This dissertation deals with the optimal implementation of the energy transition in Germany. The evaluation of the specified expansion path for renewable energies is intended to provide information as to whether the efforts of the federal government are sufficient to achieve the goals of the Paris climate agreement. The evaluation tools designed for this dissertation are able to evaluate the specified additional amounts of the EEG 2021, to design storage concepts with which the producible amounts of electricity can be used in the best possible way and to compare the available energy with the necessary measures to achieve the Paris climate agreement. The result of this evaluation has shown that with the current expansion obligation, gross electricity consumption can be completely covered by renewable energies by 2050, but the excess electricity quantities that are not consumed in the electricity sector are not sufficient to cover 60 percent of the final energy requirement from renewable electricity. One of the government's targets is to reduce final energy consumption by 50 percent by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. Assuming that this project can be implemented, around 1270 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy will be required to supply all sectors of Germany. This contrasts with a maximum power generation of 620 TWh from regenerative generators. Even if this energy could be consumed without losses, only about 48 percent of the final energy consumption could be covered by renewable energies. If the expected efficiency losses are taken into account, around 950 TWh are required to be able to cover the final energy consumption as planned. In order for this energy to be generated by 2050, an improved expansion path is needed, which requires, among other things, the expansion of 125 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind capacity, 100 GW of offshore wind capacity and 255 GW of PV system capacity. This corresponds to an increase of around 43 GW onshore, 47 GW offshore and 73 GW PV capacity, so a significant adjustment of the EEG 2021 is required that should be implemented immediately. In order for the generation plants to be set up to be used to the best possible extent, battery storage and power-to-gas technologies must also be installed in order to store energy that is not directly consumed and transfer it to other sectors. In order for the entire amount of electricity to be able to be purchased with the current expansion path, a total of around 150 GW of power-to-gas plants must be installed. A clear adjustment of the current efforts regarding the implementation of the energy transition on the part of business and politics is required.

Dissertation, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, 2023; Aachen : RWTH Aachen University 1 Online-Ressource : Illustrationen, Diagramme, Karten (2023). = Dissertation, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, 2023

Published by RWTH Aachen University, Aachen