1.0 Introduction
„Nach langem Streit beschloss die EU außerdem, den Anteil der erneuerbaren Energien am Verbrauch im selben Zeitraum von derzeit gut 6 auf 20 Prozent zu steigern. Allerdings dürfte es in diesem Punkt in der Zukunft noch zu harten Verhandlungen kommen.“ [24].
Since it has been discussed controversial over years, this paper will examine the role and potential of renewable energies (REs) for a future energy mix or even a substitution of the conventional primary energy source (PES) in the EU with respect to four primary aspects. These are imbedded in the question, which PESs respectively which energy mix is the best solution for a long-term energy policy, regarding the highest possible supply guarantee and energetic independence the EU with a minimum of economic costs and negative environmental impacts. Apparently, these four aspects are often merging. For instance, the damage caused by negative environmental impacts partially leads to economical costs for removing them. Further, the dependence on imports of PESs may lead to an interrupted service, if an exporting country stops the consignment as a pressurising medium in negotiations.
The paper is based on the following three assumptions. First of all, the energy industry contains the large area of the generation of current and heat, as well as the fuel sector. The possible present and future drive concepts of vehicles contain current, hydrogen, biomass, crude oil or natural gas as operating power. Since these energy sources have been included within the consideration concerning current and heat generation, the fuel sector will not be observed further.
Second of all, the results regarding the current discussion about the greenhouse gas emissions and global warming in the media and science are controversial. Because of that, the greenhouse gas emissions of the PESs will not be weighted higher within the category of negative environmental impacts in the following analysis.
Third of all, concerning the consideration of the EU, the paper will not relate to several countries of it but will reference Germany. Since it is the country in the EU with the highest energy consumption, Germany seems to be a good benchmark [51].
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The status and outlook of conventional energy generation
2.1 A general overview
2.2 Natural Gas as primary energy source
2.3 Brown and Hard Coal as primary energy source
2.4 Crude Oil as primary energy source
2.5 Uranium and Nuclear Power as primary energy source
3 Renewable energies and its potentials
3.1 A general overview
3.2 Water power as primary energy source
3.3 Wind power as primary energy source
3.4 Solar irradiation as primary energy source harnessed by phototvoltaic power plants
3.5 Solar irradiation as primary energy source harnessed by solar thermal power plants
3.6 Biomass as primary energy source
3.7 Geothermal power as primary energy source
4 Two alternative energy supply conceptions
4.1 The conception of the organic hydrogen economy
4.1.1 A general overview
4.1.2 The layout of the organic hydrogen economy
4.1.3 The realisation of a sufficient biomass production
4.1.4 The costs for the organic hydrogen economy
4.2 The DESERTEC conception
4.2.1 Solar energy out of the desert
4.2.2 The future European energy supply scenario
5 The role of supply guarantee
5.1 A general overview
5.2 The supply guarantee of renewable energies
5.3 The supply guarantee of conventional primary energy sources
5.4 The supply guarantee with regard to the two conceptions
6 The role of international relations and dependencies
6.1 A general overview
6.2 The example of the European Union’s natural gas relation to Russia
7 Summary and conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This thesis examines the role and potential of renewable energy sources for a future energy mix in the European Union. It focuses on the shift away from conventional energy generation to ensure sustainable long-term policy, high supply security, and energetic independence while minimizing costs and environmental impacts.
- Potential and risks of conventional energy sources (oil, gas, coal, nuclear).
- Evaluation of various renewable energy technologies including biomass, geothermal, wind, water, and solar.
- Comparative analysis of two alternative energy concepts: The Organic Hydrogen Economy and DESERTEC.
- Security of supply and the role of international energy dependencies and relations.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1.2 The layout of the organic hydrogen economy
The OHE has the advantage, that also the secondary energy is storable, whereby it can highly assure supply guarantee. The main difference of Tetzlaff’s organic hydrogen compared to the other hydrogen concepts can be found in the way of hydrogen production. In the OHE, the hydrogen is produced through biomass gasification, rather than by the electrolysis of water. Each biomass is energetically utilisable by gasification and can be made durable through special storing [41: p. 67 and 80].
In a heat-led energy economy, it is acted in accordance to the heat demand, thus the efficiency is selected correspondingly. Using the fuel cell, as the end consumer would for his power generation, out of 100 % hydrogen energy, 60 % of power, 40 % of heat and 16 % of liquefaction heat would be generated. The latter can be won out of the formed water vapour and is not being considered in the most hydrogen economy approaches. That is why a total efficiency of 116 % can be reached. Higher fuel cell efficiencies than 60 % would not bring a further advantage because the heat would not be sufficient anymore for hot water generation with exception of the transportation sector [41: p. 63].
The total efficiency of the energy chain from the biomass to the end-product amounts to 93 % with respect to a gasifier efficiency of 78 %, thus is hardly improvable [41: p. 63–64 and 164]. Moreover, each RE could be converted to hydrogen without losses, if the production would happen heat-led. The necessity of other REs does, however, not exist because sufficient biomass can be produced and the prime costs of 0.025 EUR per kWh hydrogen needed to be underprice. But in this way, already installed plants could be integrated into the system for their remaining life [41: p. 203]. Indeed, also conventional PESs could be used more efficient in a heat-led energy economy but still have to be rejected because of the reasons mentioned in chapters two five and six.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Introduces the shift toward renewable energies in the EU and defines the four key assessment criteria: supply security, economic cost, environmental impact, and independence.
2 The status and outlook of conventional energy generation: Analyzes the current conventional primary energy sources, detailing their economic and environmental limitations and the market structures governing them.
3 Renewable energies and its potentials: Evaluates various renewable technologies, assessing their technical and ecological potential as well as their specific strengths and weaknesses.
4 Two alternative energy supply conceptions: Details the Organic Hydrogen Economy and the DESERTEC concept as innovative approaches to fully supply the energy sector.
5 The role of supply guarantee: Investigates the stability and reliability of the power grid, emphasizing the benefits of decentralization and the potential for balancing fluctuations.
6 The role of international relations and dependencies: Explores how energy imports create geopolitical vulnerabilities and discusses the dependency of the EU on Russian natural gas.
7 Summary and conclusion: Synthesizes the analysis, concluding that renewable energies are vital and that a transition is economically and strategically necessary despite the short-term difficulties.
Keywords
Renewable energies, Organic Hydrogen Economy, DESERTEC, supply guarantee, biomass gasification, European energy policy, energy independence, conventional primary energy sources, energy mix, grid stability, geopolitical dependence, sustainable energy, cost-benefit analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this thesis?
The thesis explores the potential of renewable energy sources to replace conventional fossil and nuclear primary energy sources within the European Union, focusing on sustainable energy policy.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The main themes include energy security, economic efficiency of renewable vs. conventional energy, environmental impacts, and geopolitical dependency on energy imports.
What is the main objective of the research?
The objective is to determine which energy mix offers the best long-term solution for the EU, balancing high supply security and independence with minimum economic costs and environmental damage.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author performs a comparative analysis of existing energy sources and evaluates two specific alternative energy concepts—the Organic Hydrogen Economy and DESERTEC—against defined socio-economic and environmental criteria.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body covers an analysis of conventional versus renewable energy, detailed concepts for a future energy supply system, the critical issue of grid supply security, and the impact of international relations on energy imports.
Which keywords define the work?
Key terms include Renewable Energies, Organic Hydrogen Economy, DESERTEC, Supply Guarantee, and Energy Independence.
How does the Organic Hydrogen Economy differ from standard hydrogen concepts?
Unlike standard electrolysis-based approaches, the Organic Hydrogen Economy proposes biomass gasification to produce hydrogen, claiming superior efficiency through heat-led production.
What role does the DESERTEC concept play?
DESERTEC proposes an EU-MENA network that utilizes the high solar radiation in deserts to provide stable, large-scale renewable power to the European grid.
How is the dependency on Russian natural gas addressed?
The author analyzes the current import relationship and suggests that while reliable in the short term, such dependence poses geopolitical risks that necessitate a transition to more localized renewable energy sources.
- Quote paper
- Andre Schröter (Author), 2007, Towards a sustainable european energy policy: the role of alternative energy sources, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/86351
