Renewables are driving the energy transition and already cover almost half of Germany’s electricity consumption. Technological advances are making the use of wind, sun, water, bioenergy and geothermal energy increasingly more economical.

For example, new composite materials enable lighter and longer rotor blades for wind turbines. In photovoltaics, new applications are being worked on in fields and lakes. Research increases the efficiency of solar and fuel cells. Further automation in production should make the return of the solar industry to Europe economical.

Power-to-X technologies are needed to replace fossil fuels in transport, industry and heat supply. These help to convert renewable electricity into climate-neutral energy sources such as hydrogen and thus to combine forms of energy across sectors. Plant engineers and manufacturers of energy generation technology become game changers on the path to climate neutrality if they realize economies of scale and cost reductions, open up additional fields of application and develop new business models. The innovative strength of this industry is also required to find solutions for the high demand for raw materials from conflict-prone sources, to increase efficiency and to improve the recyclability of components and composite materials.

The industry includes, for example, the production of energy generation technology such as solar cells and modules, wind turbines, Power-to-X technology, fuel cells and power generators. Manufacturers of charging infrastructure, storage technology and infrastructure for power distribution are assigned to the “energy storage and transmission technology” industry.