Energy Efficiency Sector

• market leader in energy efficiency technologies
• turnover of about EUR 67 billion per year
• double-digit growth rates expected in coming years
• 1/3 of companies active in the sector realize profit margins of over 10%
• average workforce growth of about 15% per year

MARKET - With its significant stock of privately owned older residential buildings, the German market offers an enormous potential for renovation over the next 20 years. In order to achieve energy savings of 25 percent, investments of EUR 540 billion will be necessary. Using highly innovative technologies, energy savings of up to 85 percent can be obtained. Germany offers the largest European markets in a number of energy efficiency segments, e.g. cogeneration and solar thermal. Our central location offers access to our own large market and other important markets in Europe.

PERSONNEL - A first-class university and R&D landscape and a renowned educational system make Germany a highly innovative location in the technology intensive energy efficiency sector.

R&D - The Federal Government will invest until 2013 in education as well as R&D 12 billion Euro. A major part is spent on renewable energies and resources and energy efficiency.

INCENTIVES - Germany offers numerous incentives for all investors - regardless of whether they are from Germany or otherwise. There is a large selection of programs designed to support a wide variety of business activities at different stages of the investment process available. Support ranges from cash incentives for the reimbursement of direct investment costs to incentives for labor and research and development (R&D).

For R&D related to energy technologies, another EUR 2 billion in total is made available by the Federal Ministry for the Environment in the form of project grants.

LEGAL AND POLITICAL FRAMEWORK - Within the framework of its Integrated Energy and Climate Program, the German Federal Government is promoting Germany as a location for industrial investment. Its main target is a 40 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by2020 compared with 1990 levels.  The doubling of Germany's energy productivity in the same time period is a central measure to achieve this goal. A number of laws and ordinances to move in this direction were approved in 2008. Thereby energy efficiency is going to gain even more importance in the future. Especially in the heat market, new opportunities have emerged through the "Renewable Energies Heat Legislation."

INFRASTRUCTURE - Our extensive and comprehensive logistics infrastructure integrates state-of-the-art transportation networks with the most modern telematics, IT, and telecommunications systems.

STABLE INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT - Social, economic, and political stability provide a solid base for your corporate projects. Our judiciary and civil services are highly professional. Contractual agreements are secure, and intellectual property is strictly protected in Germany.