Strategies to Develop New Energy Technologies
Technology development is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. We are developing and exploring sustainable electricity and gas supply solutions and investing extensively in research, development and pilot projects. For instance, with the completion of alpha ventus, the world's first deep water offshore wind farm, we put a large-scale pilot project into operation. We're also pioneering new approaches with the Pelamis wave energy project off the coast of the Scottish Orkney Islands. See our Performance Report 2010 for a detailed report on the further progress we have made in these areas.
Making Energy More Sustainable Through Technological Innovation
With our power to innovate we are making a decisive contribution towards fulfilling our CO2 goal. Besides large-scale renewable energies, intelligent networks and new energy-efficient solutions for our customers are of key importance. Among our activities to implement these we're actively field-testing micro combined heat and power (CHP) systems for single-family homes and working together with carmakers on integrating electric vehicles into the energy network.
Making Energy More Sustainable Through Technological Innovation
With our power to innovate we are making a decisive contribution towards fulfilling our CO2 goal. Besides large-scale renewable energies, intelligent networks and new energy-efficient solutions for our customers are of key importance. Among our activities to implement these we're actively field-testing micro combined heat and power (CHP) systems for single-family homes and working together with carmakers on integrating electric vehicles into the energy network.
"Through our investment in research and development, especially our demonstration projects, we make a significant contribution to technological progress in our industry and thus in society as a whole."
Klaus-Dieter Maubach, Member of the Board of Management of E.ON AG
Klaus-Dieter Maubach, Member of the Board of Management of E.ON AG
This is why E.ON is not just conducting extensive environmental impact assessments, but also analyzing what impact a particular project has on residents in the local and surrounding areas. Besides analyzing projects at a theoretical level, engaging in dialog with our stakeholders is very important to us. Together with them we seek out solutions with regard to implementing new technologies. Above all, large-scale technical projects mean that we will need to involve local players even more actively in the future.
Research and Development Consolidated Across the Group
Many development projects take place directly at our Group units. To pool our expertise at Group level we restructured our research and development organization in 2010. Since then, our global unit New Build & Technology has been responsible for ongoing plant modernization, coordinating research and development projects and for putting forward proposals for new activities. In addition, in 2010 we created a new Board of Management function for technologies.
From Energy Generation to Smart Utilization
Technology development plays a vital role in all areas at E.ON: from generation to transportation and distribution (see the cross-references in the right-hand margin for further information). In the area of energy generation this mainly includes further raising the thermal efficiency of our new generation of highly efficient coal-fired power plants, carbon capture and storage (CCS), the latest generation of nuclear plants, offshore wind farms, operationally flexible gas-fired power plants, biogas and thermal solar power plants. There is also huge potential for innovation in energy distribution and consumption by end customers. Our scope ranges from smart grids and energy storage, through smart meters and e-mobility, to micro CHP or natural-gas heat pumps for households.
Long-term Investment in Scientific Research
In addition to our own activities we support several universities in a large number of projects: One outstanding example is a public-private partnership with the E.ON Energy Research Center, founded in 2006 at RWTH Aachen in Germany. E.ON is funding the university's institutes with a total of EUR 40 million over ten years. Focal areas are Power Generation and Storage Systems, Automation of Complex Power Systems and Applied Geophysics and Geothermal Energy. Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior also play a part. Through our E.ON Research Award launched in 2007 we're also supporting projects from universities and research institutes worldwide, providing some EUR 60 million over a period of ten years. The focal topics of the research calls change annually, with special consideration paid to research into new technologies that are not yet market-ready, such as Concentrating Solar Power (CSP). In 2010, we awarded some EUR 5 million in prize money to scientific research teams from Europe and the US to research heat storage and CSP solutions. See our focus topic innovation and related performance content for further information about technology development.
Research and Development Consolidated Across the Group
Many development projects take place directly at our Group units. To pool our expertise at Group level we restructured our research and development organization in 2010. Since then, our global unit New Build & Technology has been responsible for ongoing plant modernization, coordinating research and development projects and for putting forward proposals for new activities. In addition, in 2010 we created a new Board of Management function for technologies.
From Energy Generation to Smart Utilization
Technology development plays a vital role in all areas at E.ON: from generation to transportation and distribution (see the cross-references in the right-hand margin for further information). In the area of energy generation this mainly includes further raising the thermal efficiency of our new generation of highly efficient coal-fired power plants, carbon capture and storage (CCS), the latest generation of nuclear plants, offshore wind farms, operationally flexible gas-fired power plants, biogas and thermal solar power plants. There is also huge potential for innovation in energy distribution and consumption by end customers. Our scope ranges from smart grids and energy storage, through smart meters and e-mobility, to micro CHP or natural-gas heat pumps for households.
Long-term Investment in Scientific Research
In addition to our own activities we support several universities in a large number of projects: One outstanding example is a public-private partnership with the E.ON Energy Research Center, founded in 2006 at RWTH Aachen in Germany. E.ON is funding the university's institutes with a total of EUR 40 million over ten years. Focal areas are Power Generation and Storage Systems, Automation of Complex Power Systems and Applied Geophysics and Geothermal Energy. Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior also play a part. Through our E.ON Research Award launched in 2007 we're also supporting projects from universities and research institutes worldwide, providing some EUR 60 million over a period of ten years. The focal topics of the research calls change annually, with special consideration paid to research into new technologies that are not yet market-ready, such as Concentrating Solar Power (CSP). In 2010, we awarded some EUR 5 million in prize money to scientific research teams from Europe and the US to research heat storage and CSP solutions. See our focus topic innovation and related performance content for further information about technology development.
