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Last changed: 18/01/2010
More renewable energies and energy efficiency, and an energy saving individual behaviour are key to reducing energy related CO2 emissions. A study carried out on behalf of the UBA analyses global energy scenarios and describes potential and costs of renewable energies and energy efficiency measures, concluding that it remains unclear why potentials are not utilised more strongly.
Thanks to the use of renewable energies 106 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents were saved in Germany in 2007. These are the conclusions of an UBA study which applied optimised methods to make new calculations of the emissions accounting of renewable energies used in the electricity, heating, and fuel supply sectors. Upstream processes, e.g. production and servicing of installations, extraction of fuels, were taken into account in the net balance.
The study describes the effects of oil price changes on climate protection scenarios up to the year 2030. The results of the three scenarios (reference, high price, spike) show that even in times of high energy prices climate protection is not guaranteed to be successful, at least as far as the sector of electricity generation is concerned.
The study ”Politikszenarien für den Klimaschutz IV – Szenarien bis 2030” (Policy scenarios for climate protection IV – scenarios for 2030), conducted by a research consortium led by the Öko-Institut, shows that 54% of German greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by 2030 compared to 1990. The study modelled and compared scenarios without, with current and with additional climate protection measures.
Many less developed countries have considerable, as yet untapped, potential for using renewable energies. A new study looks into the role the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) can play in exploiting these potentials.
The Federal Environment Agency has identified eight measures to reduce Germany’s CO2 emissions by as much as 40% by 2020 compared to 1990. The study also describes the most important instruments which the federal government can use to achieve implementation of these measures.
It is possible to make a climate-based comparison of energy-intensive products and services by means of the "cumulated energy consumption" evaluation and decision indicator. This indicator integrates all sources of primary energy used ("consumed") for the production and use of products or services.
The argument in favor of lignite purports that lignite, as opposed to black coal, is the only unsubsidized domestic fuel. From a conservation perspective, however, increased use of lignite is questionable. UBA has put this proposition of unsubsidized lignite to the test.
The first step to protecting the climate globally has been taken with ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, yet the future of the international climate protection convention is still uncertain. How should binding reduction targets after 2012 be formulated? How can the Kyoto Protocol be transferred to threshold and developing countries? An UBA study introduces a model of how all states can be involved in a programme to reduce emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse gases.
Energy efficient residential housing contributes to both: climate protection and economic growth, emphasised UBA president Jochen Flasbarth in his keynote presentation at the UNECE Conference "Energy Efficiency in Housing" in Vienna 23/11/2009. Energy efficient residential housing reduces greenhouse gas emissions and the need for energy imports and leads to more employment, a higher standard of living and better health.
Bioenergy plays a crucial role in the discussion on renewable energies. Because of the competition with food production and the possible impact on logging in rainforests a sustainable production and use policy must be established. A project carried out on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency sought to determine how this goal might be achieved and according to which criteria.
The German Federal Government is aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40% by 2020 compared to 1990. To achieve this, legal instruments resulting in a more efficient energy use need to be implemented. Energy law experts of the University of Lüneburg have analysed what these might be and how they would have to be designed.
The map ”Power plants and wind power capacity in Germany” shows all power plant sites with a gross capacity of 100 MW or more and wind energy plants for each federal state and classified by energy sources (coal, nuclear, natural gas, wind power). The map ”Power plants and interconnected grids” shows the above power plant sites plus Germany’s extra-high voltage grid. The map ”Electricity mix in Germany” depicts energy sources’ shares of gross electricity production in 2006 for the various federal states.
Onshore and offshore wind energy production is an important element of a sustainable energy supply. This study looks into the reasons for the sluggish development since the year 2003 and makes proposals on how to overcome existing obstacles.
Effective and efficient policy instruments are needed to achieve the European target of a 21% share for electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. A study carried out on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency analyses and compares the main instruments used in the European Union and their potential contributions to this target.
The Federal Environment Agency has published a report and a position
paper on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The study assesses the technologies
for CO2 capture and storage. The position paper
examines the storage potential and environmental impacts of CCS and concludes
that CCS is only an interim solution and will not be available for large
scale power plants in Germany before 2020. The English summaries of both
documents can be downloaded here. The long versions are available in German
only.
The Federal Environment Agency presents its concept for long-term climate protection policy in this publication, introducing for the first time measures on how 40% (by 2020) and then 50% (by 2030) of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany can be prevented. Different scenarios discuss the need for action in the areas of energy saving, energy production, renewable energies, transport, and agriculture. The role played by ecological tax reform and emissions trading is also discussed.