An interesting seminar on German Route to 50% Renewable Energy by 2050

From: Jean Zu [mailto:zu@mie.utoronto.ca]
Sent: April 1, 2010 10:04 AM
To: David Zingg
Cc: nogamiju; Doug Reeve; Farid N. Najm; Brenda McCabe; Will Cluett; Paul Santerre

Subject: an interesting seminar on erman Route to 50% Renewable Energy by 2050

Dear everyone,

Please see below an interesting seminar hosted by MIE. I would
appreciate it very much if you could publicize it in your
department/institute. Thank you.

Regards,

Jean


A Vision with a Mission: The German Route to 50% Renewable Energy by
2050

Speaker: Hans Mueller-Steinhagen, /Distinguished Speaker/
Affiliation: Director, Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, German
Aerospace Center (DLR) and University of Stuttgart, Germany

Location: MB128
Date and time: April 16, 2010, 2:10 PM


Abstract

The obvious limitation of fossil energy reserves and the negative impact
of their combustion on the world climate have prompted the German
government to commit itself to a stringent climate and resource
protection policy. To obtain the necessary background information,
several federal and state ministries have commissioned the German
Aerospace Centre to develop detailed scenarios on how, and at what cost,
this may be achieved. Overriding considerations are the security of
energy provision at any time, and the continuing competitiveness of the
German economy. It has been shown that 80% reduction of CO2 emissions
and a 50% share of renewable energies will be possible by 2050, even if
the present decision of phasing out nuclear power is upheld. To put this
into reality, political and economic measures will be required to
accelerate present trends in energy efficiency and renewable energy
technologies. Nevertheless, economic break-even will be achieved by
2025, even if present energy prices are only carefully extrapolated. In
addition, such a strategy will lead to an overall increase in
employment. In this lecture, contributions of the various energy
technologies will be presented, as well as the required technological
developments and market introduction programs.

Jean Zu
Professor and Chair
Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
University of Toronto
5 King'S College Road
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8
Tel: (416) 978-7198
Fax: (416) 978-7753
Email: zu@mie.utoronto.ca
Web: http://www.mie.utoronto.ca/labs/cvdl/zu.html