The global energy sector is facing a revolution. The incidents in Japan earlier this year and the nuclear power phase-out in Germany are contributing to an energy turnaround which is approaching fast. Already the share of renewable energies in some countries is considerable. By 2020, renewable energies are to make up 18% of Germany’s power supply, for example. By 2050 the figure could be as high as 100%, according to the results of a study of the “Nachhaltiges Energiesystem 2050” committee of the renewable energies research alliance (ForschungsVerbund Erneuerbare Energien).
To reach these levels of penetration, “a heroic vision” is required, say the organisers of Energy Storage – International Summit for the Storage of Renewable Energies in March 2012 to develop efficient grids and infrastructure and efficient storage technologies.
Storage technologies play a pivotal role in a sustainable energy supply based on renewable energies, particularly with regard to intermittent sources such as solar and wind energy where the lack of storage techniques is becoming an increasingly limiting factor. The target of the Energy Storage Summit is therefore to show what future energy supply can look like, based on renewable energies and what role energy storage technologies play in this industry.
The conference organised by Messe Düsseldorf and Solarpraxis will be held alongside an accompanying technical exhibition that will be held for the first time on 13 and 14 March 2012. The conference will focus on practical feasibility, with representatives from academia, industry, politics and energy supply coming together to shed some light on commercially viable applications and innovative concepts for energy storage as well as on their potential and affordability. The aim is to outline a roadmap towards commercially viable storage technologies for future-proof energy scenarios.
The internationally renowned scientist Prof.Eicke R. Weber, spokesman of the Fraunhofer Energy Alliance and Head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Freiburg, is the Chairman of the Programme Committee. “Energy storage is a crucial part of the transformation of energy systems. Inexpensive, durable storage systems are a must. This conference and its accompanying technical exhibition provide the perfect platform for bridging the gap between research and industry,” says Prof. Weber.
The Fraunhofer Energy Alliance is an alliance of 16 Fraunhofer Institutes pooling the core competences in the areas of energy technologies and energy supply systems. In concert with the business community the Fraunhofer Energy Alliance intends to enhance Germany’s technology leadership in the efficient use of energy and the development of renewable sources of energy.
After the Energy Storage Advisory Committee had met for the first time in summer this year, the Programme Committee laid down the session themes of the conference in its constituent meeting early September. These are at a glance:
Prof. Weber will be joined by other renowned experts from science and research involved as a multi-disciplinary team in developing the content. These include: the Deputy Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (IWES) and Division Director for Energy Economy and Grid Operation, Kurt Rohrig; Werner Tillmetz, Board Member and Business Unit Manager for Electrochemical Energy Technologies at the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW); and Andreas Hauer, Department Head for Energy System Technology and Renewable Energies at the Centre for Applied Energy Research (ZAE).
The conference and exhibition at which research institutes and enterprises will present applications-oriented concepts and industry-ready storage solutions, will be held at the Congress Center CCD. South at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre.
[Photo: Diagram of a plant using compressed air storage]
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