World energy economy, demand and reserves - possible contribution of nuclear energy

Despite of economy measures in energy saving in the industrial countries, the world wide demand for energy will severely rise due to the enormous increase of the world population in the future. The basicly possible options of energy economy to cover these demands: fossil fuels, nuclear fusion, solar energy, nuclear fission will be discussed and valued with regard to their application and availability in the comming decades. If the CO2-question is seriously included in these considerations, nuclear fission will be applied world wide to a large extent in the future. Conditions are analyzed for a future catastrophe-free nuclear fission, that means for plants where fission products remain inside the reactor plant at all accidents. The solutions of a new european pressurized water reactor and the high temperature reactor which are discussed today are explained considering the defined demand. Chances are detectable to realize nuclear fission at a generally accepted safety standard, it appropriate further developments are carried out and neccessary proofs have been adducted. This is probably also valid for the direct disposal of burned fuel elements. (orig.)