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Pathways and Technologies for the Transformation of the Energy System

PTB Kolloquium

The United Nations Climate Conference in 2015 in Paris took the decision to limit the world temperature increase to 1.5°C in order to secure the planet. It requires that CO2 and other greenhouse gases emissions are quickly reduced. Eventually it means that the today´s energy system based on fossil fuels must be changed and renewable energy sources will be globally the basis for a new energy system and supply. The Fraunhofer ISE in Freiburg is working since many years in the field renewable energies with an emphasis on solar aspects. The presentation will discuss pathways how to transform the energy system. Results of recent techno-economical simulations using the in-house develop REMoD (Renewable Energy Model- Deutschland) tool are presented. The REMoD tool connects the needs of the different energy sectors of electricity, mobility, heat and industry and delivers information which technologies are required and what are the overall costs for the transfer process. Doubtless photovoltaic technology is one of the pillars for a successful global energy transformation. Fraunhofer ISE has been working continuously on this technology leading to lower cost, higher efficiencies and excellent reliability. Thus the cost of electricity provided by photovoltaics can be less than 5 €cent/kWh in Germany. There is still a lot of room for improvements. Therefore, recent progress and future expectations for PV technology will be presented.