the renewable energy landscape in Germany and explains how the Fukushima accident accelerated the governmental decision to abandon nuclear power, thereby increasing the pressure to find cost-effective, decentralized energy alternatives.
Methods and resources: The author defines the paper's aim to identify hindering factors for small wind technology using Richard Beckhard’s change model and David Kantor’s systemic team learning model to assess macro-environmental issues.
Map of Change Process: This section presents the theoretical framework for managing organizational transitions, emphasizing the need to analyze both hard and soft factors to bridge the gap between a current state and a future vision.
Team Learning Model: The chapter introduces a structural model that categorizes business influences into levels, ranging from the highly visible interpersonal behaviors to the least visible, yet influential, mental models and beliefs.
Results: This chapter provides a detailed technical and economic analysis of the German wind sector, distinguishing between the dominant centralized industry and the emerging, yet restricted, small wind technology sector.
Discussion: The author synthesizes the findings to highlight how the current reliance on centralized, large-scale wind infrastructure creates a vicious circle that stifles innovation and market entry for smaller, decentralized competitors.
Conclusion: This section calls for further research into the underlying mental models of decision-makers to help reframe the strategic approach to Germany's energy transition.
Summary: This chapter provides a final overview of the study's findings, reiterating that current regulations are ineffective for the small wind sector and that systemic change is required to utilize all available energy resources.
Keywords
Renewable energy, sustainable energy, Wind industry, Small wind technology, decentralised energy, mental models, systemic model, German energy transition, Energiewende, turbine innovation, BVKW, nuclear exit, decentralized power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the process of change within the German wind industry, specifically investigating the challenges and untapped potential of decentralized small wind technology in the context of the national nuclear phase-out.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the transition toward renewable energy, the limitations of centralized power grids, the specific hurdles faced by small wind technology providers, and the influence of organizational and mental models on strategic decision-making.
What is the central goal or research question of this study?
The primary goal is to identify the technical, political, and economic barriers that prevent small wind technology from succeeding in the German market and to determine why decentralized solutions remain less acknowledged compared to large-scale wind projects.
Which scientific models are utilized in this work?
The research utilizes Richard Beckhard’s "Map of Change Process" for analyzing transitions and David Kantor’s "Team Learning Model" to evaluate the structural levels of influence, including the role of deeper mental models.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main part covers the technical properties of wind energy (Betz Law), a comparative analysis of the German big-wind vs. small-wind industry, market data and forecasts, and a critical discussion of current regulatory bottlenecks.
Which keywords best characterize the paper?
The paper is characterized by terms such as renewable energy, decentralized energy, small wind technology, mental models, systemic model, and the German energy transition.
Why is small wind technology often excluded from the mainstream wind industry in Germany?
According to the text, the mainstream industry and associated bodies have shown little interest in integrating small wind turbines, leading the small-scale sector to form its own association (BVKW) to seek political recognition.
How does the "Savonius type" turbine differ from standard horizontal turbines?
Savonius turbines are vertical-axis systems that operate with significantly less noise and vibration, making them suitable for installation within existing infrastructure where traditional turbines are prohibited.
What role do "mental models" play in the author's analysis?
Mental models represent the "least visible" level in Kantor’s model; the author argues that the dominant, one-way thinking processes of decision-makers are a major factor currently hindering the adoption of innovative, decentralized energy strategies.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sylvia Böcker (Autor:in), 2012, The process of change in the German wind industry, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/200258
