Sustainable lignite mining and utilization - Developments in the Rhenish lignite-mining area

摘要

The energy turnaround resolved in Germany poses serious challenges for the country, and issues like security of supply and affordable energy are increasingly gaining in importance again. A look at the portfolio of available primary-energy sources shows that total oil production is stagnating or even falling. Like crude oil, natural gas, too, will remain a largely imported energy carrier for Germany in future with a price level that is difficult to foresee. The exit of German hard coal has been resolved, meaning that Germany is exposing itself fully to the growing tough price war on the world market for this primary-energy source as well. All this is happening in the face of an expected worldwide rise in primary-energy consumption.