Noting that electric power demand will continue to increase, although less rapidly in industrialized nations, the author examines the future trends in the conversion area, moving from rotating generators toward additional electrochemical and renewable energy devices. He discusses the increasing utilization of non-grid-connected renewable energy sources requiring new electrochemical storage devices with characteristics most effectively adapted to, for instance, photovoltaic systems. Efforts by the German government to satisfy the increasing public as well as political interest by increasing the research and development (R&D) budget for the renewables by approximately 25% in the fiscal year 91 are discussed.>