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Topical theme sparks off energy debate: Energy Day at TFH Georg Agricola

Energy supply is central to a whole series of existential challenges that will determine our economic and ecological future.

This year's Energy Day at Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences (THF), which was held at the German Mining Museum in Bochum on 6 February 2009, provided recognised authorities from the world of science, politics, trade associations and industry with an opportunity to present their various views on 'Prospects for energy and electricity supply' (which was also the sub-theme of the conference). The Energy Day was organised jointly by THF Georg Agricola and the GVSt (German Hard Coal Association). For TFH Vice-President Professor Dr. Alexander Dohmen, who was due to retire at the end of February, the event was the last in a series of important conferences held under his direction at the THF in recent years.

Professor Dr Jürgen Kretschmann, President of Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences

In his opening address Professor Dr. Jürgen Kretschmann, President of TFH Georg Agricola, set out the objectives behind Energy Day: "This conference hopes to contribute to the development of solutions for efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly energy supply. As the Ruhr's oldest still-active institution, with a history that stretches back almost two hundred years, the TFH is still able to make important scientific contributions to the energy theme. I am looking forward to a constructive and critical dialogue and I am eager to hear of new developments in this field."

Professor Dr. Franz-Josef Wodopia, Managing Director of the German Hard Coal Association and Honorary Professor of the TFH, hosted the first conference session. In his introduction he referred to the recent gas dispute between Russia and the Ukraine and highlighted the importance of protecting national energy supply.

In his presentation of the region's energy policy strategy Dr Heinz Baues, Chief Undersecretary at the Ministry for Commerce and Trade in North Rhine-Westphalia, highlighted the important role played by locally-based coal fired power stations - even from an environmental viewpoint: "Replacing old fossil fuel-fired power stations with new high-efficient coal burning technologies is the most important regional contribution that NRW can make to climate protection. Such a step can save as much as 30 million tonnes of CO2 emissions." Dr Baues also listed the increased use of renewables, the development of electric powered vehicles and increased energy-saving efforts as further essential elements in the regional government's integrated energy and environment plan.

Jürgen Eikhoff, Board Member of RAG Aktiengesellschaft

In his presentation on coal's contribution to energy supply Jürgen Eikhoff, Board Member at RAG Aktiengesellschaft, made the case for an energy policy with a sense of proportion that also took equal account of security of supply, cost effectiveness and environmental sustainability: "Germany is dependent on what is going on in the world energy market and this dependence is set to increase. We therefore need to focus on a broad energy mix in which the 'renewable' energies will certainly play an increasingly important role. But we must not abandon any energy resource without first knowing how we are going to replace it in a reliable, affordable and ecologically sustainable way. We should therefore not be playing off either nuclear energy or coal against the renewable energies. We need them all."

It was with this plea very much in mind that subsequent speakers set about discussing practically the whole range of available energy technologies and their economic and environmental consequences. As well as examining methods for the separation and underground storage of CO2 from power stations (CCS - carbon dioxide capture and storage), along with the possible revival of nuclear energy, the presentations included photovoltaic solar energy and the use of renewable materials and geothermals for heat production.

The sometimes controversial and always highly proficient nature of the debates is evidence of the fact that energy supply is a subject that is set to occupy the professional world for many years to come. The Energy Day once again demonstrated that conference organiser Professor Dr Alexander Dohmen has a real feeling for topical issues at the convergence point of science, industry and politics. Many of the speakers had been involved with Dr Dohmen in some capacity over the years and were keen to offer their very best wishes for his forthcoming retirement. True to form Dohmen ended with a mining reference: "For me today was the last shift. I hope that I have done a good job of filling the skip." The final words of appreciation were expressed by Professor Dr Christoph Dauber, who had helped organise the event and would be taking over the reins from Dr Dohmen as the next Vice-President.

Source: TFH Bochum, www.tfh-bochum.de