Green` energy boom in Germany
By Stefan Nicola Apr 20, 2007, 23:56 GMT
BERLIN, Germany (UPI) -- Great export numbers and thousands of new jobs -- Germany is expecting a 'green' economic boom sparked by its renewable energy sector.
As early as 2020, sales from wind and solar energy companies will surpass those of automobile and machinery companies, right now among the largest industry sectors in Germany, according to a study from international consulting firm Roland Berger.
'The `green` sector is turning into a leading sector in Germany,' Torsten Henzelmann, a senior official at Roland Berger, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung weekly. 'It really is a job motor. In 2020, the renewable energy and environment technology sector will employ more people than the machinery or car sector. Today already, companies complain that they can`t find enough qualified personnel.'
The study, commissioned by the German Environment Ministry, polled officials at 1,500 German renewable energy and environment technology firms. It won`t be published until June at a European Union environment summit, but Roland Berger spokesman Stefan Schuessler provided United Press International with an excerpt Friday.
The world market for environmentally friendly products has a volume of roughly $1.3 billion, and that will double by 2020, the study said. The main drivers of this growth will be renewable energy generation and energy-efficiency technologies, thus handing Germany great chances for additional economic development.
Already, the country`s renewable energy sector is among the most innovative and successful worldwide. Nordex, Repower, Enercon (all wind energy), SolarWorld and Conenergy (solar energy) -- renewable companies based in Germany -- dominate the world market. Every third solar panel and every second wind rotor is made in Germany, and German turbines and generators used in hydro energy generation are among the most popular worldwide.
Most companies in German told Roland Berger they want to hire more staff because they expect even more growth.
Nearly 800,000 people work in the German environment technology sector; an estimated 214,000 people work with renewables in Germany, up from 157,000 in 2004, an increase of 36 percent.
'Last year alone, the number of people employed in the German renewable energy sector grew by 24,000,' German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said last month in Berlin. 'This is a real success story.'
But before another chapter can be added to that success story, firms and especially politics in Germany need to keep up with the competition, the study warned, citing several examples of ambitious government support programs in other parts of the world.
Germany`s main competitor is Japan, with which it dominates the solar energy sector.
While Germany leads biodiesel production, the Japanese are ahead in the fuel-cell sector and the hybrid car sector. Toyota by far dominates that market niche, with the German giants, Volkswagen, BMW and DaimlerChrysler having reacted too late to the growing demand for 'green' cars.
Japan is moreover determined to launch the first fleet of mass-produced fuel-cell cars. The Japanese government said it wants to have 50,000 fuel-cell cars on the streets by 2010, spent some $350 million in 2005 in subsidies for fuel-cell projects and created tax incentives for consumers.
Roland Berger said Berlin needed to introduce similarly ambitious plans to help establish and even expand the country`s leading role when it comes to green technologies.
Berlin should formulate 'clear goals' for carbon dioxide emissions, support innovative research projects and fund 'green' education programs at universities.
Yet the companies need to do their part.
'The markets are globalizing -- internationalization has to be a top priority for the companies,' the excerpt sent to UPI said. 'Internationalization needs size (capital, resources, presence) and a clear growth strategy, and size needs consolidation and the creation of networks.'
So expect an increasing number of mergers in the German renewable energy and environment technology sectors, which are still dominated by numerous mostly medium-sized companies.
(e-mail: energy@upi.com)
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
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