Energy Efficiency, Materials and Resources
A significant increase of efficiency in the provision and consumption of energy, resources, and materials, in combination with an unprecedented rise of the share of renewable energy, is of paramount importance to the successful transformation of energy supply in Germany. The reduction of primary energy consumption by 50 % and of greenhouse gas emissions by 80 % by the year 2050 can only be accomplished by a higher crosslinking and optimisation of process chains, with the topics of resources, material developments, process engineering, and energy transformation processes being considered a holistic system. At the same time, transformation of energy supply requires the development of extraordinary flexibility regarding fuels, power plant load, and the related infrastructure. This is due to the necessity of a demand-driven, competitive, and environmentally friendly energy provision for society and industry, which complements that from renewable sources.