World Energy Dialogue 2006 – Hanover Fair 2006

- Contribution of Fossil Fuels to a Sustainable Energy Supply -

In the “Fossil Fuel Power Plant Forum“, held on the occasion of the Hanover Fair 2006, the European generators, power plant manufactures and science presented their opinion on a sustainable production of electricity on the basis of fossil fuels.

The presentations articulated in detail that high efficient coal and gas fired power plants will play a major role in the next decades for a secure, economical and ecological power production worldwide. A major challenge for the further development of power plants is given by the enhancement of the power plant efficiency.

Thanks to CO₂ removal and disposal, electricity from carbon-containing fuels can be generated in the future with zero CO₂ emissions. Technologies like pulverized combustion with post combustion capture, coal gasification with pre combustion capture and the operation of the plant with pure oxygen on the basis of the so called Oxyfuel process might be used.

The power plant supply industry and the science showed in their presentations the possible ways to fulfil the demands of the power plant which were presented by the operators.

In a final panel discussion headed by Dr. Karl Theis, Managing Director, VGB PowerTech e.V.,

• Prof. Dr. Alfons Kather, Director, Institute of Energy Technology,
• Dr. Georg Gasteiger, Chairman of the Management Board, ALSTOM Power AG,
• Wolfgang Reichel, Executive Board Member, German Hard Coal Association,
• Gerhard Seibel, Managing Director, E.ON Kraftwerke GmbH,
• Karsten Smid, climate expert, Greenpeace,
• Philippe Vannson, Head of Unit, DG Research,

explained their positions in detail.

A controversial view was presented by Greenpeace. It was agreed to exchange arguments on a realistic basis within the so-called Competence Network of Power Plant Technology of the state North-Rhine Westphalia.