BERLIN, Jun 02, 2008 (PR Newswire Europe via COMTEX) ----As oil prices rise and concerns about the environmental effects of greenhouse gases intensify, Germany is supporting renewable energies and energy-efficient technologies. Investment opportunities in Germany's renewable energies and energy-efficiency industries will be presented at Renewable Energy Europe 2008 at Power Gen Europe 2008, a major European exhibition and conference for Europe's power industry. It runs from June 3rd-5th in Milan, Italy.
The convention also marks the beginning of the campaign "Eastern Germany: Prime Location for Clean Tech Leaders." While Germany is a leading investment location for investors in the renewable energies and energy-efficiency industries, some companies, for example First Solar and Arise Technologies, have found success specifically in eastern Germany. Invest in Germany, the country's inward investment promotion agency, is using this campaign to showcase eastern Germany's investment advantages in the clean-tech sector and will continue it at future trade fairs in Europe, Japan, and the United States.
Energy efficiency is becoming a major branch in the German economy. For example, energy-efficiency technology includes Light-Emitting Diodes (LED). These technologies can be used in homes and in streetlamps; they drastically reduce the amount of energy required to disseminate light, in comparison with traditional light bulbs.
Germany combines a tradition of scientific excellence, and a government establishing a favorable legal framework to encourage new investments in renewable energies and energy efficiency.
Many leading institutes, such as the Hahn-Meitner Institute in Berlin, are engaging in groundbreaking research in photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Cooperation between research institutes and companies is standard in Germany and the presence of internationally renowned research centers has played a major role in the decisions of companies to invest in Germany.
Germany's legal framework also favors investors in clean technologies. As part of the German federal government's, Market Incentive Programme (MAP), funds available for investments in heat-saving technologies, such as solar thermal systems and heat pumps will increase to EUR500 million in 2009.
This program complements the already successful Renewable Energies Sources Act (EEG) that pays "feed-in tariffs" to owners of renewable energies systems, such as solar panels, creating an incentive to own renewable energy systems, and increasing demand for such products.
These laws are creating an incentive for companies to develop new clean technologies. Indeed this development is already taking place. In recent years, Germany's energy use has trailed its economic growth, showing that German businesses and households have found ways to use energy more efficiently.
Invest in Germany is the inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. It provides investors with comprehensive support from site selection to the implementation of investment decisions.
This is on Fox Financial news.
