02: Low-Carbon Energy Supply

Questions of future oil supply have again become the focus of public discussions due to high oil prices and political uncertainties in the Middle East. Especially in case of the most important source of energy  oil  the question is how long production capacities and resources can keep pace with the increase in demand. Unconventional oil and gas deposits – like oil sands or natural gas hydrates  as well as technological progress are considered to have big potential in searching for and extracting new energy sources in order to secure energy supply in the long-term. Equally decisive factors in this respect are the development of the political situation in the oil-supplying countries, the future strategic orientation of OPEC as well as the role of Russia. With a view to a low-carbon and therefore climate-friendly energy supply, renewable energy sources and hydrogen-/fuel cell technology show convincing ways for the future. However, when will these  newcomers become competitive with regard to profitability, technical maturity and availability, and do they possess the potential to take the place of fossil energy sources? Apart from new forms of energy, an optimal utilization of well-established technologies may also make an essential contribution to climate protection  often showing favourable cost/benefit ratios. This working group will try to show how energy will be supplied in the future and discuss how to master the difficult balance between security of supply and the protection of climate and the environment.