Energy in Germany: A critical review of current issues and analysis of future potential

Germany’s energy constellation is changing somewhat. The nuclear pull-out is being substituted by biofuels, however, with controversial results. In terms of sustainability, these biofuels cannot contribute as significantly as perhaps anticipated. Government subsidies for biofuels are at very high levels while the carbon footprint is far from being impressive. Soil depletion, erosion, high levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and resulting rising food prices are the drawbacks of this development. The bulk of German energy production still consists of fossil fuel combustion. As long as this is the case, the energy sector is causing emissions of some very health threatening toxins such as mercury, cadmium, lead and others. Beside the GHG emissions, these emissions cannot be seen as being sustainable in environmental and social terms. However, any strategy must take into account that the economic sustainability of this market is of crucial importance and must be acknowledged accordingly. Change can only take place gradually with all the stakeholders at the negotiating table. Scientifically, energy sources are emerging, which could potentially make a gradual change possible. So called Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENRs) may play a significant role in future energy strategies. As briefly demonstrated in this paper, life-cycle assessing a reference building shows the possible impact change comparing LENR to conventional thermal and electrical energy sources. Clearly, LENR is only emerging into the energy market. However, all pillars of sustainability can be addresses by this novel technology. Especially interesting for future markets, are aspects such as high value adding factors and higher tax incomes. By the taxation of decentralised energy production, much higher revenues are possible with potentially nearly zero environmental and social harm. However, to reach this goal, the science must be developed and engineered into a reliable technology. Once this development has taken place and is represented by politics accordingly, LENR can be anticipated to be adopted with much appreciation by the public body.