Renewable Energy - Basis for Sustainable Generation

Sustainable supply, economical fuel and environmental protection have been the top priorities of RheinEnergie for decades. Furthermore, our aim is to increase our commitment to renewable energy, since investments in this field only partly help to safeguard the future. RheinEnergie's commitment concentrates on

• developing important generation capacities in the field of bioenergy and
• promoting solar energy.

RheinEnergie is currently negotiating with appropriate partners as regards bioenergy. The medium-term strategy is to generate 1% of our own energy using bioenergy. The photovoltaic plants are financed by funds from the green electricity product "energreen". The plants are principally used as "hands-on" objects for tuition and are intended to provide young people with first-hand experience and knowledge of renewable energies.

Bio energy - economical solutions for today's world

Bioenergy includes biogas as well as biogenous liquid and solid fuels. These are primary products which are either renewable or created during conversion processes and whose application is considered climate friendly. It particularly includes: Biogas (predominantly from arable crops); the use of vegetable oils or timber as fuel. Together with our partners, mainly from agriculture, we hope to develop and commercially utilise appropriate future generating capacities. Bioenergy offers enormous development potential and projects are, therefore, supported by legislators. Some plants, depending on their size, are already very economical. By 2010 we will have provided two million euros annually for respective projects.

A biogas project on the starting blocks. With the help of a tender and in cooperation with a consultancy we were able to choose a service provider who has now been commissioned by RheinEnergie to implement the project. Whenever possible, we strive for solutions in the Rhine region. Since this allows us to strengthen local economic power and additionally assume part of the plant management.

Solar energy - inexhaustible energy for tomorrow's world

The construction of photovoltaic systems on school buildings and other educational institutions is the second integral part of RheinEnergie's concept for renewable energy. The solar modules used here convert sunlight into electricity.

At present, a more economical application, apart from isolated applications, is not viable for sites in our geographical latitude. However, solar energy still receives our special attention and promotion as a future energy. The promotion of the sun's rays as an energy source is highly recommended since it meets with public approval and is perfectly suited for kindling children and teenagers' interest in energy.

The systems are used to illustrate solar energy to schoolchildren. The projects are financially supported by the "green electricity sums" received by the trust: RheinEnergie has been a provider of the green electricity "energreen" since 1999. And we have committed ourselves to reinvesting the extra costs voluntarily paid by customers in the development of renewable energy. RheinEnergie supplements the sums received, ensuring that an annual investment of up to 100,000 euros is always available. This enables the realisation of four to five systems each year.

The first installed photovoltaic systems are located:

• on the roof of the vocational training college (BBS) in Cologne-Deutz
• in Cologne-Raderthal on the roof of the European school
• at the Steyler Mission in Sankt Augustin

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