BETWEEN VISION
AND PRACTICAL INNOVATION
by Anna Krenz
Architect, artist, author, creative member of Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy for 22 years
Why do we need history? To learn from examples, trials and errors, not to make the same mistakes, but also to get a full picture of things.
Ten years ago, during the conference at the 30th anniversary of Folkecenter, our then new book was presented „Wind Power for the World“, edited, partly written by Preben Maegaard and me. Our cooperation on this project took 2 years. It is a unique compilation of articles by over 50 international experts within wind energy. The first volume of the book was devoted to the pioneering role of the Danish inventors, engineers and blacksmiths, mainly from Jutland, who in the 1970s worked hard towards developing the most optimal wind turbine for producing electricity. It started after the oil crisis, when the local people took action and stood (together!) against the nuclear lobby and worked (together!) to find a suitable solution – the Danish Concept (model for contemporary wind turbines we see today). This concept was so innovative that today all wind turbines are based on it. And of course it all did not come overnight. It was a long process of trial and error, of sharing ideas, talking and discussing, and working. Making things. The Danish concept was not a creation of one man, it was a collective work, open source, without patents and capitalist money flow. It was created for the world, for all of us.
Some years later, I was telling Preben about my activism in Berlin, about all the actions and demonstrations I am organizing and fighting for women’s rights, both in my home country Poland, ruled by a conservative right-wing party Law and Justice (PiS) but also in Berlin, where I live. Preben listened, and then told me: „Being against is not enough, offer an alternative”. I took his words to heart. Since I am an artist, a creator, it was not difficult to embody these words. As an activist - I had to put more thought in it. How can we „win”? What can we achieve? What would be our creation? Our „Danish Concept”? And so I started networking, building organizations and consciously making activist art, since I am a political artist and I know that our, artists', role is to speak about difficult things, speak through images and artistic experiences. Art is the conscience of humanity.
Creation always should win over destruction, art should prevail over wars and violence. Currently worldwide protests against climate change are taking place in many countries. But solutions are also found, how to prevent climate changes and build more sustainable reality. In this strange and diverse reality we live in, strange things and protests happen, too. Calling to „stop oil” and gluing oneself to a street is not enough. Throwing tomato soup on a painting is not enough. It is counterproductive and destructive. Protests have to make sense, activists should have goals that can be at least partly achieved, also in a dialogue with politicians and business. This is how it was made in Denmark 40 years ago. We should take an example. This is why we need history (of modern wind power). This is why we need art.
For thousands of years, wars have been fought over land, resources, religion (= money and power). The current wars are about energy, and the next ones will probably be about water, food and places to live in a friendly climate. Was Putin’s war against Ukraine predictable? Maybe. But another energy crisis related to energy(high electricity prices, gas shortages, insecurity, etc) caused by Putin's war, was to be predicted. It was a matter of time.
How have European and global governments not prepared for another energy crisis? The lack of political visions and predictions, lack of preparations for the "plan B" resulted in a global chaos and poor management (governing) and the biggest price is paid by those, who do not have finances. How did Europe not foresee that Putin would one day turn off the gas tap? Even I knew that. The same people who laughed at me 10 years ago for installing a (expensive and then innovative) heat pump in my mother's house in Poland are now struggling with gas heating bills. Countries such as Denmark, with a rich experience of community action, visionary and pragmatism, and hard work, were aware of future energy supply problems. They were more prepared than the rest of Europe.
Back in the 1970s and 1980s, people in Denmark protested against nuclear power. They won. Germany just recently switched off their last nuclear power plants. Brave move in times of Putins’s war. However, the global pro-nuclear movement is rising in power beyond borders. A spiderweb of political dependencies in nuclear energy surprisingly overlaps with the right-wing web of radical Christian organizations that try to restrict the rights of women and minorities. After Chernobyl, Fukushima and during the war in Ukraine (the endangered Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station), the threats of a political and military nuclear crisis are clear. With what sadness I look at the plans of the government of my country, Poland, which plans to build nuclear power plants. Poland's energy policy is very unstable - support for renewable energy increases and decreases practically every season. Under the guise of green words, there is a lack of vision, lack of competence and green-washing. Fortunately, the society in Poland (mainly women) has more and more awareness, and works grassroots for sustainable development, as far as it can.
It is nothing new, that „business” is being made at the cost of the weakest - women+, minorities, people with less money and education. And I mean the global energy supply „business”, war „business” or misogynistic anti-choice „business” when it comes to women's rights worldwide. Women, as traditionally keepers of homes, are being the most affected by climate change, energy crisis and wars. They need energy to keep homes, to work, to care for children. The energy, however, is being controlled by men. This has to change.
It is only in about 100 years that women in European countries can vote, it is only about 100 years that women can study at universities. There is a lot to catch up, and still the inequality is visible in most industries, also within the renewable energy industry. However, there are many women in this industry, which do not have a proper platform, who have to break the glass ceiling. Often without success. There are also women, who do a great job and do not get any recognition. They stay behind, they stay in the shadows of powerful white old men. This is slowly changing, this requires action from different actors and institutions.
But there are also powerful women, who are an inspiration and role models for many of us. Jane Kruse, the director of the Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy is one of them. Jane is a great leader for many local and international projects, initiatives and ideas around the world. She is an expert, renewable energy pioneer, a passionate teacher, a skillful manager, good friend and incredibly wise woman. For many years, Jane has devoted her life to building a green society, to work locally and globally towards a 100% renewable future. I admire you, Jane, I am happy to be working with you and I love you. Your work makes the world greener.
2023
Presentation of the book "Wind Power for the World" in Paris, 2013: Wolfgang Palz, Franz Alt, Anna Krenz and Preben Maegaard.
Preben Maegaard visits the construction site of the nuclear power plant in Żarnowiec (Poland), which was bid in 1982–1989. Fortunately, the power plant was not built (at that time).
The first wind turbine in Poland (95kW), built by Folkecenter in Swarzewo. It was a donation from the Danish government. Large parts of the wind turbine were manufactured in Gdansk using Folkecenter design drawings. Mr. Jens Jensen, current chairman of Folkecenter, inaugurated the wind turbine in July 1991.
One of many drawings created from Preben Maegaard's story about community power and energy democracy.
"Women of the world, unite" - Power to women! Lise Nielsen and Anna Krenz with local women on a study tour in Mali, as part of the 2nd World Community Power Conference, 2018, organized by Mali Folkecenter Nyetaa.
MELLEM VISION
OG PRAKTISK INNOVATION
Af Anna Krenz
Arkitekt, kunstner, redaktør, kreativt medlem af Nordisk Folkecenteret for Vedvarende Energi gennem 22 år
Hvorfor har vi brug for historie? For at lære af eksempler, forsøg og fejl, for ikke at begå de samme fejl, men også for at få et fuldstændigt billede af tingene.
For ti år siden, under konferencen ved 30-årsdagen for Folkecenteret, blev vores dengang nye bog præsenteret: "Wind Power for the World", redigeret og delvist skrevet af Preben Maegaard og mig selv. Vores samarbejde om dette projekt tog to år. Det er en unik samling af artikler af over 50 internationale eksperter inden for vindenergi. Den første del af bogen var dedikeret til den banebrydende rolle, som danske opfindere, ingeniører og smede, primært fra Jylland, spillede i 1970'erne i udviklingen af den mest optimale vindmølle til elektricitetsproduktion. Det begyndte efter oliekrisen, hvor lokalbefolkningen handlede og stod sammen imod atomlobbyen og arbejdede sammen for at finde en passende løsning - det danske koncept (model for moderne vindmøller, vi ser i dag). Dette koncept var så innovativt, at alle vindmøller i dag er baseret på det. Og selvfølgelig skete det ikke natten over. Det var en lang proces med forsøg og fejl, deling af ideer, samtaler og diskussioner og hårdt arbejde. Skabelse af ting. Det danske koncept var ikke skabt af én person, det var et kollektivt arbejde, åbent kilde, uden patenter og kapitalistisk pengestrøm. Det blev skabt for verden, for os alle.
Nogle år senere fortalte jeg Preben om min aktivisme i Berlin, om alle de handlinger og demonstrationer, jeg organiserer og kæmper for kvinders rettigheder, både i mit hjemland Polen, der styres af det konservative højreparti Lov og Retfærdighed (PiS), men også i Berlin, hvor jeg bor. Preben lyttede og fortalte mig derefter: "Det er ikke nok at være imod, tilbyd en alternativ løsning." Jeg tog hans ord til mig. Da jeg er en kunstner, en skaber, var det ikke svært at inkorporere disse ord. Som aktivist måtte jeg tænke mere over det. Hvordan kan vi "vinde"? Hvad kan vi opnå? Hvad ville være vores skabelse? Vores "danske koncept"? Og så begyndte jeg at opbygge netværk, skabe organisationer og bevidst skabe aktivistisk kunst, da jeg er en politisk kunstner, og jeg ved, at kunstnernes rolle er at tale om svære emner, tale gennem billeder og kunstneriske oplevelser. Kunst er menneskehedens samvittighed. Skabelse skal altid vinde over destruktion, kunst skal sejre over krig og vold. I øjeblikket finder der protester mod klimaforandringer sted over hele verden. Men der findes også løsninger på, hvordan man forhindrer klimaforandringer og opbygger en mere bæredygtig virkelighed. I denne mærkelige og mangfoldige virkelighed, vi lever i, sker der også mærkelige ting og protester. At kalde på "stop for olie" og klistre sig fast til en gade er ikke nok.
At kaste tomatsuppe på et maleri er ikke nok. Det er modproduktivt og destruktivt. Protester skal give mening, aktivister skal have mål, der kan opnås, også i dialog med politikere og erhvervslivet. Sådan blev det gjort i Danmark for 40 år siden. Vi bør tage ved lære af det. Derfor har vi brug for historie (om moderne vindenergi). Derfor har vi brug for kunst.
I tusinder af år har der været krige om land, ressourcer og religion (= penge og magt). De nuværende krige handler om energi, og de næste vil sandsynligvis handle om vand, mad og steder at bo i et venligt klima. Var Putins krig mod Ukraine forudsigelig? Måske. Men en anden energikrise relateret til energi (høje elpriser, gasmangel, usikkerhed osv.) forårsaget af Putins krig kunne forudses. Det var blot et spørgsmål om tid. Hvordan har europæiske og globale regeringer ikke forberedt sig på en anden energikrise? Manglen på politiske visioner og forudsigelser, manglen på forberedelse til "plan B" resulterede i globalt kaos og dårlig ledelse, og prisen betales af dem, der ikke har økonomiske midler. Hvordan kunne Europa ikke forudse, at Putin en dag ville lukke for gaskilden? Selv jeg vidste det. De samme mennesker, der lo af mig for 10 år siden, da jeg installerede en (dyr og dengang innovativ) varmepumpe i min mors hus i Polen, kæmper nu med gasopvarmningsregningerne.
Lande som Danmark, med rig erfaring inden for fællesskabsaktion, visioner og pragmatisme samt hårdt arbejde, var klar over fremtidige problemer med energiforsyningen. De var bedre forberedt end resten af Europa. Tilbage i 1970'erne og 1980'erne protesterede folk i Danmark imod atomkraft. De vandt. Tyskland har for nylig lukket deres sidste atomkraftværker. Modig beslutning i Putins krigstid. Ikke desto mindre vokser den globale pro-nukleare bevægelse sig stærkere på tværs af grænserne. Et spindelvæv af politiske afhængigheder inden for kerneenergi overlapper overraskende med det højreorienterede netværk af radikale kristne organisationer, der forsøger at begrænse kvinders og minoriteters rettigheder. Efter Tjernobyl, Fukushima og under krigen i Ukraine (det truede Zaporizhzhia Atomkraftværk) er truslerne om en politisk og militær atomkrise tydelige. Med hvilken sorg ser jeg på min egen nations, Polens, planer om at bygge atomkraftværker. Polens energi-politik er meget ustabilt - støtten til vedvarende energi stiger og falder næsten hver sæson. Under dække af grønne ord er der mangel på vision, mangel på kompetence og grønvaskning. Heldigvis har samfundet i Polen (primært kvinder) en stigende bevidsthed og arbejder fra græsrødderne for bæredygtig udvikling, i det omfang det er muligt.
Det er ikke nyt, at "forretning" bliver gjort på bekostning af de svageste - kvinder, minoriteter, mennesker med færre penge og mindre uddannelse. Og jeg mener den globale energiforsynings-"forretning", krig-"forretning" eller misogynistiske anti-frit-valg-"forretning", når det kommer til kvinders rettigheder på verdensplan.
Kvinder, som traditionelt er hjemmets vogtere, er de mest berørte af klimaforandringer, energikriser og krige. De har brug for energi for at opretholde hjem, arbejde og tage sig af børn. Energien kontrolleres dog af mænd. Dette skal ændres.
Det er kun for cirka 100 år siden, at kvinder i europæiske lande fik stemmeret, og det er kun for cirka 100 år siden, at kvinder kunne studere på universiteterne. Der er meget at indhente, og uligheden er stadig synlig i de fleste brancher, også inden for den vedvarende energiindustri. Men der er mange kvinder i denne branche, som ikke har en ordentlig platform, som skal bryde glasloftet. Ofte uden succes. Der er også kvinder, der gør et fantastisk arbejde og ikke får anerkendelse. De bliver efterladt og forbliver i skyggen af magtfulde hvide ældre mænd. Dette ændrer sig langsomt, det kræver handling fra forskellige aktører og institutioner.
Men der er også magtfulde kvinder, der er en inspiration og rollemodeller for mange af os. Jane Kruse, forstander for Nordisk Folkecenter for Vedvarende Energi, er en af dem. Jane er en forbilledlig leder for mange lokale og internationale projekter, initiativer og ideer over hele verden. Hun er en ekspert, en pioner inden for vedvarende energi, en passioneret underviser, en dygtig leder, en god ven og en utroligt vis kvinde. I mange år har Jane helliget sit liv til at bygge et grønt samfund, arbejde lokalt og globalt hen imod en fremtid med 100% vedvarende energi. Jeg beundrer dig, Jane, jeg er glad for at arbejde sammen med dig, og jeg elsker dig.
Jane er en ekspert, pioner for vedvarende energi, en passioneret lærer, en dygtig leder, en god ven og en utrolig klog kvinde. I mange år har Jane viet sit liv til at opbygge et grønt samfund, at arbejde lokalt og globalt hen imod en 100 % vedvarende fremtid. Jeg beundrer dig, Jane, jeg er glad for at arbejde sammen med dig, og jeg elsker dig. Dette arbejde gør verden grønnere.
