Gallery Galschiøt is now completely CO2 free

A climate activist crawls down from the art pedestal and sweeps for his own door


Double standards - sweeping for your own door:


Jens Galschiøt uses his art for climate activism, among other things. But at the same time, he uses a lot of CO2 to transport large sculptures to big cities and demonstrations all over the world to demand that the world become CO2 free. He knows very well that there is a good deal of double standards in this.


He has therefore decided to "sweep in front of his own door" and compensate for all his CO2 consumption. He has built a huge solar cell system on the roof of Galleri Galschiøt, which pumps solar cell power directly into the electricity system through thigh-thick electric cables. This displaces 250,000 kw of coal power and he saves the world more than 150 tonnes of CO2. Hereby he compensates for all the activities and the sculpture production becomes completely CO2 free.


 - Watch livestream of Galschiøts solar powerplant production

 - Galleri Galschiøts CO2 consumption and calculation 



When the devil becomes holy, he goes to a monastery:


" Greta Thunberg is right. Talking about the climate is not enough. We need to create concrete change in real life. This also applies to artists and environmental activists like me, who have traveled the world for years to fight for the environment. Now it's time to change my life and look inward and become part of the solution, then I keep shouting like I always have. "


" I have decided that the entire Gallery Galschiøt, including the workshop, happenings, travel, buildings, bronze purchases, etc., must be compensated so that we can become totally CO2 neutral. It's a very extreme and comprehensive way to calculate its CO2 consumption, but I think it's the only reasonable way if I want to disconnect from the problem - everything else will be a kind of green-washing. We have simply calculated how much the CO2 world will save if Galleri Galschiøt and associated activities did not exist - it is probably called "footprint".  We have built a large PV system to compensate for our CO2 consumption by making a huge overproduction of electricity that pushes black electricity out of the electricity market. This indulgence strategy will only work as long as there is black current. When all of Denmark's electricity production becomes completely CO2 free, I will have to find other solutions

- Jens Galschiøt  okt 2020

 


The solar cells are paid for by crowdfunduig

We did not have the money to make the solar cells. So we started a large crowdfunding project, where we through the sale of hundreds of completely unique sculptures collected the 1.6 million that the facility cost. We met very great support and we had all the money in house over the course of half a year. Thanks to those who made this possible!.

 


It has been a very difficult task to calculate our CO2 consumption

It has been a big and educational job to calculate how much CO2 we actually use, and many of the numbers we have had to estimate. We have calculated it as seriously as it has been possible for us, with the limited resources we have. You can see our accounts of our consumption of co2 here.

 

See the production of our solar cell power in real time

Our PV system is working and you can follow in real time to see how much it produces here. These are formidable amounts of electricity that can come out of 1400m2 of solar cells, and it is quite optimistic to follow.



Problem with CO2 reductions


Society has a big problem: Many of the climate initiatives that are needed to get a CO2-free world are both ugly and stressful for the individual citizens in the local community in the form of noisy and disfiguring wind turbines and fields that are plastered with ugly solar cells.


It offers a lot of resistance, even to people who usually think it is important to fight climate change. This resistance risks slowing down the expansion of the renewable energy network.


It is therefore important to take aesthetics into account in all the climate initiatives we make. It may cost a little more, but it's part of the price of making this colossal transition. This is where you can use the artists who can be part of the aesthetic discussions and solution models for how we get a CO2-free society that is also bearable to look at, and which may even enrich our local areas.


What do Vivaldi and B&O have to do with solar cells


Also here at Galleri Galschiøt, we have tried to come up with some very concrete solutions, and have made a lot out of the aesthetics. Our solar cells have made the building much nicer and not uglier. We have simply replaced an ugly plaster roof with carbon black solar cells surrounded by a green flower stranded sedum roof, which buzzes with insects.


Our roof has become so beautiful that it looks like a giant B&O music system, which for quiet Vivaldi music is immersed in a soft lawn. It does not get nicer!


It has only made our photovoltaic system more expensive by approx. 7%, and in return we have got one of the most beautiful solar cell systems in Denmark, which both we and the neighbors love. So it can be done if you incorporate the aesthetics from the start of the project.


Come by and see.



In all paradises, there is a snake.


We produce electricity for the annual electricity consumption of over 60 detached houses. We have loosely calculated that if one for example. used all industrial roofs and large parking spaces, for example at shopping centers) in Denmark of over 1,500 m2, then by far most of Denmark's electricity consumption would be saturated with CO2 free electricity.


Many of these smaller industrial buildings are networked in mixed industrial and residential areas, so the electricity infrastructure is already present. Simply connect the solar cells to the local substations. It's not harder either.


But as in all paradises, there is a snake, namely the electricity legislation



Electricity legislation sabotages solar cells and green conversion


The Danish electricity legislation is completely hopeless and absurd. In many respects, it sabotages the development of renewable energy and slows down many good initiatives. For example. it is forbidden for Galleri Galschiøt to pass on their solar cell power directly to the houses located on the same plot as the gallery.


The consequence is that the state requires us to pay full price (DKK 2 per kw) for electricity to these houses, instead of them being able to use our free solar electricity.


The requirement must be that, of course, you have the right to use the solar power that you produce on your own land for the houses that lie on this land, without the state having to interfere in it. Otherwise, all logic ceases. Of course, we would like to pay full price for all the power supplied to us from outside.


We will make a number of fun and spectacular happenings to put the focus on getting the legislation changed so we can get started on making Denmark a green and CO2-free pioneering country.


Opening hours:

Manday to friday: 9 - 17

Saterday: Closed

Sunday: 12-16




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Always free Entré!

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Contakt:

Jens Galschiøt / Galleri Galschiøt

Banevænget 22, 5270 Odense N

Danmark


Tlf: (+45) 6618 4058

E-mail: aidoh@aidoh.dk


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Info:

Booklet about Galschiøts powerplant (DK)

Livestream from Galschiøts solar panels

CO2 accounting


Webpages:

Galschiot.com

aidoh.dk

fundamentalism.dk


Ekstrerne links:

Wikipedia

Youtube