Abstract
This contribution addresses the future energy situation with the expected reduction of fossil primary energy supply and increasing market segments by renewable energies within the next decades. The potential of renewable energies to cover the energy demand is described as well as the necessity of energy storage systems (especially hydrogen) to compensate the fluctuations of primary energy sources. Furthermore the increasing use of renewable vehicle fuels is investigated with special focus on hydrogen in short and long-term considerations. As a result the paper will show an energy supply gap between decreasing fossil energies and increasing renewable energies which can only be bridged by a more efficient general use of energy. Hydrogen will be proven as best synthetic fuel by “well-to-wheel analysis” both with respect to energy efficiency, to environmental analysis as well as to customer satisfaction.
Highlights
Germany is the only country of the earth, in which the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies is decided
The main reasons for this are mainly: – The damage of climate due to CO2-emissions is obvious and will increase further on. – The availability of fossil primary energies is limited to approximately 50–80 years. – Fossil energy carriers are raw materials for organic chemistry → to valuable for burning. – The energy demand worldwide will increase and will aggravate the situation. – The introduction of a new energy-system will need in principal about 50 years for the first 10% of market penetration (Marcetti, 1980)
With peak oil we are entering into a transition phase towards a post-fossil energy area
Summary
Germany is the only country of the earth, in which the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies is decided. – The availability of fossil primary energies is limited to approximately 50–80 years (with respect to probable annual growing rates even less!). – Fossil energy carriers are raw materials for organic chemistry → to valuable for burning. – The energy demand worldwide will increase (especially by the developing countries) and will aggravate the situation. – The introduction of a new energy-system will need in principal about 50 years for the first 10% of market penetration (Marcetti, 1980). The consequence should be: it is very high time to introduce CO2-free renewable energies (if necessary via primary energies with less CO2), with hydrogen as secondary energy carrier which can be stored, transported and used in manifold applications
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