The war in Ukraine once again painfully demonstrated the dependencies of German energy policy. Ideological convictions are thrown overboard – suddenly a green economy minister procures gas from Qatar and advocates for LNG terminals.
That’s good. Because now is the time to get rid of the blinders in order to quickly achieve economic climate protection.
In the current debate about the future design of the German energy system, however, people often only think in binary categories: immediately effective measures and long-term goals.
The problem with it: The quiet solutions, which are already economical and climate-friendly today, are not given enough attention.
Likewise, it is often not taken into account that there are large differences in the requirements for the provision of energy, process heat cannot be easily generated with electricity.
Furthermore, the planning and approval procedures still take far too long. Effective reforms of administrative law are needed to quickly reduce our dependence on Russian gas.
We don’t just have to switch the energy system to renewables but also become more efficient in the use of energy in order to meet climate targets and reduce dependency on third countries.
However, energy efficiency and energy saving are still underestimated because they are not sufficiently visible and politically not sufficiently striking.
>> Read here: Germany in bureaucracy madness: Why 1000 finished solar systems can not go to the grid
One thing is clear: the best energy for Germany is the one that we don’t use. That is why we need competition and strong incentives in industry and also in private households in order to keep consumption as low as possible and to fill the gas storage tanks as quickly as possible in view of the multiple shortages in supply.
We have to start at many points, there is no single solution. All contributions together result in a reduction in dependence on Russian gas, but also a path towards a climate-neutral economy.
The previous use of waste heat is not sufficient
The example of waste heat clearly shows the potential that has so far hardly been considered. Germany could produce 23 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity every year from the waste heat of industrial processes – this is currently largely lost unused.
This corresponds to the consumption of 18 percent of all households. There are currently available, scalable technologies from Germany that convert the waste heat into cheap green electricity. This can be seen clearly in the cement sector.
A lot of heat is required in the manufacturing process to produce cement. With the waste heat from all German cement works alone, 0.71 TWh of cheaper, CO2-free electricity could be produced.
Around 1.7 TWh of gas would have to be used to produce the same amount of electricity. This corresponds to the annual gas consumption of around 74,000 single-family homes or 142,000 rental apartments – i.e. a medium-sized city with around 300,000 to 500,000 inhabitants.
The use of waste heat to generate electricity makes a direct contribution to climate protection with domestic technologies – and strengthens energy self-sufficiency. And by the way, that remains the case in most industries in a decarbonized environment.
Heat is also released during the production of hydrogen, which can be used to increase the efficiency of the overall system.
Of course, some of the heat from industrial processes is already being used today, often as district heating or as electricity using combined heat and power plants. That’s a good thing.
So far, however, cogeneration plants that convert excess heat into electricity have only been available for very large sources such as waste incineration plants. However, the number of these large waste heat sources is limited – in contrast to the many medium-sized and smaller sources.
In order to leverage the real electricity and climate protection potential, we therefore need solutions that make decentralized, smaller heat sources usable and function in a scalable manner.
Germany can play a pioneering role in waste heat recovery technology
This includes industrial plants, but also the use of geothermal potential throughout Germany. Geothermal energy can also provide process heat.
Direct use as heating is often ideal, but only uses the waste heat produced all year round during the heating period and thus neglects a large potential.
The advantages are obvious: Electricity is a valuable form of energy and can be used in many different ways. Since economically active regions offer attractive jobs, more people live in these regions.
The use of waste heat in countries with high industrial added value such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, but also North Rhine-Westphalia could make a measurable contribution to affordable electricity prices.
This strengthens industry, secures jobs and creates acceptance for the energy transition. The previously unused heat sources are the invisible wind turbines of the republic.
There is another opportunity for Germany: The technology for using the waste heat comes from Germany, is produced here and thus creates jobs here.
The worldwide interest in the solutions, for example from the USA, the Middle East and Asia, shows that Germany can assume a new pioneering role here.
The electricity from waste heat should be classified as green electricity
Germany is currently trying to make the energy sector sustainable and to reduce dependencies. The level of ambition in the Minister for Economic Affairs’ so-called Easter package is quite high. That’s right.
But the potential of using waste heat remains untapped. It would be helpful if the electricity produced from waste heat were classified as “green electricity”.
This would effectively reduce CO2 emissions, since no fossil fuels have to be used to generate the base load. The waste heat is produced continuously – and so is the electricity.
The EU taxonomy does not go far enough here either. Innovations are not part of the positive list as they are by their very nature emerging.
A living list instead of a rigid construct would be beneficial for climate protection and strengthening Germany as a business location. A repeated and regular revision of the list would be an important starting point to consider effective innovations for climate protection in the future.
We have to use all potential. Looking to the future also means allowing innovations.
The republic’s “invisible wind farms” can quickly make their contribution to ensuring that climate protection and economic strength go hand in hand. Energy saving, energy efficiency is the order of the day – we just have to really implement it.
The authors: Andreas Lenz is a member of the Bundestag for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Andreas Sichert is CEO of Orcan Energy AG, which produces electricity from waste heat.
More: “The Purity Law also applies to our electricity”: What Bitburger is doing to combat climate change