New challenges for research in a changing energy market

The conversion of primary energy from nature and the subsequent utilization of the secondary forms of energy are basically related to the development of mankind; the production of heat-and light-used to be the main product of fuel utilization in the early days. However, the requirements of our society have changed due to an increase in population, prosperity, and widening of the essentials of life. In particular, the needs for high-value goods and products in our modem world are strongly associated with a growing demand in energy for stationary and mobile applications. Therefore, the major task of scientists and engineers over the previous almost two centuries was to develop essentially combustion technologies to convert available fossil fuels into heat, power, and electricity. In fact, in our modern society, electricity has become the major form of applicable energy with an increasing tendency over recent decades. While by the turn of the last century only 1% of all fossil primary energy was converted to electricity, this has grown worldwide to close to 40% and is expected to rise further in relation to the advances of the gross national product. The technology of fossil fuel conversion for heat and electricity production experienced major, distinct development periods based upon external driving forces as a consequence of changing requirements of our industrialized surroundings. Therefore, a strongly expanding economy with a corresponding demand for increasing capacities and plant availabilities was observed during the beginning of the second half of the last century. More recently, awareness of the negative effects of pollution has resulted in the development and application of emission control measures which were successfully implemented during previous decades. More recently, the discussion of energy utilization in connection with the global climate resulted in a reconsideration of the use of fossil fuels, and in particular in a diversification of the primary energy sources which opened a new field for research and development. Furthermore, the present tendencies of fiberalization of the energy markets in Europe and beyond and its consequences toward stronger cross-boundary competition lead again to new strategies and technological consequences in order to fulfill requirements such as a sustainable security of supply under environmentally acceptable conditions and at cost-competitive levels. After a review of the historical achievements in research and in technology development as a consequence of the changing needs of society, the presentation will concentrate on the present status of energy conversion followed by a detailed discussion of options and strategies in order to satisfy future market demands.