The Energy Days, the leading event of the energy transition in Germany since 1999, had to take place as a digital conference this year. The organizer drew a positive conclusion to the digital experiment. It was a risk to completely digitize the Energy Days in such a short time, but ultimately a success. With over 20,000 registrations for events, the Energy Days remain the leading event for the energy transition in Germany.
Jürgen Pöschk, initiator and organizer of the Energy Days, also pointed out the advantages of holding the event from any location: This would have led to a broad thematic diversity. Topics that had hardly played a role in recent years were now among the big hitters: hydrogen, future fuels, climate communication, the energy transition and populism are just a few examples.
Hydrogen as a savior?
With ASUE, B.KWK and GASAG, three organizers put together a Hydrogen Day that provided comprehensive information about the present and future of the "new gas".
The event kicked off with a panel discussion organized by the Berlin energy supplier GASAG entitled "Hydrogen - hype or trend?", moderated by energate editor Dr. Heiko Lohmann. The participants (Stefan Kapferer, CEO 50Hertz, Andreas Kuhlmann, Managing Director of dena and Gerhard Holtmeier, CEO of GASAG AG) called for an open-technology discussion on the future of energy and also focused on the further use of gas storage facilities. The use of hydrogen in industry or in the heating market can only be decided via market-based processes, but cannot be prescribed by the state.
On the topic of "Hydrogen in the heating market", Dr. Julia Verlinden (Green Party) emphasized that her parliamentary group was clearly against the direct use of hydrogen in the heating market. Hydrogen would be an expensive and scarce resource that could be used where other renewable energies could not be used. Efficiency measures and heat pumps should be prioritized in the heating market. It would be more important to halve consumption overall and follow her party's "fair heat" concept.
Following this headwind and the recent postponement of the hydrogen strategy several times, the contributions showed that the market is currently running ahead of legislation. In Esslingen, Baden-Württemberg, for example, a district is currently being built under the leadership of Prof. Fisch, EGS-plan Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, which uses an electrolysis plant integrated into the building heating system to make up for the usual efficiency losses by using the waste heat. The hydrogen produced is instead used more profitably in transportation and industry. Prof. Fisch urged everyone to be aware of the high costs involved in the energy transition. Finally, he called for a feed-in tariff for green hydrogen. Norbert Zösch, Managing Director of Stadtwerk Haßfurt GmbH, summed up why many similarly conceived projects are currently not economically feasible: "Paying the EEG levy on electricity generated using power-to-gas is complete nonsense!".
Self-generated electricity in the home, home storage technology and charging infrastructure for electromobility
The webinar from the Information and Competence Center for Sustainable Building (IKzB) in Berlin aroused great interest due to the wealth of up-to-date information on the generation, storage and use of electricity in and around the home.
Lawyer Peter Nümann presented the current legal framework for PV power consumption on site with useful cross-references and gave an outlook on planned future legislation. Contract models were explained by comparing different supply models (PV residential rental, etc.). Johannes Weniger, HTW Berlin, from the DBU-funded electricity storage inspection 2020, was able to identify a noticeable further development in home storage systems. 14 manufacturers took part in the storage comparison with laboratory measurements of 21 systems. In the simulation-based evaluation according to the System Performance Index (SPI), all of the devices tested achieved efficiency values of 89 to 94 percent.
Electromobility
Peter Lindlahr, HySolutions GmbH, described the future of electromobility. Germany will develop into a hotspot for electric driving in the coming years. A peak for future market development will be reached in 2023 and a significant surge in demand will take place. In metropolitan areas, more than 30 percent of the vehicles still on the road will be electrically powered by 2030. Charging management for these vehicles will take place at home, at work or at public charging stations. The range of charging settings and routines will increase and load management will become increasingly important in order not to jeopardize the performance of the electricity distribution grids. "Grid-friendly" charging will become an indispensable standard.
Identifying efficiency potential in industrial processes
The systematization of indicator systems for evaluating and increasing energy efficiency is an absolute requirement to support the German government's "Efficiency First" strategy. Germany will become more energy efficient by applying the method of limit value-oriented key figures.
As part of the "Efficiency First" event, the physical optimum method (VDI 4663) was presented. Specific examples of the application of the physical optimum were then presented. The presentation was rounded off by the prospective application of the method to Power-to-X processes. The Physical Optimum method is currently being validated as part of a project (www.greokems.de).
Working together to reduce energy costs and build up expertise
Companies that want to increase their energy efficiency can find a suitable network at www.effizienznetzwerke.org. An interactive map shows where a quick start to networking is possible. The network exchange also provides an overview of existing groups and contacts by region and sector.
In a network, companies work together to improve their energy efficiency. This lowers energy consumption, reduces energy costs and creates
costs and creates competitive advantages. Initial audits make it possible to implement economic investments in energy efficiency on a solid data basis. Through a continuous exchange of experience, companies also gain know-how about climate protection and technical innovations. Renewable energies, mobility and digitalization are also popular topics in the network.
To date, more than 2100 companies in 257 networks are involved in the Energy Efficiency Networks initiative. Around 190 of these networks have a regional focus. Companies such as car manufacturers and hospitals are cooperating. In more than 50 energy efficiency networks, participants have joined forces within one sector. Twelve networks are currently looking for further participants. You can find out which companies are involved and all the information you need to start a network at www.effizienznetzwerke.org or by calling (030) 66 77 77 66.
Economic policy in the arc of tension between the coronavirus and climate crisis
The coronavirus crisis is putting the economy to an unprecedented test. Can it serve as an opportunity or will it overwhelm SMEs and industry on the path to a climate-neutral economy? What role does the "Green Deal" play, with which the EU Commission wants to ensure effectiveCO2 pricing throughout the economy? ACO2 border adjustment for selected sectors is intended to reduce the risk ofcarbon leakage. At the same time, the German government wants to advocate a moderateminimum carbon price in the energy and industry sectors at EU level with the Climate Action Program 2030. From 2021, a fixed-price emissions trading system will also apply to heating and transport in Germany. Aminimum CO2 price was also discussed at the event.
The online conference and the supporting program with open discussion forums and exchange formats for individual discussions were extremely well received from the organiser's point of view. Even if a face-to-face event cannot be completely replaced with the opportunities for meetings available there, the digital format is a suitable alternative to supplement face-to-face events.
