Energy Technologies 2050

Abstract

Marlene Arens— Researcher, Fraunhofer Institute for System and Innovation Research (Germany). E-mail: marlene.arens@isi.fraunhofer.de
Address: Fraunhofer-Institut für  System- und Innovationsforschung ISI, Breslauer Straße 48, 76139 Karlsruhe Germany

Christian Dötsch— Head of Business Unit for Energy Systems, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technologies (Germany). E-mail: christian.doetsch@umsicht.fraunhofer.de  Address: Fraunhofer-Institut für Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und Energietechnik UMSICHT, Osterfelder Straße 3, 46047 Oberhausen  Germany

Wolfram Krewitt— Head of Department, German Centre for Air and Space  Address: Linder Hoehe 51147 Cologne Germany

Peter Markevitz— Researcher, Jülich Research Centre. E-mail: p.markewitz@fz-juelich.de  Address: Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, 52425 Jülich, Germany

Dominique Möst— Project Manager, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Karlsruhe (Germany). E-mail: dominik.moest@wiwi.uni-karlsruhe.de  Address: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 6980, 76049 Karlsruhe, Germany

Julie Oberschmidt— Researcher, Fraunhofer Institute for System and Innovation Research (Germany). E-mail: julia.oberschmidt@gmx.de  Address: Fraunhofer-Institut für  System- und Innovationsforschung ISI, Breslauer Straße 48, 76139 Karlsruhe

Martin Wietschel— Head of Department for the Economics of Energy, Fraunhofer Institute for System and Innovation Research (Germany). E-mail: martin.wietschel@isi.fraunhofer.de  Address: Fraunhofer-Institut für  System- und Innovationsforschung ISI, Breslauer Straße 48, 76139 Karlsruhe Germany

Martin Scheufen— Researcher, Institute of High Voltage Technology, Rhine-Westphalian Technical University Aachen (Germany). E-mail: scheufen@ifht.rwth-aachen.de  Address: Institute for Hight Voltage Technology, Schinkelstraße 2, D-52056 Aachen

Sebastian Herkel— Head of Department, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Germany). E-mail: sebastian.herkel@ise.fhg.de  Address: Heidenhofstr. 2, 79110 Freiburg, Germany

Research and development in the field of energy technologies is characterized by high risks and substantial investments which pay off only long term. Research in the field of energy technologies requires special support from the government. The study entitled «Energy technologies 2050» reveals priorities for the public policy support with reference to prospective non-nuclear energy research.

For this purpose an evaluation methodology has been developed that allows the systematic comparison of technology fields claimed for public funding. The methodology =is based on three scenarios distinguished by the prices for energy carriers, quotas of CO2 emissions, energy consumption and estimated volumes of CO2 emissions. The evaluation criteria were selected in a way as to reflect the key energy policy goals and to provide comparative analysis of all the thematic areas and technology fields covered. The necessity of public support was detected based on an assessment of the state of the art of an area’s development stage, future demands and main obstacles for growth. The selected fields were then analyzed in detail via expert survey, and S&T policy recommendations for future support were developed. 

The future of technologies under scrutiny was evaluated in each of the three scenarios. Irrespectively of any scenario areas such as «renewable energy sources», «energy efficiency in industry and tertiary sector», «energy storage» and «power grids» remain stable. The evolution of other thematic areas depend on one or two scenarios and is thus related on framework conditions.

The described study could significantly contribute to the identification of prospective research themes and the definition of  S&T priorities.