The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), together with 17 other participants from 10 different countries (Angola, Burkina Faso, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Thailand, UK) had a chance to attend the Green Energy Summer School (GESS) conducted by Renewable Energy Academy (RENAC) in Berlin, Germany. The course, a combination of theoretical content with practical exercises in RENAC Training Centre and site visits,  run for 5 days, from 17 – 21 August 2015. The course gave participants a structured overview of the different renewable energy (RE) sources, how they can be used for the provision of energy in the form of electricity, heat and cold. In addition, technical, commercial, administrative aspects and the latest market trends were also shared and discussed.

One of the sessions during the training was on lessons learned from the development of wind energy power plants project, presented by an RE project developer that is also responsible for the upcoming wind power project in the Philippines. The developer has implemented wind, solar photovoltaic (PV), biomass and hydroelectricity power plants for more than 750 MW in several countries. Another highlight of the summer course was knowledge sharing on RE development from participants’ home countries.

A visit to Feldheim (60 km from Berlin), the first 100% energy self-sufficient village in Germany that supplies power and heat for its 145 inhabitants with entirely local RE resources, was proof that going 100% RE is highly possible. Electricity was generated by 47 wind turbines (total 91.1 MW) and 2.3 MW solar PV, while the heat was from a 526 kW biogas and woodchip heating plants. Moreover, a massive battery that can store enough electricity to power the village for two days is being installed and planned to be fully operated this fall.  The electricity production was surplus that most of it are sold to the national grid.  Feldheim itself has its own electricity and heat grid network. RE financing for Feldheim came from the community’s collective effort, local government, utility company, as well as additional support by the regional government and European Union’s funds.

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