Representatives of the eight energy research centers of the Helmholtz Association commented on the discussion of energy policy in Germany and declared their willingness to constructively support the upcoming transformation process. The Helmholtz Association conducts about half of publicly funded energy research in Germany and possesses comprehensive expertise in research relating to renewable energies, energy-efficient technologies, nuclear safety, systems analysis, and technology assessment.
With its energy concept of September 2010, the Federal Govern-ment defined clear objectives for sustainable and reliable energy supply in the future. After the reactor accident at Fukushima, the requirements made in this energy concept have turned out to be “robust” in principle. However, the energy policy landscape has changed considerably. Risk assessment of the use of nuclear energy and of all other energy technologies has to be reconsidered. Adaptations of the energy concept are required, because shorter operation times of nuclear power plants will result in considerable challenges for politics, industry, and science.
Clear Targets
An integrated approach and a clear definition of target priorities are needed in terms of security of supply, global resources availability, environmental and climate protection, technical risks, economic efficiency, and securing of industrial locations. Occasional shifting of priorities or even playing off these factors against each other will prevent reasonable long-term planning.
Thinking in a Technology-neutral Manner
In everyday politics, decisions on electricity, heat, and fuel supply are often made separately. However, it is aimed at linking applica-tion and generation technologies more closely and at creating new national supply structures for the generation, transportation, and storage of a mix of energies.
European Approach
All types of energy, in particular electricity supply, have to be de-signed not only on the national, but also on the European level. Planning and operation of renewable, fossil, and nuclear electricity production as well as of grids and stores require Europe-wide coordination (e.g. for an efficient use of hydropower in Scandinavia and the Alps or border-crossing electricity exchange).
Recommendation
The population has realized that sustainable energy supply is an issue, whose social and economic importance is equivalent to that of health, education, and social security. This implies a big chance for a high degree of support of the upcoming transformation process. Now, a consistent discussion of new solution paths and their consequences is required. Energy research and the planned extensive monitoring of the transformation process and in particular of the degree of reaching the target will play an important role in the establishment of new infrastructures as a technical prerequisite for an opt-out from nuclear energy and for climate-, environmentally, and resources-compatible, safe, and affordable energy supply.
The eight energy research centers of the Helmholtz Association are experienced actors and partners in this transformation process covering all major research areas of renewable, fossil, and nuclear en-ergies as well as systems analysis and technology assessment. The Helmholtz Association is ready to successfully design and accom-pany a new energy future by research, education, and counseling of politics.
June 04, 2011
Eberhard Umbach, Vice President of the Helmholtz Association, research field coordinator Energy
German Aerospace Center (DLR), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – German Research Centre for Geosci-ences (GFZ), Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ).
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.