Energy Systems of the Future

Initiative of the German Academies of Sciences

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This is what the future could look like in 2050: Electricity is mainly generated from wind and solar power. Cars are fuelled with electricity or hydrogen. Buildings are so well insulated that they no longer require heating.

How do we get there? What remains to be explored? And how is the transition towards a more sustainable energy supply to be financed? The Academies’ Project “Energy Systems of the Future” provides answers to these questions.

Current issues

News

Carbon management and negative emissions: academies press the case for a consistent overall strategy

Without capturing and permanently storing carbon dioxide (CO₂), it will not be possible to achieve climate neutrality by 2045, as climate scenarios have been highlighting for some time. Injecting CO₂ into the ground has not been permitted in Germany up to now, but that is set to change under the Carbon Management Strategy (CMS). The Academies’ Project “Energy Systems of the Future” (ESYS) reveals where improvements still need to be made on the key points of the CMS and how carbon management can evolve to achieve net-negative emissions.

News

Academies of science call for integrated climate strategy combining a technological transition with sufficiency measures and negative emissions

Germany has just 22 years left to achieve net greenhouse gas neutrality. To do this, it will need to rapidly implement ambitious measures to transform the energy supply and decarbonise industry. The Academies’ Project “Energy Systems of the Future” has investigated how this transformation might be achieved. In its recently published position paper, it concludes that climate neutrality can only be accomplished through a combination of social, technological and economic solutions. Reducing demand for energy will also play a key role.

News

Hydrogen in Tomorrow’s Energy System

Hydrogen filling stations, new hydrogen production and storage facilities and hydrogen buses for public transport are all regularly reported on in the media. So it’s not surprising that more and more people are wondering how important hydrogen will be in tomorrow’s energy system. In its latest “In a Nutshell” publication, ESYS examines the high hopes that hydrogen can contribute to net zero lifestyles and economic activity, explaining the basic facts and discussing the future outlook.

„The energy transition is crucial in achieving the Paris Agreement’s central goal to keep the global average temperature below 2° C. The Academies’ Project ESYS can make a major contribution to accomplish this turn.“

Gerald Haug
President of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

„The crises of the last two years have made it even clearer that the energy transition cannot wait. Academies bundle knowledge for society and thus also knowledge for the energy transition.“

Christoph Markschies
President of the Union of German Academies

„Only by working together as a global community can we succeed in solving global issues such as the energy transition. This requires modern technologies, cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary, cross-border projects such as ESYS.“

Jan Wörner
acatech President