Research on Power Plant Technologies in Germany Stands for Most Modern Technologies
Joint Press Release of
FDBR Fachverband Anlagenbau, VDMA Power Systems and VGB PowerTech
Steady promotion framework provides future opportunities on global market
Cologne, 3rd June 2014 – The today opening Power-Gen Europe, Exhibition and Congress on technologies for thermal and renewable power plants, demonstrates the capability of German technology provider and by this the results of successful research. Therefore, the three industrial associations focussed on technologies in power plant industries, FDBR Fachverband Anlagenbau, VDMA Power Systems, and VGB PowerTech, point out the importance of a vital research scenery for a sustainable energy supply worldwide.
"Power plant technologies made in Germany, currently being the 'Energiewende-Laboratory', belong to the core of further technological development in energy supply wordwide" states Gerd Krieger, in the VDMA responsible for power and heat supply systems. Erland Christensen, Managing Director of VGB PowerTech, adds: "Research on energy technologies must still include research on power plant technologies to adapt these technologies to the changed framework conditions. Their first demonstration under the requirements of the Energiewende in Germany proofs their marketability."
Reinhard Maaß, Managing Director of the FDBR Fachverband Anlagenbau, underlines: "Companies in Germany are worldwide leading suppliers of modern power plant technologies. This know how must be secured in order to strengthen an increasingly export-orientated branch. Otherwise market opportunities for German companies and jobs in Germany will get lost."
Against this background the Expert Forum "Research on Power Plant Technologies" argues for a vital research in Germany on power plant technologies.
This Expert Forum is a joint initiative of industry and sciences, accompanied by the industrial Associations: Plant suppliers, suppliers of components and materials, and, as well, national research institutes within the Forum commonly postulate the key aspects in future research on power plant technologies. They see that as an initial point to further discuss the future research framework in Germany.
The representatives of industry point out that thermal power plants in Germany, in the EU, and worldwide are essential for energy supply within the next decades or longer. Protection of environment, efficient use of resources, flexible operation, and compliance with all needs for a secure energy supply remain being the guiding line for those power plants.
German research policy should, therefore, furtherly support the proved close alliance of sciences and industry in research on thermal power plant technologies.
- Companies in Germany may also in future develop the technologies in Germany for the needed more flexible and efficient power plants. Such advanced technology is globally requested. as well, and so it offers export opportunities to the German technology provider.
- A wide-based, capable research on power plant technologies for new materials, fabrication methods, system control and regulating processes supports also other future technologies – i.e. technologies for energy storage or the use of carbon-dioxide in industry.
The experts in industry and sciences agree on the point that those chances must not be wasted. Advanced technologies for thermal power plants contribute to the success of the Energiewende in Germany, and provide significant export opportunities.
The commonly postulated key aspects in future research on power plant technologies are seen as a clear signal of the experts to politics: Sciences and industry are ready to strengthen Germany as industrial site also in future.
The three participating associations in brief
- The FDBR bundles the interests of more than 180 companies of plant supply in energy, environmental, and process industries. The Association accompanies innovation processes, the development of norms and standards on national and international levels, and contributes to the definition of sustainable framework conditions for the industry branch.
- The VDMA represents more than 3,100 member companies in industrial goods industries and is, therefore, the biggest branch association in Europe. VDMA Power Systems represents the interests of conventional and renewable power and heat supply systems on national und international stage.
- VGB PowerTech e.V., located in Essen, is the European industrial Association focussed on the technologies for the power and heat generating industries. The 484 members from 35 countries represent a power generating capacity of 458,000 MW.