Editorial
“ Sustainable energy transitions can
only succeed
Dear Reader,
Truly sustainable energy transitions throughout
the world can succeed only when the respective
national economy can in fact afford the changes or
when less-industrialized countries are supported
in their efforts. In this spirit, Germany has already
announced that it would be doubling its contributions for international climate protection measures by 2020. Later this year, the follow-up ­treaty
to the Kyoto Protocol is to be signed, pre­senting
binding climate goals for all 194 member states
of the UN Framework Convention on ­Climate
Change.
In view of these developments, the interview with
Amory B. Lovins, Cofounder and Chief ­Scientist
of the Rocky Mountain Institute, is especially
relevant. During his over 40 years of advising
companies and governments to pursue energy
efficiency and renewable energy solutions, Lovins
has focused on the most efficient possibilities
for making energy systems more sustainable. In
the interview, he speaks of the disruptive force
of renewables and how they are changing business
models and creating business opportunities –
not only for power plant operators and end customers, but also for other system participants in a
smart energy system.
A second topic in this issue focuses on discussions
regarding the current global trend in oil pricing. Developments here are obviously having an
when the countries
in question can
afford the changes
or are
supported in their
Photos: ­Siemens
efforts.”
impact on suppliers to the oil and gas industry,
like Siemens. We continue to believe the slump
in oil prices is output-driven, rather than a
question of structural demand. And until oil
prices and production bounce back in the midterm, we will work closely with our customers
to bridge the dry spell and explore new ways of
serving the industry. Our special feature in this
issue looks at ways in which new technologies
and comprehensive solutions can lower CAPEX
and OPEX over the long term so one can continue to operate successfully even under changed
market conditions.
Also in this issue, we’re taking a closer look at
Japan. The devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March 2011 struck a fatal blow
to the Fukushima nuclear power plant and led
to a massive reevaluation of national energy
policy in the world’s third-largest producer of
nuclear power. This April, the Japanese government announced its recommendations for the
country’s energy mix in 2030: One quarter will
remain based on nuclear power, one quarter will
be provided by renewables, and the remaining
half will depend on highly efficient fossil power
plants. This decision is once again proof of how
energy transitions can differ worldwide.
We wish you an enjoyable read!
Siemens Managing Board Members Lisa Davis and Roland Busch
Living Energy · No. 12 | July 2015 3