Eröffnungsrede zum VGB-Kongress ,,Kraftwerke 2008

The future of electricity generation in Europe and in Germany will continue to be interesting. The years ahead will show whether the ambitious climate protection goals are attainable and whether they will match security of supply and economic viability. A scenario for the future power plant park on the European market can show that an increase in gross electricity generation from approx. 3,300 TWh in 2005 to approx. 4,000 TWh in 2020, i.e. by 21%, with potential savings in consumption and increases in efficiency taken into account, will imply major efforts to be taken in electricity production if the ambitious goals of climate protection are to be met: (1) A total of 400,000 MW of new generating capacity must be installed by 2020. (2) More new projects of fossil-fired power plants are needed on top of those already known. (3) The planned nuclear power plant projects must be put into effect successfully, and the limits to plant life of German nuclear power plants must be abandoned. (4) Special impetus is needed for renewable energies. Only if all these enormous challenges are met, which requires joint efforts on the part of politics, operators, plant vendors, consumers, and the population of the municipalities where such plants are located, will we stand a realistic chance of being supplied safe, affordable and non-polluting energy in the future. The important aspect in this effort is that all power plants are required to contribute to climate protection.