Energy for Germany 2011 Facts, Outlook and Opinions in a Global Context
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Energy for Germany 2011 Facts, outlook and opinions in a global context Main topic: Integration of renewable energies into the power supply system Weltenergierat - Deutschland Energy for Germany 2011 Facts, outlook and opinions in a global context Publisher: Weltenergierat – Deutschland e.V. Imprint Energy for Germany 2011 press date: April 2011 Publisher: Weltenergierat – Deutschland e.V. Gertraudenstraße 20 D-10178 Berlin Phone: 0049 30 2061 6750 [email protected] www.weltenergierat.de Responsible representative under German press law (V.i.S.d.P.): Dr. Carsten Rolle, Executive Director Editorial: Editorial group “Energy for Germany”, Chair: Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Schiffer Nicole Kaim Alexander Zafiriou Printing: DCM Druck Center Meckenheim GmbH www.druckcenter.de Cover images: Power supply: © Andreas Franke – Fotolia Network control center: © Jochen Tack, Emscher Lippe Energie GmbH Biogas plant: © Thomas Otto – Fotolia Black coal: © kw-on – Fotolia Hohenwarte pumped storage power plant: © Vattenfall Europe Generation AG Attaching new solar moduls: © Marina Lohrbach – Fotolia Wind power plant: © Christian-P. Worring – Fotolia 2 Foreword Foreword to be expected in the long-term also directly impact our European partners. This is reflected in the international criticism voiced over the past few months. As the largest energy market in the center of Europe and closely con- nected with its neighbors, Germany bears a particular responsibility. Germany’s energy policy needs to win over the rest of Europe. Notwithstanding Germany’s decision, the top priority in the operation of nuclear power plants must be the safety of these plants. This is – and was – without doubt. But safety doesn’t stop at national borders, especially not in a place as densely populated as Europe. Here, despite its current political reorientation, Germany would be well advised to participate actively in the review and further development of safety requirements and safety facilities at European level. Because even after the events in Ja- pan, it is to be assumed that across Europe nuclear en- The dramatic events in Japan, above all the terrible disas- ergy will continue to be used for decades to come. Cor- ter at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, have pro- responding initiatives are already underway. At the end of voked deep shock – and not only within the energy indus- May, the European Commission together with the Euro- try. This disaster is the precursor to far-reaching and pean Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) already long-term effects in the region. At the same time, the defined criteria for a Europe-wide “stress test” for nuclear disaster has also prompted a debate around the world on power plants. Now the Member States must carry out the the security of nuclear energy. One thing at least has be- stress tests based on these criteria by the end of 2011. come clear: in the aftermath of this event, the energy in- dustry cannot simply continue business as usual. The safety aspects are at the forefront of the discussion – and rightly so. But the disaster in Japan has also had Natural catastrophes on the scale of the one in Fukushi- effects on the market. There has been a significant in- ma are not a risk in Germany. Nevertheless, the terrible crease in demand for LNG (liquefied natural gas) to com- images from Japan have triggered a political earthquake pensate the widespread outages within Japan’s energy in our country. The first repercussions of the Japanese supply system. At the moment, the market is able to sat- disaster were seen just a few days afterwards, when the isfy this increased demand very well since the USA has German government imposed a three-month suspension now all but ceased import of LNG. One major reason for on its decision to extend the lifetime of nuclear reactors this is the massive increase in extraction of unconven- and ordered the immediate shutdown of reactors which tional natural gas (shale gas) there in recent years. These went into operation before 1980. A few weeks later, a circumstances and associated effects were also among political decision was reached on the future of nuclear the central topics at the World Energy Congress in Mon- energy in Germany: in July 2011, Federal President treal last September. A detailed presentation of the results Christian Wulff signed the Nuclear Power Phase-out Act. of this conference can be found at the back of this publi- Under this act, the operation of nuclear power plants in cation. Germany is to be discontinued step by step by the year 2022. In addition, the 8 of Germany’s seventeen nuclear The question as to whether energy policy with a national plants which were shut down during the moratorium will focus still makes sense at all is becoming ever more justi- remain permanently offline. fied. Markets are growing together internationally, busi- ness flows are increasingly assuming a global focus and The consequences of our national policy decisions will demand for energy is increasing rapidly in emerging also impact neighboring countries. As a result of its short- countries. The German energy supply system in particu- notice shutdown of around 8,000 megawatts of easily lar, situated in the heart of Europe, will have to take sig- controllable generating capacity in the base load, Ger- nificant account of policy direction at European level. In many has in fact reduced the safety margins of the entire November 2010, the European Commission clearly de- European network to a critical level. Moreover, the price fined its priorities with the presentation of its Energy increases already evident today and the further increases Strategy 2020. This provides a stable foundation and a 3 Foreword reliable package of measures for implementation of the development are the use of market mechanisms and the energy and climate policy objectives1 of the European creation of attractive investment conditions, including Council by 2020. One specific focus of the European risk-adjusted returns and coordinated or harmonized Commission’s energy strategy is the systematic applica- regulatory conditions. Projects of European interest must tion of existing instruments, particularly with regard to also be measured by appropriate criteria. Even in the completion of the European internal energy market. This generation sector, security of investment is essential. The is the right approach, particularly in order to avoid market tendency to use energy policy targets to increasingly un- distortions, but consideration should perhaps be given to dermine the market is, in this context, of little benefit. additional monitoring instruments. How much market regulation and how much government regulation will there be in future? Companies need clear, On the way to a sustainable internal European energy long-term prospects here to better understand where market, infrastructure development assumes an essential developments are leading. Particular challenges will be role. The infrastructure package also presented by the the simplification and acceleration of approval proce- European Commission last November must therefore al- dures and the acceptance of infrastructure projects with- so be considered a central component of the strategy and in the population. one of the most important policy objectives for the com- ing years. By 2020, the European Commission estimates The European Council’s energy summit at the beginning that investment volume will be approx. one billion Euro; of February 2011 basically reaffirmed the path laid down distributed more or less equally between the sector of by the Energy Strategy 2020 and established bench- generation capacities on the one hand and energy net- marks. The EU heads of state and government agreed on works and storage systems on the other hand. In view of the year 2014 as the target date for completion of the the massive investment needed, especially in the field of single internal market for electricity and gas, with ade- energy networks, the critical factors for their successful quate connection of all Member States to be achieved by 2016. But the delegations – particularly Germany – did find it difficult to think European on the future develop- 1 This includes a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, in- crease of the proportion of renewable energies to 20% and a 20% ment of renewable energy, particularly with regard to their increase in energy efficiency gradual entry and integration into the market. Legislative Objectives of the German Energy Concept, 28 September 2010 100 % 2020 2030 2040 2050 80 % 80 % 65 % 60 % Final energy 60 % 50 % Primary consumption 45 % 40 % Greenhouse gas energy Electricity in the 35 % emissions consumption consumption transport sector 30 % 20 % compared to compared to compared to compared to 18 % 1990 2008 2008 2005 0 % Share of Share of –20 % renewable energy renewable energy in the gross final in the gross –40 % –10 % –10 % energy electricity –20 % –25 % consumption consumption –60 % –40 % –40 % –80 % –50 % –55 % –100 % –70 % –80 to –95 % Further objectives: duplication of the renovation rate from the current figure of less then 1 % a year to 2 % of the total building stock. Source: Energy concept of the German federal government 4 Foreword proposals on the infrastructure package and the estab- come from? How can the energy supply be secured with- lishment of a long-term outlook up to 2050, which the out having to rely too heavily on imports? How will the European Commission is expected to present by the end plan to introduce CCS technology in power plants using of 2011, are eagerly anticipated. fossil fuels progress? How soon will the much-needed grid expansion and development and implementation of The existing national energy strategies, including the Ger- storage technologies occur? The answers to these impor- man energy concept, will be essential for the develop- tant questions will be critical in determining how we suc- ment of a European energy road map for 2050. In last ceed in transforming the energy system.