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Energy crisis: Leopoldina President warns of the end of the chemical industry in Germany

2022-10-07T06:33:02.480Z


Consumers suffer from high prices in the energy crisis. But Germany's top researcher sees entire industrial sectors in danger. He fears new dependencies - and sees only one solution.


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BASF plants in Ludwigshafen: warning of dependencies

Photo: Uwe Anspach / dpa

The President of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Gerald Haug, has called for significantly more speed in the expansion of renewable energies, but also in the phase-out of coal.

In view of the energy crisis, the director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry warns of the end of basic industry, especially the chemical industry in Germany.

"I'm very worried that if we don't act now, we'll lose entire lines of industry - especially in the raw materials industry," warned the Leopoldina President.

"That would mean a much higher dependency on Asia and especially China." He considers it a "fundamental mistake" to outsource the chemical industry completely from Germany and Europe - especially with regard to the goal of climate neutrality by 2045.

Over-regulation leads to “incredible uncertainties” in the industry. Haug spoke out in favor of anti-cyclical investments, for example in research, innovation and science, as well as tax breaks for such investments.

Otherwise there would be a risk of dependencies that are just as great as those in the energy and semiconductor industries, including in the basic materials industry.

»We are getting off everywhere without getting on«

The solution lies in a radical acceleration of the energy transition.

»We have to invest massively in renewables.

That was far too slow," said the climate researcher of the dpa news agency.

"We're getting off everywhere without boarding," he criticized.

"If the south-facing roofs were covered with photovoltaics, we would have an expansion by a factor of four." Haug suggested that investment programs, tax incentives and rental models for people with less money would be helpful.

»If the EEG surcharge is dropped and you approach it with market-based tools, a lot can happen very quickly.«

"We have to force the phase-out of coal - even if we need a little more this winter and next," said Haug, referring to the uncertainties in the energy supply.

For the climate goals, it is important to really phase out coal by 2030.

For this, Germany needs a lot more renewable energies, but also more gas and hydrogen power plants.

“We need more gas-fired power plants, they have to be “hydrogen-ready,” said the researcher.

"But we also need new infrastructure for hydrogen and bound forms of hydrogen," said the Leopoldina President.

»We need a modern hydrogen infrastructure.

Germany must play a leading role in this.«

Despite the energy transition, Germany cannot afford to give up natural gas quickly.

"We will continue to need natural gas for at least the next 20 years," said Haug.

Around five billion cubic meters of natural gas are currently being produced in Germany.

Through the use of modern drilling technology, the production volume could be quadrupled over the next two years.

This can cover a quarter of the total demand in Germany.

Together with the LNG terminals that will be available from January, "German gas requirements can be covered promptly via the world market," predicted Haug.

"At some point, natural gas will be too good to burn, but we need it in basic industries, for example to make fertilizers or plastics."

The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina bundles knowledge and contributes scientifically sound findings, Haug explained the task of himself and other scientists.

"It's always our elected representatives who have to make the decisions." However, by issuing statements, science can play its part in bringing scientific perspectives into the political deliberation.

mmq/dpa

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2022-10-07

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