Primary energy

Primary energy refers to the energy in the energy that is consistent with the originally occurring forms of energy or energy sources, such as fuel (eg coal or natural gas), but also energy sources such as solar, wind or nuclear fuels. Primary energy can be converted by a ( entailing losses ) transformation into secondary energy. Primary or secondary energy after transmission losses to usable by the consumer of final energy.

Energy sources

• Fossil fuels (coal, lignite, peat, natural gas, oil )
• Nuclear energy ( nuclear fission, radioactivity and nuclear fusion)
• Renewable energy Solar energy ( usable solar energy irradiation: light, heat )
• Biomass
• Wind energy ( atmospheric flows )
• Hydropower, including Tides ( tidal range )
• Wave energy ( wave power )
• Ocean currents ( tidal power plant)

Primary energy consumption

Part of the national accounts is the primary energy consumption.

Primary energy demand

In the wake of the 2009 version of the Energy Saving Ordinance ( Energy Saving Ordinance ) of the primary energy demand of residential and non-residential buildings on the basis of DIN V 18599 is calculated. From the structural-physical data of the building ( heat transfer coefficient / U values ​​of the components ), the geometry and meteorological conditions of the useful energy Qn for keeping the building is first calculated at the desired temperature. It is followed by the determination of the losses within the building for the production, storage, distribution and sale of heating, hot water and ventilation. The sum of this results in the final energy Qe, which can for example be measured at the gas meter.

Final energy Qe = useful energy Qn investment losses

Using a primary energy factor fp is the final energy Qe converted to the primary energy Qp.

Primary energy Qp = final energy Qe × fp

The factor fp includes losses incurred ( for example, production, transportation, refining, drying or storage) in the provision of energy source. In a further step, the primary energy factor is divided into renewable and non-renewable share. A CO2 emissions is only connected to the non-renewable primary energy consumption. The exact numerical determination is carried out with a political or environmental purpose. The ratio of total primary energy factor for the non-renewable fraction is a measure of sustainability.

For example, wood has a total primary energy factor of fp = 1.2 (ie, it must be for 100 kWh of final energy wood can be used in a combustion for example, additionally 20 kWh are applied to the wood supplied is at the door ). For the non-renewable fraction, however, the rate is fp = 0.2. That is for the used 100 kWh of final energy are only 20 kWh consumed renewable primary energy and not only with these 20 kWh and a CO2 output is connected.

For natural gas, the total primary energy factor is equal to the primary energy factor for the non-renewable fraction fp = 1.1 here. That the additional expenditure for the provision of natural gas by the end user is set at 10% and in the entire process chain no or negligibly small renewable energy sources are used.

In the DIN V 18599 the other fossil fuels is associated with the same primary energy factor as natural gas ( fuel oil, LPG, coal and lignite). This reflects the political component in these determinations, since both the energy consumption to deployment, as well as the CO2 emissions of these various energy sources varies greatly.

For current value of fp = 3.0 fixed ( due to the high energy losses for the production of electricity ) and for the non-renewable proportion of the value fp = 2.7 in DIN V 18599 for the total primary energy factor. In the new energy saving regulations from 1 October 2009 the value of the non-renewable share of fp = 2.6 is reduced due to the increasing share of renewable electricity generation. In the current version of DIN 18599 part 100 in the primary energy factor for electricity has now been changed to 2.6.

Primary energy production

The primary energy consumption is compared with the primary energy production. This is carried out in various ways. Fossil primary energy is obtained by extraction of fossil fuels. Primary electricity is obtained, for example, in nuclear power plants solar or wind power plants. When comparing the shares of primary energy production, the different valence is taken into account. So part of the fossil primary energy in power plants in electricity is converted. This is a big part of the primary energy is lost as waste heat and is no longer as useful energy. If the primary energy production in a country smaller than the primary energy consumption, the difference must be covered by imports. Both Germany and almost all countries of the European Union are net importers of primary energy, particularly oil, gas and coal.