Innovation needs investment. E.ON has recognized the sign of the times and has significantly increased its overall expenditure in new technologies. By making new investments in demonstration projects, in R&D expenditure of market units and in developing basic research at universities, E.ON is facing the growing challenge of finding technical solutions for a reliable low in CO₂ emissions future energy supply. In 2007, E.ON invested around EUR83 million in the research and implementation of innovative technical solutions. This increased to EUR106 million in 2008. These investments were made, in order to meet the new requirements.

Research and development are the source of most innovations. In energy technology, however, substantially larger investments are required in order to turn new technologies into commercial products. E.ON is meeting this challenge as an energy company that does not produce any products of its own. Beyond the research budgets mentioned, E.ON invests large amounts in project development, e.g. the construction of new power plants that implement innovative technologies. In this way, E.ON is making a decisive contribution toward the practical implementation of promising and innovative research ideas.