Wind power is environmentally friendly and saves resources. At sea in particular, wind speed is extremely high and can generate a great deal of energy. Offshore wind farms make use of these advantageous conditions. Enormous rotors "capture" the wind and transmit it to a generator, which creates electricity out of it. Conducting R&D for modern and efficient energy technologies like these is an important priority of the High-Tech Strategy.
To guarantee energy supplies in future it is necessary both to continue developing traditional technologies and promote new processes. Germany is leading the way with clearly-defined goals. In 2012, there ought to be 21 per cent less greenhouse gases than in 1990. The proportion of renewable energy is supposed to grow continually in a sensible energy mixture. Today, there are already many cutting-edge products for producing energy which come from Germany. Its power station technology is famous for its reliability and performance. Today, German coal and gas power stations have reached a degree of efficiency which is a fifth higher than it was 15 years ago.
With respect to renewable energy production, companies in Germany are at the forefront. German wind power generators account for 40 per cent of the world market. 70 per cent of their products are destined for export abroad. In photovoltaics the German proportion of the world market is 25 per cent. The market potential will increase even more if it becomes possible to manufacture silicon wafers more cost-effectively.
