ABSTRACT
A global overview of the overall energy issue is provided. The emphasis is put on a reliable, affordable and clean energy provision. The dominating driving force of the energy issue is identified to be the threat for climate change. The perturbing influence of the liberalization of the energy markets for electricity and gas is noted. Although increased energy efficiency and the application of renewable sources is to be stimulated as much as possible, the uncertainty about their degree of “impact”, requires that one keeps the options of fossil-fuel-based and nuclear-based energy-conversion technologies open.
