[en] In Western Germany total primary energy consumption is expected to grow from 388 to 510 million tonnes of coal equivalent between 1978 and 1990, representing about 2.2% p.a. In normal circumstances this would easily have been accommodated but the high oil costs of recent years have intensified the demand for alternative sources. Substitution is discussed in two main areas, nuclear power and solar energy. Nuclear power is considered both for electricity production and as a heat source for the creation of synthetic oil and gas, and also for hydrogen. Solar energy developments are exemplified mainly by references to recent conferences and research programmes in W. Germany. The successful development of oil energy substitutes is considered to be as much a public relations problem as it is a technical problem. Ecological factors are expected to be taken into account more thoroughly than hitherto. (G.C.)