• Energy Research
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To satisfy national sustainability targets in Germany, both bioenergy and organic farming claim a growing area of farmland. Analyses with a land use model and ac-companying expert interviews show, how the competition for land is growing in certain regions. A restricted area potential for energy crops – even with an ever intensifying farming opposes targets for an increasing share of land for organic agriculture and nature conservation. Thus there is a need for policy action, to discuss and solve this goal conflict. An ongoing study currently develops strategies for two selected German regions for a more ecologically compatible bioenergy production.

To satisfy national sustainability targets in Germany, both bioenergy and organic farming claim a growing area of farmland. Analyses with a land use model and ac-companying expert interviews show, how the competition for land is growing in certain regions. A restricted area potential for energy crops – even with an ever intensifying farming opposes targets for an increasing share of land for organic agriculture and nature conservation. Thus there is a need for policy action, to discuss and solve this goal conflict. An ongoing study currently develops strategies for two selected German regions for a more ecologically compatible bioenergy production.

The paper investigates an economic market potential for Plug-in Hybrid- and Battery Electric vehicles considering different categories of customers in Germany from 2015 to 2030. A multi-step methodology using constraints on the current vehicle registrations and inventory is developed to derive a general framework potential and a concrete economic potential for the different vehicles and ownership models under adjustable technical and legislative aspects.

The paper investigates an economic market potential for Plug-in Hybrid- and Battery Electric vehicles considering different categories of customers in Germany from 2015 to 2030. A multi-step methodology using constraints on the current vehicle registrations and inventory is developed to derive a general framework potential and a concrete economic potential for the different vehicles and ownership models under adjustable technical and legislative aspects.

Organic farming has expanded rapidly in Europe during the last decade. In view of the agricultural policy trends, the current socio-political climate and a continuously growing demand for organic products, a further expansion of organic farming seems likely. In view of these prospects, the objective of this study is to provide a quantitative assessment of the impacts of a significant expansion of organic farming in the European Union on agricultural production, markets and the environment. Using and extending the EU-wide agricultural sector model CAPRI, different policy scenarios for a conversion of organic farming to 20 % of the agricultural area in the EU are analysed. The results indicate that such an expansion has a significant effect on several policy-relevant indicators, but this impact is less than often projected on the basis on farm level comparative calculations. This is due to several different intra- and inter-sectoral feedback loops (e.g. market equilibriums, quotas) which can only be captured using a sectoral approach. The model results point to the significant influence the policy instruments, and thus the regional distribution of organic farming and the distribution of converting farm types, have on the extent of potential impacts of a more widespread conversion. This highlights the scope for policy making to pursue policy objectives more efficiently by designing the support programs accordingly.

Organic farming has expanded rapidly in Europe during the last decade. In view of the agricultural policy trends, the current socio-political climate and a continuously growing demand for organic products, a further expansion of organic farming seems likely. In view of these prospects, the objective of this study is to provide a quantitative assessment of the impacts of a significant expansion of organic farming in the European Union on agricultural production, markets and the environment. Using and extending the EU-wide agricultural sector model CAPRI, different policy scenarios for a conversion of organic farming to 20 % of the agricultural area in the EU are analysed. The results indicate that such an expansion has a significant effect on several policy-relevant indicators, but this impact is less than often projected on the basis on farm level comparative calculations. This is due to several different intra- and inter-sectoral feedback loops (e.g. market equilibriums, quotas) which can only be captured using a sectoral approach. The model results point to the significant influence the policy instruments, and thus the regional distribution of organic farming and the distribution of converting farm types, have on the extent of potential impacts of a more widespread conversion. This highlights the scope for policy making to pursue policy objectives more efficiently by designing the support programs accordingly.

Solar thermal hydrogen production with sulphur based thermochemical cycles can reach significantly higher efficiency than conventional water electrolysis. For these cycles decomposition of sulphuric acid is a key step allowing to couple concentrated solar radiation into the process. DLR developed a two-chamber test reactor to technically realise and experimentally analyse this reaction in the solar furnace in Cologne. Moreover, a model of the second reaction chamber for decomposition of SO3 was implemented and validated by experimental data.

Solar thermal hydrogen production with sulphur based thermochemical cycles can reach significantly higher efficiency than conventional water electrolysis. For these cycles decomposition of sulphuric acid is a key step allowing to couple concentrated solar radiation into the process. DLR developed a two-chamber test reactor to technically realise and experimentally analyse this reaction in the solar furnace in Cologne. Moreover, a model of the second reaction chamber for decomposition of SO3 was implemented and validated by experimental data.

Forest biomass plays a crucial role in the quantification of the terrestrial carbon budget. Today, forest biomass is poorly quantified across most parts of the Earth surface due to the great difficulties in measuring biomass on the ground and consistently aggregating measurements across scales. SAR satellites can provide the required information globally and frequent in order to quantify current biomass state and the changes. Tandem-L is a German mission proposal for an innovative interferometric L-band radar mission that enables the systematic monitoring of dynamic Earth processes using advanced techniques and technologies. The mission is science driven aiming to provide a unique data set for climate and environmental research, geodynamics, hydrology and oceanography. Important application examples are global forest height and structure and the derivation of forest biomass. The Tandem-L mission concept consists of two cooperating satellites flying in close formation. The 3 D structure mode provides a unique data source to observe and quantify changes in forest biomass. This paper provides an overview of the potential of using multi-parametric SAR for forest structure estimation with the derivation of forest biomass and suggests a mission for a global acquisition.