Academy’s advice and position paper

17 Oct Adaptation strategies in climate policy

National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2012
An effective climate policy comprises both curbing climate change by reducing CO2 emissions (mitigation) and adapting to its impact (adaptation). Mitigation and adaption are complementary and not competitive policies. Consequently, whilst continuing to pursue global emissions reduction targets, Germany should also start adapting to and preparing for climate change.
Read More

17 Oct Partitioning and transmutation of nuclear waste

National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2014
In June 2011, the German government’s announcement of the transition to renewable energy (known as the ‘Energiewende’) marked the beginning of the end for electricity production using nuclear power. The goal is for all electricity production at Germany’s nuclear power stations to cease by 2022. However, no definitive answer has yet been provided to the question of where and how the radioactive waste from these power plants will be permanently disposed of. In particular, there is currently no permanent storage facility for highly radioactive heat-generating waste. Whilst this type of waste only represents a small fraction of the overall volume, it accounts for 99 percent of the total radioactivity of the waste from nuclear plants.
Read More

17 Oct Norwegian Energy Policy in Context of the Global Energy Situation/English

Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences (NTVA)
2012
The volume contains the written version of the talks presented at a symposium with the title "Norwegian Energy Policy in Context of the Global Energy Situation".
Read More

17 Oct IAE Response to Green Paper on Energy

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2014
The submission to Government deals with the subjects of failures in EU Energy Policy, National Competitiveness, Electricity Sector, Natural Gas, Potential for Energy Conservation and Efficiencies and Low-Carbon Transport. It concludes with a summary of key issues that require to be addressed in the formulation of a new national energy policy, in the very different economic circumstances now prevailing in Ireland and the EU compared with the outlook in 2007, when the Government published its Energy Policy Framework, “Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland”.
Read More

17 Oct The EU Power Industry

Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE)
2015
Kieran O’Brien (IAE) - 2015 Paper presented at the Dublin Economics Workshop 2015. Reviewed current physical and financial hazards facing European utility companies and adverse consequences of EU and national energy policies.
Read More

17 Oct Annual Report 2014

Real Academia de Ingenieria (Spain) (RAI)
2015
 
Read More

17 Oct Hydraulic Fracturing. A technology under debate

National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2016
Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking, is controversially debated among politicians and the public. Already employed in Germany for over 50 years, the technology is currently discussed with regard to two applications significant in terms of economic and energy policy: The extraction of shale gas from shale formations and the production of heat and energy from geothermal sources. Addressing the various facets of fracking, the POSITION paper provides a comprehensive scientific and technical overview of the method and its risks and benefits. The study resorts to best practice examples to illustrate how pilot/test projects can be used to continue exploring and implementing the technology while ensuring the highest possible safety standards . acatech thus contributes to broadening the available information base for decision-makers from politics as well as interested members of the public.
Read More

17 Oct Consulting with energy scenarios. Requirements for scientific policy advice

National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2016
However, as calculation models are part of the implementing institutions’ operating capital, they are frequently not disclosed. Also, it is not always clear whether the results are influenced by any provisions by the commissioning institutions. The position paper by the Academies’ Project "Energy Systems of the Future" (ESYS) offers suggestions how transparency can be increased. It aims both at the commissioning organisations and the scientists creating the scenario studies. In addition, it provides assistance for those who wish to evaluate and use energy scenarios, e.g. journalists, NGOs and the political decision-makers. Contributors: Felix, Höffler, Christoph, Mayer, Wolfgang, Weimer-Jehle
Read More

17 Oct Flexibility concepts for the German power supply in 2050. Ensuring stability in the age of renewable energies

National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2016
So-called flexibility technologies are necessary to balance the fluctuations naturally inherent to power generation from wind and photovoltaics. The various viable options include flexibly dispatchable power plants as well as storage systems or the balancing of power demand and power feed-in (demand-side management). The challenge is to identify the options combining stability, sustainability, cost efficiency and social acceptability.
Read More

17 Oct Energy Vectors

National Academy of Technologies of France (NATF)
2015
Changes in energy procurement/uses have often followed differing ‘trajectories’ in different countries while being related by factors such as oil prices and climate change.  While these forces are still active, time-scales have shifted (e.g. for peak oil and gas). The Fukushima accident has recently shaken confidence into nuclear power. This Report proposes a robust methodology helping in situations of energy transition to make relevant choices on both economic and ecological levels. Focussing on the French situation, it defines Energy Vectors as the support system delivering energy in the form of electricity, petrol, gas, or heat, etc. to consumers and deals with the intermediary stage of vectors between energy sources (coal, gas, U, wind, hydro) and demand of final energy (for transport, heating, industrial processes, etc.). But end-consumers are often not aware of the source for the final energy they receive. Distinguishing between sources would allow economic and ecological competition (when C02 emissions carry a price-tag).  This report throws new light on the political decisions that must be taken and provides guidelines with a long-range relevance - the parametric structure allowing application to any given case. Group Leader: Gilbert Ruelle, Former Director of the Alstom Division Alternators, Honorary President of CREEBEL, and NATF Fellow
Read More