STE analyses the consequences of technological developments and compares technological systems on an economical basis. Priority topics are the long-term orientation of the energy economy and the management of material flows in the techno- and geosphere as well as dealing with changes caused by information and communication technology.

Long-term orientation of the energy economy

Aspects of economic efficiency, environmental protection and the assurance of supply decisively determine the future development of energy supply. Against this background, concepts on emission reduction ranging from energy savings through efficient energy use up to the substitution of energy carriers are systematically analysed. This takes place at three levels:

• Individual technologies such as modern power plants, fuel cells and facilities for the use of renewable energy are examined in detail for their application in energy supply.
• Selected sectors such as traffic and space heat in households are considered in great depth with a view to their contribution towards protecting the environment.
• Structural changes in energy supply are analysed for their technical feasibility with given environmental protection goals taking the sectoral interlinkage in the energy economy into consideration. Impacts on the remaining economy are assessed.

Management of material flow systems in the techno- and geosphere

The investigations concentrate on the analysis of the interdependencies between technosphere and environmental compartments. Material flows are considered holistically including scientific and technical, economic and ecological criteria. This enables a systematic comparison of competing technologies and measures as well as the early identification of risks and chances for humans and the environment. These activities specifically concern:

• resource-oriented overall consideration of metallic raw material flows,
• analysis and prediction of the water and nutrient balance in river catchment areas,
• monitoring the nuclear fuel cycle and the technology used in connection with (inter)national agreements.

Information and society

Electronic information processing and communication processes and the build-up of the necessary infrastructure are rapidly gaining social and economic significance. The emerging impacts with respect to the society's protective aims and guiding principles have only been incompletely explored. STE innovatively addresses this subject in a newly established working group. Work currently concentrates on structuring the subject. For this purpose, STE characterizes in a first step essential development lines of this infrastructure with suitable indicators. Based on this, in the future, the interlinkage of information and communication processes with fields of economic activity will be investigated. Furthermore, the social changes resulting from different access to and use of information and communication technology will be analysed. STE was established in 1973 and currently works with 40 persons on the above three topics. The professional background of the staff members ranges from natural and engineering sciences up to economics and social sciences. Work is embedded in national and international research programmes. It is application-oriented and project-related and provides scientific advisory services to industry and politics