Reinhold Lang,
"Global Change & Challenges: The Transformation of the Energy System and the Key Role of Plastics"
, in ANSOLE e. V.: Sustainable Energetics for Africa (SE4A), Book of Programme, Abstracts and Biographies, Seite(n) 17-18, 8-2017
Original Titel:
Global Change & Challenges: The Transformation of the Energy System and the Key Role of Plastics
Sprache des Titels:
Englisch
Original Buchtitel:
Sustainable Energetics for Africa (SE4A), Book of Programme, Abstracts and Biographies
Original Kurzfassung:
To identify some of the key technological challenges from a global perspective, reference is made to
the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs), adopted by the UN General Assembly in
September 2015. As addressed explicitly in SDG 7, but also pervading numerous other SDGs, a key
aim is meeting the needs of the growing global population for affordable, clean energy. In this context
it is now increasingly acknowledged that the transformation of the current fossil fuel and nuclear based
energy system to an energy system substantially-to-fully based on renewable resources within the
next decades is at the core of any future Sustainable Development path. While numerous questions
remain regarding the required future energy technology mix along with the underlying material
technologies driving needed innovations, it is quite obvious that the selection of adequate materials is
of prime importance for the entire energy transformation chain in general, and for the primary
conversion of solar energy into electricity or heat in particular.
In his lecture, Professor Lang will argue that any advanced or accelerated deployment of renewable
energy technologies will depend on (1) a new perspective on the energy system according to the
methodological principles of ?Inversion ? Integration ? Innovation?, and (2) substantial contributions
from materials science and in particular from polymer science and the polymer industry. To accelerate
the penetration of polymers in such technologies, at least four innovation goals must be met: improved
functionality and performance, enhanced cost effectiveness, guaranteed quality and durability, and
robust/multifunctional and attractive design.