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Innovation and new energy technologies – the Cabinet adopts a new energy research programme

The German Cabinet today adopted the 5th Energy Research Programme on "Innovation and new energy technologies".

Energy – a new era – transport

Here are the views of the Federal Minister of Economics and Labour, Wolfgang Clement: "Modern energy technologies are the pre-requirement for a reliable and internationally competitive energy supply. The new Energy Research Programme will give industry and consumers a predictable energy perspective: The Federal Government is backing technologies that can guarantee a balanced energy mix, including coal and lignite, contribute towards improved energy efficiency and help develop the efficiency of our increasingly important renewables.”

The new Energy Research Programme was drawn up under the guidance of the Ministry of Economics and Labour and in collaboration with the Environment Ministry, the Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture and the Ministry for Education and Research. The approach is based on clearly defined key areas for selected sectors combined with relatively broad-based measures for other technology fields.

Priority areas include modern coal and gas fired power-station technologies, including CO₂ sequestration and storage. Clement again: “It is important that with the new technical programme for modern power-station technologies pre-conditions are laid down such that the German electricity industry will have access to the latest technology when the power-station renewal programme gets under way in 2010. Improved efficiency levels are an urgent priority for the power-plant modernisation programme. This is where the Energy Research Programme comes in, helping to ensure that more kWh can be obtained from each tonne of coal consumed.

“Other priority areas include photovoltaics, offshore wind power, fuel cells, hydrogen and energy stores, technologies and processes for energy-efficient building and for energy utilisation of biomass. The programme also comprises energy saving technologies in industry, in manufacturing and in the trade and services sectors, the entire range of renewable energies (hydro, solar, geothermal etc.), nuclear safety and waste-storage research, and fusion research. The new programme generally gives priority to “energy efficiency” and “renewables”.

For the period 2005 to 2008 the Federal Government will set aside € 1.7 bn for the promotion of research and development in modern energy technologies. The new Energy Research Programme will therefore make an important contribution to the necessary restructuring and modernisation of the German energy supply system. And more than that the new programme is a key element in the Government’s innovation initiative, as it will support growth and employment in Germany.

According to Clement: "The new Energy Research Programme will ensure that our country is as well prepared as possible to meet the energy challenges of the twenty-first century.” :

See  here for further information (German version):

Source:
Press statement from the Ministry for Economics and Labour:
http://www.bmwa.bund.de/Navigation/Presse/pressemitteilungen.html