Using, transporting, and storing renewable energies
Initially, the focus was on coal and gas, but now a new wind is blowing: the energy industry is turning away from fossil fuels and nuclear power to renewable energies at a breathtaking pace.
The goal: Germany is to become climate-neutral by 2045. Renewable energy technologies from the Ruhr region will play a major role in determining whether the energy turnaround succeeds.
Renewable energies grow strongly in the Ruhr Metropolis
The conditions are good. The Environmental Economy Report 2022 of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia shows that around 38,000 people are employed in the future market of environmentally friendly energy conversion, transport, and storage (ETS), more than a quarter of them in the Ruhr Metropolis alone.
Another third of the future market for EEF is made up of innovations that make production processes and technologies more energy efficient. This is achieved, for example, by using waste heat, digital measurement and control technology, or intelligent circulation pumps.
As carbon dioxide emissions fall, so do energy costs
Thanks to the region's great innovative power, what is possible and what is economical is developing rapidly. In addition to the technical expertise to install the technology for better heating, ventilation, or lighting, for example, companies offer comprehensive consulting services.
No submarket grew faster in North Rhine-Westphalia between 2010 and 2020: It increased by an average of 4.8 percent each year statewide to a gross value added of 4.8 billion euros. In the Ruhr region, annual growth even averaged 5.1 percent to just under 1.4 billion euros.
The Ruhr region is a driver of the energy turnaround
The region is thus a driver for the transformation of the energy industry. On the way to a climate-neutral energy system of the future, renewable energies, intelligent power grids and innovative storage technologies will play an important role. Together, universities and research institutes, companies and associations are driving forward the development of renewables - whether in solar, wind and bioenergy, or geothermal and hydropower.
And they are working on how to make grids smarter and energy storage systems better. The spectrum ranges from basic and application-oriented research to putting developments into practice. The innovative power is great: Almost every third patent in the North Rhine-Westphalian environmental industry is registered in the ETS submarket. These include patents for batteries, wind turbine drive trains, capacitors and circuits.
How can climate-neutral electricity generated from renewable energy sources be used to replace fossil fuels elsewhere? And how can this clean electricity be used for other processes, for example converted into gas for the chemical industry? Sector coupling and power-to-X are two keywords for new thinking.
Making the Ruhr Metropolis a model region for green hydrogen
One key technology lies in hydrogen. Produced with renewable energy, green hydrogen can power cars, aircraft and ships in a climate-neutral way. Or it can replace fossil fuels in energy-intensive industries, such as steel production. A study by the Institute of German Business examined how the regions are positioned in terms of hydrogen. The result: The Ruhr Metropolis ranks first. The next step is to make it a model region for green hydrogen of international standing.
Environmental business network
On the way to the energy system of the future, the Ruhr region is leading the way. It can be the new powerhouse in Germany, representing the successful switch from conventional to renewable energies. We would like to contribute to this in the Greentech.Ruhr network together with our partners.
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Do you have questions about the environmental economy in the Ruhr region? Or are you interested in our Greentech.Ruhr network? Call us or contact us directly via contact form.
Image credit: Bill Mead