Expertise

Fuels & CO2

Molecules of the energy transition.

Large consumers such as the steel industry and air traffic must be supplied with fuels today and in the future. While climate-damaging natural gas and mineral oil products currently dominate, hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic, climate-friendly energy sources, or biomass are soon to play a more significant role.

Climate-neutral molecules

Climate-neutral fuels still need to step up in terms of the cost-benefit competition. In some cases, however, there are no alternatives or the ones that exist are more costly or have other disadvantages. In this case, climate-neutral hydrogen, ammonia, or synthetic energy sources are the means of choice. The best option for action varies depending on the application.

Closed-carbon cycle

Alternative fuels are added to the development of CO2 cycles without which climate neutrality cannot be achieved. A portion of the emissions produced by industry and waste incineration are considered difficult to avoid. For climate neutrality to be achieved, the carbon cycle must be closed with the help of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) or Carbon Capture and Use (CCU) and the associated technologies.
Similar questions arise for both the production of climate-neutral fuels and for CCU/S:

  • How high is demand?
  • Where are the potential sources?
  • In which industries is CCS used, where is CCU used? And which power and resource demands are triggered by electrolysis or separation?
  • What are the costs today and what will they be tomorrow?
  • How can emissions be suitably balanced?
  • What infrastructure is required?
  • What will the funding requirements be for the plants to be built nationally?

Political and economic decisions must stand up to a critical public. International coordination will also be required. Well-founded analyses, based on tried and tested models, allow high levels of acceptance and future-proof planning. The Prognos team is characterised by technological expertise and extensive experience with complex planning processes. Our systemic mindset ensures that all analyses are consistent with the chosen framework.

Fuels & CO2: A selection of our services

Analyses, studies, and assessments

We support decision-makers in politics and business with tailor-made quantitative and qualitative analyses. Our studies are highly credible planning and communication tools.

Model development

Our proven Prognos models are being developed continuously and can be flexibly adapted to the question at hand. For example, we are developing a CO2 model for the complete balancing of sources and sinks of CO2 on a regional scale.

Model-based analysis

With our models, we determine the quantity structure of the scenarios. The results form the basis for network and infrastructure planning or other investment decisions. We show the consequences of entrepreneurial and political decisions for different actors (sectors, companies, consumers) and the economy as a whole – consistently and comprehensively.

Long-term projections

By means of long-term projections, we illustrate the demographic, technological dynamics of the future, already foreseeable today.

Our work on this topic

Take a look at our latest projects and activities.

Financing options for Austria’s hydrogen network

2024
| Project

Austria wants a hydrogen network in place by 2030. We investigated how the development of this network can be financed on behalf of the Austrian Climate Protection Ministry.

Scenario analysis for the long-term strategy negative emissions

ongoing
| Project

Prognos is preparing a scenario analysis for dena and the BMWK to calculate the demand for and potential of negative emissions in Germany.

4th Trilateral Working Group Meeting on the Southern Hydrogen Corridor

| Event

Jens Hobohm takes part in an event organised by the working group on the Southern Hydrogen Corridor at the invitation of the Italian Ministry of the Environment.

Greenhouse gas projections 2024 expert appraisal

2024
| Project

For the Council of Experts on Climate Change we conducted an expert appraisal to review the Federal Environment Agency’s greenhouse gas projection data.

Natural gas as a bridge to climate neutrality in Germany

2023
| Project

How has the role of gas changed as a result of the gas crisis? Our energy team explored this question on behalf of the KfW.

Reforming environmentally harmful subsidies

2023
| Project

On behalf of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, we examined the effects of phasing out climate damaging subsidies in the transport and industry sectors.

Climate policy classification for LNG

2023
| Project

How much LNG can it be? Prognos prepared two studies for the German government's Science Platform for Climate Protection (WPKS) to address this question.

Decarbonisation of raw materials industries in Germany

2022
| Project

A study for the Bertelsmann Stiftung shows which climate policy measures can best support the switch to low-emission production processes.

Gas balance: Saving efforts must be intensified

2023
| Project update

If savings continue to be as low as in January and February, the risk of a gas shortage will in-crease in the coming winter.

Gas consumption in Germany’s production sectors

2023
| Project

One potential building block: the Federal Network Agency commissioned Prognos to conduct a study that can support the necessary assessment in the case of gas shortages.

Gas balance: Too little is being saved

2023
| Project update

Although German gas storage tanks remain at good levels, our vbw monitoring revealed that sav-ings due to behavioural changes were no longer detectable.

Mild weather in winter takes off the pressure

2023
| Project update

So far, Germany has made it through the winter with relatively little gas. But savings will still be necessary if a gas shortage is to be prevented.

Evaluation and further development of the national Emissions Trading System (nETS)

2022
| Project

On behalf of the Federal Environment Agency, we are developing suitable approaches for the impact assessment of the nETS together with the FÖS and the DIW.

Impact of e-commerce on CO2 emissions and air pollution

2022
| Project

We examined retail transport chains for the EU Commission. For the environment, long-distance transport to the EU and the “last mile” play a crucial role.

The gas gap is getting smaller, but we’re not in the clear

2022
| Project update

Reducing gas demand is the decisive lever for averting a gas shortage situation in the coming winter of 2023/24.

Disruption to gas supply – consequences for the brick industry

2022
| Project

A study of the production, value-added, and price effects on and through the brick and tile industry in Germany for the Federal Association of the German Brick and Tile Industry.

Gas shortfall less than expected, prices remain high

2022
| Project update

The gas reservoirs are full, and gas shortages are likely to be significantly less of a problem than feared. However, high gas prices have become almost too expensive for some companies to pay.

Halt to Russian gas supply – consequences for German industry

2022
| Project

A new scenario commissioned by the vbw (Bavarian Industry Association) shows what German industry could face if Russia stopped supplying gas.

Comparison of GHG emissions from the use of primary and recycled raw materials for the production of metals

2022
| Project

What are the strategic advantages of using recycled raw materials over primary raw materials for the three metals steel, aluminium and copper in terms of climate management? We have demonstrated this for a recycling company by means of product-specific GHG balancing.

Climate-neutral electricity sector 2035

2022
| Project

This analysis for Agora Energiewende shows how the transformation of the German electricity sector can succeed by 2035.

International potential analysis of hydrogen technology for mobility solutions

2021
| Project

Hydrogen is considered a future source of energy in the transport sector. Prognos determined the framework conditions for hydrogen technologies in important international markets.

Security of the gas supply in Germany and Europe

2022
| Project

Could gas supplied by Russia be replaced? An impulse paper by Agora Energiewende, Prognos and the Wuppertal Institute.

Evaluation of combined heat and power (CHP) in Germany

ongoing
| Project

In the context of the energy transition, the role of combined heat and power is also changing. Prognos evaluates the development and develops recommendations for funding and legal bases.

Technical CO2 sinks

2021
| Project

To achieve climate neutrality, CO2 must be removed from the atmosphere. Prognos prepared an expert report on technical CO2 sinks for dena.

Hydrogen: Energy carrier of the future?

2021
| Project

The journey towards climate neutrality is gaining momentum. Hydrogen is a key building block to achieving it.

Energy Perspectives Switzerland 2050+

2021
| Project

What might a climate-neutral energy system in Switzerland look like in 2050? Prognos modelled the Energy Perspectives 2050+ on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy.

Innovation & Technology Centre for hydrogen

2021
| Project

The BMDV (Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport) wants to promote an innovation and technology centre for hydrogen. Prognos and their partner evaluate the concepts of four German regions and conduct feasibility studies.

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Jens Hobohm

Partner, Director

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Sebastian Lübbers

Project Manager

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Hans Dambeck

Project Manager

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About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

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