BGR Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe

BGR Report 2021 – Decarbonisation brings major challenges for commodity markets

Deutsche Version

BGR was first-time host of the German event to celebrate World Soil Day when loess soil was presented as “Soil of the Year 2021”. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event was hosted in a hybrid format for the first time, with a minor number of guests attending live and the majority joining online. The article starting on page 6 shows why it is so important to value soils as an essential basis for our lives.

The use of new technologies is just as relevant as the protection of essential georesources. From page 22 we report how BGR uses artificial intelligence and machine learning in various research areas, enabling us to use ever larger data volumes in a purposeful wayand develop solutions for specific research tasks.

The path out of the fossil fuel age is leading to a boom for numerous high-tech metals. The increasing need for climate-neutral energy technologies will transform commodity markets for decades to come. The cover story of this Report describes from page 16 how the German Mineral Resources Agency, DERA, which is part of BGR, prepares forecasts for future demands.

In another field, BGR is addressing direct effects of the fossil fuel age. Lignite mining has left lasting marks in the coalfield regions. BGR is currently setting up a new research and development centre in Cottbus to develop new concepts for mitigating the effects of mining with regard to groundwater and post-mining landscapes. This knowledge will also be of interest for international projects, as you can read from page 20.

The safe long-term disposal of heat-generating radioactive waste from nuclear power plants is a major topic in Germany and other countries, which is why we have seen greater networking of repository research at the European level. From page 34, you can read about BGR’s participation in scientific engagement in international projects and programmes.

BGR has been a valued partner of the Federal Government in development cooperation for decades. With a new strategy, BGR aims at more efficiency and sustainability in cooperation projects. For the first time governance studies have been carried out in the groundwater sector, specifically in Jordan and Zambia. Read from page 36 why a sound understanding of the political structures of partner countries contributes to project success.

I hope you will find this BGR Report an enjoyable read!

Prof. Dr. Ralph Watzel,
President of the Federal Institute for
Geosciences and Natural Resources
BGR

The BGR Report is free of charge and can be obtained from: Vertrieb@bgr.de

Download:

BGR Report of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources 2021 (PDF, 7 MB)


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