Programme 2021

Topic cluster

Topic cluster I: The start of climate neutrality

Hydrogen - how can we achieve the breakthrough?

Hydrogen is regarded a key technology for future energy supply. With its National Hydrogen Strategy, Germany has now taken a crucial step into the future. However, the switch to this climate-neutral energy carrier is a major task for society as a whole, and its complexity requires intensive discussion. This session will provide an opportunity to examine the various challenges facing the country.

Fit for 55 - The European Union's Road to Climate Neutrality

The Fit for 55 package is the foundation of this panel. Which adjustments will Germany make to improve some of its energy transition and climate targets on this basis? What role will an amendment to the Renewable Energies Directive (RED II/III) play? How does Germany intend to ensure coordination with its neighboring countries?

Financing the transport transition

This panel will present the fiscal consequences of the increased market share of electrified vehicle drives and discuss options for counter-financing, taking climate targets into account. Demands for an energy tax based on CO2 will be contrasted with other financing options such as a national car and truck toll, a differentiated vehicle tax or even municipal levy systems for vehicle ownership.

dena pilot study: Towards Climate Neutrality

What are realistic and feasible paths to achieve our national climate goals? How can the climate-neutral transformation of our economy and society be accelerated? And: which approaches need to be encouraged to achieve this? dena and the study's experts will present and discuss the core findings from dena's new pilot study, "Towards Climate Neutrality". What are the major challenges and most important levers on the path to climate neutrality in 2045? Where are the lines of consensus in politics, business, science and society? What are the specific policy recommendations that can be derived from the results? Discuss and shape Germany's climate-neutral future with us!

Tech for Net Zero - Climate Neutrality through Innovation

Achieving climate neutrality by 2045 while maintaining or, at best, expanding Germany's ability to compete will only be achieved through scalable innovations and with outstanding technological advances in all sectors of the economy. Driving this forward through strong recommendations for action to policymakers is the goal of the Tech for Net Zero Alliance, a joint initiative of dena and Breakthrough Energy.

Transformation of the German automotive industry

Due to the imminent comprehensive structural change in the automotive industry, value creation and vocational training must be reconsidered. However, this requires the right political and economic framework conditions. The aim of the event is to discuss the industrial policy challenges of the current transformation as well as the current measures taken by the federal government, the states and companies to master them. Particularly urgent topics and measures that combine the energy transition in transport and the transformation of the automotive industry will be discussed in a prioritized manner.

Re-implementing value chains: Climate-neutral production

Many industrial processes need to be adapted and switched to (largely) GHG-neutral alternatives to enable, in perspective, the production of climate-neutral products including the use and EoL phases. Among other things, this will lead to a restructuring of national and global supplier structures, material and energy flows and the associated value creation.

Topic cluster II: Integrated energy transition

Colombia`s energy transition strategy

As part of his official visit to Germany, Diego Mesa Puyo, Colombia's Energy Minister, is also the guest of honor at the dena Congress. In his keynote speech, he gives an overview of the central strategic cornerstones of the energy transition in his country and particularly addresses the expansion of renewable energies and the recently presented national hydrogen strategy.

The energy market of the future and its impact on the German industry

Against the background of changing framework conditions (e.g. EU taxonomy/CO2), what strategic relevance does the use of green power have for corporations? In which context can corporations with own decarbonization strategies operate using a future-oriented approach? How can green generated power be integrated into the market as a commodity? These and other issues will be addressed in this session.

This panel is organized by Initiative Marktoffensive Erneuerbare Energie. For further information see https://marktoffensive-ee.de/startseite/.

Reduce, reuse and recycle – best practice material efficiency strategies for low-carbon construction materials

This panel will discuss policy instruments to promote new approaches with regard to energy-efficient, low-emission and resource-saving production that help to increase the service life of materials and products or that reduce material losses in manufacturing and construction. Showcases of innovative industrial solutions, such as green concrete, green steel or green silicon photovoltaic technology, will be presented to complement the political debate with practical experiences.

Climate-neutral and affordable living 2030: Entering a new age

How will we live in the future? What initiatives, concepts and solutions exist for socially responsible renovation and making climate-neutral housing affordable? Together with various stakeholders such as associations, societies and national and European think tanks, we will outline and discuss visions for housing in 2030.

The EU´s connectivity strategy and the EU Green Deal: Tying two loose ends together?

This panel focuses on aspects of EU-Asia energy connectivity in light of the EU Green Deal. It addresses the following key questions: How will the global energy transition reorder supply and value chains in the energy sector and in energy relations between the EU and its Eurasian neighbours? How will the EU Green Deal impact these energy relations? What should the EU do to foster cooperation with its Eurasian neighbours under the EU Green Deal?

H2 technologies

Hydrogen - the innovation accelerator of the energy transition. But how do innovations come about, what technological approaches are there and how do they get to market? What role do experimental spaces play? In this session, we want to present "state of the art" technology approaches and explore the question as to which framework conditions are required for a transfer.

Ukraine's new connectivity: From Gas Transit to Sustainable Energy Supply?

Ukraine bears huge potential for enhancing energy efficiency, ramping up renewables and, in perspective, producing green hydrogen that could fundamentally change its role in the European energy system. But is a fundamental transformation of Ukraine from a gas transit country with high shares of coal and nuclear energy to an integral part of a sustainable European energy system more than a fixed idea of some incurable optimists? What would be needed to unleash the potential for renewables?

Future-proofing our cities: how urban decarbonisation works around the globe

Certain decarbonisation options – for instance district heating and cooling, co-generation of heat and power or new mobility concepts – can best be implemented at city level and offer genuine chances to urban societies. This event not only seeks to address the specific challenges that city decarbonisation faces. It will also showcase innovative solutions from around the globe that have turned decarbonisation options into reality.

Marketplaces of the Future: Integrated Market Design

The discussion in recent years has highlighted the great potential of sector coupling for managing the energy transition. However, this is countered by a variety of regulatory hurdles. In this session, we will look at implementation options, advantages and disadvantages, and consequences for costs and system stability.

Made locally, thought globally: Skills, potential and innovations in the neighbourhood

Neighborhoods are increasingly playing a central role in the success of the energy transition. This is where many threads come together: The levers are in traffic, buildings and the energy supply. What is being done and what needs to be addressed in the next legislative period?

Verifications of origin for green energy

Verifications of origin in the electricity sector, and in the future also in the heat and gas sectors, are the central instrument for proving the renewable nature of energy. What is the status of the legal and political discussion? Where are the levers for further development? EU-wide requirements, the verification process at the German Federal Environment Agency, the energy sector's perspective and the issue of digitalization will be discussed.

Municipal heating transition: Methodically shaping the transformation

Municipal heat planning is the cornerstone for the successful implementation of the municipal heat transition and an essential element for the transformation of the energy system. What challenges and opportunities does this present for municipalities? On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, dena is setting up the "Competence Center for Municipal Heat Transition" (KWW) in Halle to support municipalities in their implementation. So, what exactly does this entail?

Digital distribution grids

Potentials for the digitalization of the power grid are offered on all grid levels: From real-time grid condition monitoring to smart meters and automated operations management, many possibilities are being discussed and partially implemented. How can the digitization of distribution grids be implemented in concrete terms? Where does it make sense at all? These and other questions are up for debate.

Bottom-up or Top-down? Integrated local infrastructures for the energy transition

In this session, we will show how integrated planning of grid infrastructures on a local level is already successful today. We want also to discuss where the major challenges lie, how they can be solved and how system level and local level planning can be integrated better.

Climate-neutral building sector: The action we need to take until 2030

Following on from the panel on dena's pilot study II, this session will explore the question of how a climate-neutral building sector can be achieved in concrete terms by 2030. The focus will be on the instruments needed to achieve this and will be discussed together with industry stakeholders: What are the right paths to achieving the goal? What is groundbreaking with a view to the coming legislative period?

Topic cluster III: Innovation

Transport transition: talking with policymakers

What strategies and measures are the parties represented taking to achieve the politically envisaged targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector? In this first post-electoral public gathering, key policymakers will take a stand on how to tackle these challenges. In this regard, we aim to identify contradictions and commonalities between the parties.

Future building: Innovation slam

A total of 40 per cent of all CO2 emissions is caused by the use of buildings. But where can this sector in particular help make a profoundly significant contribution to meeting the climate goals as well? Together, we will look at the future of planning and building and take a look at a selection of best practice examples. New design approaches, using traditional materials and innovative production processes can help buildings become part of the solution to climate protection.

Energy Efficiency Award 2021

Innovations and visions for climate protection: Since 2007, the German Energy Agency (dena) has presented the Energy Efficiency Award to visionary entrepreneurs and pragmatic technicians who have achieved outstanding success in increasing energy efficiency. These success stories can set a precedent and serve as an inspiration to all.

This award shows that economic success can be reconciled with climate policy challenges.

Shaping the digital energy transition: the Future Energy Lab

At the Future Energy Lab, we will discuss digital solutions for the energy transition with experts. How can the digital energy transition be shaped sustainably and responsibly? How can companies in developing AI and blockchain applications be supported? In a "Science Sprint" we make digital technologies "snackable" and tangible.

Carbon capture and usage

This session will be dedicated to the complex of topics of CCU and CCS. What strategy should we develop here in Germany? What contribution should CCS make and how should the role of CCU be assessed? What would be promising applications?

enerthon21

The enerthon is a programming competition (hackathon) in the field of data in the energy industry. Professional teams develop working prototypes for today's data-driven challenges of relevant companies in the energy industry within one month on a part-time basis. These will be presented to a jury of experts in the grand finale at the final hackathon in this session, after which they will be implemented in the companies.

Annual Biogas Partner Conference

This year, the biogaspartner annual conference will take place for the 13th time to discuss national and international trends for biomethane. In particular future areas of use, development perspectives and regulatory frameworks for biomethane will be presented. This year, for the first time, the role of liquid and solid bioenergy for decarbonisation of the German energy system will be analysed in addition to biomethane. Look forward to exciting discussions of various experts from politics, economy and research, which will be held in German, and register now!