EPS-SIF Energy Summer School 2019: Concluding remarks

F Wagner,L Cifarelli

doi:10.1051/epjconf/202024600022

Abstract

This paper is based on the last talk of the summer school. The intention of the talk was not to repeat any highlights of the school, rather to place the energy issue in a wider frame of global issues like global warming and the global responses to this threat. Therefore, I tried to compile —where possible— new data which inform the audience on the present stage of the energy transition toward carbon-free technologies and some expected future trends. The largest hopes for a successful transformation are connected to renewable energy forms. This field is discussed here mostly from a system point of view whereas I resort heavily to examples from Germany. The most obvious reason is that I am familiar with the German development and have access to the most relevant data. On the other hand, the German experience is of importance for other highly industrialised economies and its development affects other countries because of its central location.

Highlights

Summary. — This paper is based on the last talk of the summer school
1769 is often seen as the beginning of the 1st industrial revolution when James Watt received the patent for his advanced version of the steam engine
Data are taken from United Nations Human Development Reports, the 2014 electrical data are taken from the World Bank, the 2017 ones from the IEA atlas of energy

Summary

Introduction

Summary. — This paper is based on the last talk of the summer school. The intention of the talk was not to repeat any highlights of the school, rather to place the energy issue in a wider frame of global issues like global warming and the global responses to this threat. Because of its geographical location, Germany is not a country well served by REs. The slight advantage in CO2-free energy consumption of Germany compared to the world is the outcome of a tremendous effort over the last 20 years replacing its traditional but no longer acceptable supply technologies by wind, PV power and energy from biomass.

Results

Conclusion