Wind Energy Industry
Clean Energy Cruising Ahead at Full Sail
The winds of change are blowing in the energy industry. One face of the future - especially for Germany and offshore areas on the North Sea and Baltic Sea - is wind energy.
Our wind energy industry is the world's largest, and we remain on the frontier of development. Our long tradition in mechanical and electronic engineering is the backbone of our current strength, and our dedicated research institutes and our highly trained and affordable workforce are the wind in our sails. Germany's central position in Europe makes it an ideal location - our government incentives and reliable investment environment have only increased the country's attractiveness to investors.
Our investment opportunities have led wind energy companies from around the world to base their operations here. Take a glance at the numbers below. You'll like what you see.
Our Industry in Numbers
Nº 1 worldwide in production of wind turbines and components (25% of global market share) in 2008
Nº 1 wind energy market in Europe
EUR 30 billion of industry turnover (export quota more than 80%) in 2008
23,903 MW total installed capacity in Germany by 2008
40.4 billion kWh produced by wind power in 2008
7.95 % share of net energy consumption
All major international turbine manufacturers producing here
38,000 jobs directly and 46,000 jobs indirectly linked to German wind industry in 2008
Leading R&D worldwide
Our Advantages
MARKET - In addition to the huge market for onshore wind turbines, the growth potential for offshore installations is also especially high. Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment estimates an offshore capacity of up to 12,000 MW on both the North and Baltic Seas by 2020. Strong demand is also expected for repowering, which is the replacement of first-generation wind turbines with modern, multi-megawatt turbines.
INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE - Members of the world's strongest wind energy cluster profit from the immediate proximity to leading wind energy companies along the whole value chain, which offer excellent opportunities for partnering.
PERSONNEL - Our renowned educational system supplies a large pool of experienced, world-class employees with essential wind energy know-how. Stable wages are joined by high productivity, and local manufacturing provides for faster time to market and the "Made in Germany" quality guarantee.
R&D - Close R&D cooperation with our excellent research institutes (such as the Fraunhofer Society, DEWI, ISET Kassel, the universities of Bremen, Hanover, and Stuttgart) makes Germany fertile ground for innovation in renewables and ensures advances in technologies and wind turbine operation. The new government-funded offshore testing fields provide vital research information for the planning of future offshore farms.
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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).
LEGAL AND POLITICAL FRAMEWORK - Wind energy will play a leading role in helping Germany to meet the EU's renewable energy targets. Our government stands firmly behind these goals and strongly supports on- and offshore wind energy production. The Renewable Energy Source Act (EEG) provides attractive feed-in tariffs with special bonuses for offshore installations and repowering.
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE - We offer an extensive and comprehensive logistics infrastructure that 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.
References
- Vestas
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