Energy economics
In order to assess and develop energetic concepts, it is essential to also have a look at certain economic aspects. One the one hand, one has to determine the profitability of production procedures, such as e.g. those for the manufacturing of bio fuels or for the energetic use of biomass. On the other hand, the economic criteria such as profit, sales price or costs of the system operation are pitted against several ecological and social challenges that need to be considered, too, such as e.g. the CO2 balance and local acceptance. The EFZN offers expertise on these issues via its members involved at the respective universities. The following list details selected economic-research issues along the energetic process chain:
Raw materials
- Analysis of market trends, forecasts
- Assessment of storage facilities in preparation of investment decisions
Generation
- Business-managerial and economic costs of generation systems
- Guaranteed security of supply
Storage
- Provisions regarding storage access
- Management of supply/storage
Transportation
- Assessment of access provisions
- Network management
- Logistics planning
Use
- Rational use of energy
- Energy-efficient production
- Buildings/private households
- Development of new products and services
- Energy contacting
- Cost-benefit analysis for "smart metering"
Disposal/ultimate storage of radioactive waste
- Disposal logistics
- Economic costs of the ultimate storage of radioactive waste
