Research News
Geothermal bore in the geothermal field of Hellisheiði in south-west Iceland during a production test in August 2009. Photo: Reinsch, GFZ
Ethics Commission on Phase-out with a Sense of Proportion
On 30 May, the federal government's "Ethics Commission Secure Energy Supply" handed in its final report. One of the members of the specially appointed commission, including high-ranking representatives from the world of science, economy and the social sphere, was Prof. Dr Reinhard Hüttl, Scientific Executive Board of the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and President of the National Academy of Science and Engineering acatech.
The nuclear disaster of Fukushima drastically demonstrated that the potential damage through nuclear power that is connected with the word "residual risk" is so high, that it has to be thoroughly reconsidered. The "Ethics Commission Secure Energy Supply" appointed by the Federal Chancellor analysed this issue as well as the consequences connected with it and put forward a proposal of perspectives. This includes the fact, that going beyond nuclear power, the entire energy supply of our country has to be newly conceived.
The organisation of the future energy supply in Germany or even in Europe is a task for society as a whole. To this end, the Ethics Commission recommends a "Gemeinschaftswerk Energiezukunft Deutschland" (Joint Effort Energy Future Germany), in the course of which German innovation power can once more prove its worth. The basic decision to phase-out nuclear energy in Germany was made not only after Fukushima but long before. Yet for getting there, the way still needs paving.
For instance, the phase of dismantling the nuclear power plants and final disposal of radioactive residual matter is interminable and hitherto not fully researched. In Germany, final disposal research was discontinued for ten years. Research is also required as to whether technologies can be developed, by which the half-life of radioactive matter can be significantly reduced. After all, it is an ethical question whether we have the freedom to pass the burden of risk in maintaining final disposal sites to future generations. I am optimistic that the reorganisation is feasible, provided we work hard to considerably increase the efficiency of energy conversion and to optimally develop all renewable sources of energy.
Here, I am thinking not only of wind, sun and biomass but also of geothermal resources which could be utilised to a significantly higher degree in Germany. Even so: A speedy phasing out of nuclear power signifies here also the continued utilisation of fossil fuel power plants to safeguard the basic demand. Yet an important factor is that in the emerging countries coal will continue to be used as a source of energy for decades to come and in increasing measure. The CCS technology could be an intermediary solution to lighten the burden on the atmosphere. The major goal in this context, however, is the closing of the carbon cycle, that is, the use of CO2 as a raw material.
Ideally, Germany can expand its technological leading role in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energies and thus in the long term profit also economically from this energy revolution.
