The German language has long been creative in its use of compound words to succinctly describe complex ideas.
One such word, Energiewende — literally, “energy change” — has become synonymous with Germany’s energy transition to renewable power. Another compound word gaining traction in the renewables industry is Schmerzgrenze — the threshold of discomfort or pain.
Many are saying that such a Schmerzgrenze has already been crossed in the wind industry, with rock-bottom prices at recent energy tenders around the world putting pressure on manufacturers’ margins, resulting in rapid cost-cutting, shuttered factories, job losses and potentially more mergers to improve economies of scale.
