Fracking: an option for Germany? Opportunities, Risks and Uncertainties of Fracking in unconventional reservoirs (Discussion Paper)

The German Bundestag’s ban on fracking in 2016 seemed to end the debate on a hotly debated topic. To date, there has been no fracking in unconventional reservoirs in Germany. Against the backdrop of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, however, this discussion is currently experiencing a renaissance. Is fracking an option for Germany? Could or should domestically produced natural gas partly replace the lack of Russian gas supplies? Can it contribute to ensuring the security of supply in Germany and be a paving stone on the path towards climate neutrality? And what is the relationship between the risks and benefits of using this socially highly controversial technology?

In this publication of Discussion Paper, the Academies’ Project Energy Systems of the Future (ESYS) offers an overview of the opportunities, risks and uncertainties of fracking in unconventional reservoirs.

Its focus is on the following areas:

• What is fracking, and where is it used?
• How great is the potential for fracking in Germany?
• What are the environmental risks associated with fracking?
• How could fracking affect climate protection?
• When could fracking be used in Germany?
• Could fracking increase the security of supply in Germany?
• Are there viable business models for fracking in Germany?

The publication shows that fracking in unconventional reservoirs is associated with opportunities, risks and uncertainties that need to be carefully evaluated.

To the press release

Gierds, Jörn/Stephanos, Cyril/Erlach, Berit/Fischedick, Manfred/Henning, Hans-Martin/Matthies, Ellen/Pittel, Karen/Renn, Jürgen/Sauer, Dirk Uwe/Spiecker named Döhmann, Indra: “Fracking: an option for Germany? Opportunities, Risks and Uncertainties of Fracking in unconventional reservoirs” (Discussion Paper), Series on “Energy Systems of the Future” (ESYS), 2024.