Efficient, state-of-the art energy technologies based on research and innovation

Wind power is environmentally friendly and saves resources. At sea in particular, wind speed is extremely high and can generate a great deal of energy. Offshore wind farms make use of these advantageous conditions. Enormous rotors "capture" the wind and transmit it to a generator, which creates electricity out of it. Conducting R&D for modern and efficient energy technologies like these is an important priority of the High-Tech Strategy.

The Federal Government supports research and development in the area of modern and efficient energy technologies. To the Federal Government, research and development is a strategic step for securing a long-term, sustainable energy supply for Germany. When it comes to implementation, various different Ministries are involved in their respective areas of responsibility. The "Coordination Platform for Energy Research Policy" at the BMWi coordinates and harmonizes the Federal Government's funding policies.

The focus is the Federal Government's Fifth Energy Research Programme. It will continue to form the basis of the Federal Government's funding policy in coming years. The aim is to facilitate the transition to a sustainable energy supply through innovation and technical progress. The Federal Government has made energy research an important part of energy policy in order to be able to meet the growing energy and climate policy challenges. The Fifth Energy Research Programme "Innovation and New Energy Technologies" has been extended by two years (until 31 December 2010) and its funding has been increased (budget in 2009/2010: approx. €1.15 billion). New priorities have been set:

• Climate protection and energy efficiency:

  In the technology programme, the BMWi has re-organized its funding measures in the field of non-nuclear energy research and is providing funding for this area of research. These measures are primarily designed to produce short- and medium-term results. These are to be achieved by focusing on applied research and development and carrying out demonstration projects. The programme includes the following priorities: power plant technologies (COORETEC), combined heat and power generation and district heating, fuel cells and hydrogen technology, efficient use and storage of electrical energy, energy-optimized building construction as well as energy-efficiency in industry, business, trade and services. The programme is supplemented by measures for the support of research on nuclear safety and final disposal sites.

• Renewable Energies:

  The BMU has extended its research funding in the area of renewable energy sources and assigned new priorities. The Federal Government has also increased research funding for off-shore wind energy. The research initiative "Research at alpha ventus" plays a central role in these efforts. Its extensive research and development activities are being funded in the first German off-shore wind farm. "Optimization of energy systems with a view to expanding renewable energies" was defined as a new priority. This mainly includes projects that focus on integrating the increasing but fluctuating volume of wind energy and solar energy into the power supply.

• Bioenergy:

  The aim of the BMELV's funding programme "Renewable Resources" is to secure a sustainable raw material supply and conduct research into alternative sources. This includes the transformation of biomass as a raw material and fuel, biorefineries and white biotechnology. The new German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ) in Leipzig, which was founded in 2008 by the BMELV, is also involved in bioenergy research. The aim is to answer technological, economic and ecological questions related to the use of biomass for energy production. The "Action Plan for the Use of Renewable Resources as Raw Materials", which the BMELV plans to issue in 2009, will integrate and develop the research measures in this area.

• Basic Energy Research 2020+

  This new BMBF funding concept pursues a broad interdisciplinary approach. It focuses on basic, long-term research projects for the development of new technological options. The aims include highly-efficient energy generation, transformation and storage. One focus is the development of next-generation technologies in the area of renewable energies, such as thin-film photovoltaics, the transformation of biomass for energy and solar, biomimetic hydrogen production, or the development of technologies for the storage of CO2 from coal power plants. According to a recent study by McKinsey, this technology is irreplaceable. It is the only way in which CO2 emissions from power plants and other point sources can be intercepted on a big scale. Energy research conducted by the Helmholtz Association plays an important role in this context. The BMBF's funding measure "Bioenergy 2021 - Research for the Use of Biomass" was taken up on the recommendation of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU). In its expert opinion issued in December 2008, the Council came to the conclusion that biomass will be able to cover ten percent of the world's energy needs in the medium term.

Project example
Less is more: Thinner and more effective solar cells
Silicon solar cells are becoming thinner and more effective
The production of solar cells and modules needs to be efficient and economically viable. This is the only way to ensure that solar energy can be used extensively. In the project "SiThinSolar", researchers are working on the development and optimization of more cost-effective silicon-based solar cells. The project not only aims to increase the use of new materials; researchers from the Halle region are also trying to gain a better understanding of the microstructures of silicon. This knowledge can help us develop more efficient solar cells. Other aims include the minimization of waste in production processes and the increase of long-term reliability.

Innovation alliances and strategic partnerships pool our strengths for innovative energy production and use

How can the efficiency of solar cells be increased? How can the energy efficiency of batteries and lighting be enhanced? How can the CO2 emissions of power plants be reduced? These and other questions are being addressed by strategic partnerships and innovation alliances, which are also working to raise investments from companies.

The following innovation alliances and strategic partnerships have been launched in the area of climate and resource protection:

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  European Energy Network

  voluntary association of European organisations having a responsibility for the planning, management or review of national research, development, demonstration or dissemination programmes in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
  more (URL: http://www.fz-juelich.de/ptj/projekte/index.php)
   
  
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  E-Energy - ICT-based energy system of the future

  A funding programme of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) in an interministerial partnership with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
  more (URL: http://www.e-energie.info/en/index.php)
   
  

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  Fusion Research

  Fusion, i.e. the merging of atomic cores, is the process by which the sun and the stars produce their energy. It is an ancient dream of mankind to "bring the sun down on earth" and to make use of this energy. Fusion research work in Germany is an integral part of the European fusion research programme and ranges from very basic studies of plasma physics to the realization of technologically demanding components for fusion plants and the construction of the large-scale project "Wendelstein 7-X" in Greifswald.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/2242.php)