Energy Technology

Heading into the future with energy

“Energy technology“ describes a wide range of technologies applied in the different stages of energy conversion. These technologies extend from harnessing energy from primary energy sources such as coal, crude oil or natural gas, up to the generation of useful energy such as heat, mechanical energy or lighting. Energy technology therefore covers all of the used methods, plants and equipment applied in the production and conditioning of energy, as well as for the conversion, transportation, distribution and storage thereof. The term also includes the consumption by the end user including the techniques applied for the efficient use of energy. 

A segment of the energy technology field which is gaining in significance is “electrical energy technology“, and here especially the  “electricity generating technology“. The different methods of generating electricity depend on the used energy carriers and the respective plant types.

The Bavarian State Government is first of all concentrating the energy technology cluster on the sections of “conventional power plant technology“, “nuclear power“ and “photovoltaics”. This is because conventional power plant technology and nuclear power, and also the use of renewable energy sources, will all play a role in a  balanced energy mix of the future.

The photovoltaics sector is, on the one hand, an important growth market. On the other hand, photovoltaics  - which is a technology with great innovative potential –  still requires a substantial amount of research and development aimed at reducing costs.

Bavaria – well positioned in the electricity generating and distributing field

In the production of plants for the generation and distribution of electricity Bavaria, with over 105,000 persons employed and some 450 firms, is one of the leading centers of know-how both in Germany and on a global scale, along with the states of Baden-Württemberg and North-Rhine Westphalia. In this field there is a focus on the production of electricity distribution and control equipment in Bavaria. The second large domain is the production of electric motors, generators and transformers. Bavarian companies also produce components for electricity generating plants such as steam boilers, turbines, motors, pumps and compressors.

All over the world electricity is mostly generated using conventional power plant technology and nuclear power. Major power plant manufacturers in Bavaria  are Siemens Power Generation (Erlangen and Nuremberg), Framatome ANP GmbH (Erlangen), Alstom Power Conversion (Nuremberg), MTU Aero Engines (Munich) as well as SGL Acotec GmbH (Meitingen). All in all, these companies employ a workforce of some  7,000 people. There is an extensive component supplier industry cooperating with these  manufacturers.

Generating electricity with renewable sources of energy in Bavaria

In Bavaria there is a traditional emphasis on the use of hydropower as renewable source of energy  for generating electricity. Besides hydropower there is an growing market for of biomass, photovoltaics, wind, and soon also geothermal energy for generating electricity.

And due to the relatively high amount of sunshine and solar intensity there has been a major advance in the Bavarian market for photovoltaic systems. Today, Bavaria already produces almost half of the solar energy generated in Germany (photovoltaics). Bavarian companies are active in all stages of the value chain from crystal growing systems to wafer, cell and module production up to complete plants. The Bavarian-based manufacturers of solar grade silicon and solar cells rank at the top of the international league.

Major manufacturers  of solar cells, wafers or solar silicon have their headquarters or affiliated companies in Bavaria such as  Schott Solar GmbH (Alzenau and Putzbrunn), Shell Solar GmbH (Munich) and Wacker Chemie GmbH (Burghausen).

Market and partners in the field of electric power generation

The market for electric power generating technology extends from the individual user of smaller plants -  in the field of renewable energies, for example - up to classic large power generating companies. Investors therefore find a host of cooperation possibilities.

The research cooperation Fossil Plants for the 21^st Century  (Fossile Kraftwerke für das 21. Jahrhundert) is an organization of power plant operators, power plant manufacturers and the supplier industry, as well as 22 research institutions in Bavaria and  Baden-Württemberg. Beyond this, the business community and science cooperate in additional R&D projects in the fields of “conventional power plants” (e.g. the research cooperation FORTVER for turbulent combustion) and “nuclear power”.

With its  Energy Forum Bavaria presents an attractive information and cooperation platform, especially in the fields relating to the efficient use of energy and renewable energies. The Energy Forum addresses the topics of joining networks, acquisition and distribution of state of the art information, topic-related platforms for introducing cooperations and the launching of individual cooperation projects. Photovoltaic companies and science have been working together on innovative tasks for years now (e.g.   the Research Cooperation for Solar Energy  FORSOL).

Attractive reasearch environment for energy technology 

Renowned Bavarian universities are setting the pace in fields such as

• Energy systems and the rational use of energy,
• Renewable sources of energy,
• Combustion technology and fuel cells
• Nuclear power

The  Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg,  University of Bayreuth, University of Würzburg, Munich Technical University as well as other Bavarian universities and universities of applied sciences have training and research capacities in energy technologies.

There are a host of non-university institutes operating as partners in research and development. These include:

• ATZ Development Center for Processes and Materials  in Sulzbach-Rosenberg,
• Bayerisches Zentrum für angewandte Energieforschung e.V.  Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research (ZAE Bayern) in Würzburg, Garching/Munich and Erlangen,
• Centrales Agrar-Rohstoff-Marketing- und Entwicklungsnetzwerk e.V. (C.A.R.M.E.N.) Network and Center of Excellence for Renewable Materials in Straubing,
• Research Institute for Thermal Insulation (FIW) in Gräfelfing,
• Forschungsstelle für Energiewirtschaft (FfE e.V.) Research Institute for Energy Economy in Munich,
• Fraunhofer Institute of Building Physics (IBP) with institute section in Holzkirchen,
• Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegragion IZM,  Munich,
• Institute for Safety and Reliability (Isar) GmbH in Garching,
• Max-Planck Institute for Plsma Physics (IPP) in Garching.

Well-qualified workforce for the field of energy technology 

Bavarian universities and universities of applied sciences offer excellent training and postgraduate courses in the field of energy technology and related disciplines – such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics and mathematics.
Qualified specialists can additionally be trained in the pertinent fields of study within the framework of vocational training and advanced training programs.

Optimal environment

Companies benefit from Bavaria’s excellent business environment which is generated by 11 universities and 15 universities of applied sciences as well as the headquarters of the Fraunhofer and Max-Planck Gesellschaft, the German Patent and Trademark Office and the European Patent Office.

Access to funding

Bavaria is the venture capital center of Germany and is home to many  VC companies.  The LfA-Förderbank (Bank for the Advancement of the Bavarian Economy) can help finance projects on attractive loan terms. Bavaria supports energy technology research and development, e.g. within the framework of its program “Greater efficiency in the production and use of energy” and also through the Bavarian Research Foundation (Bayerische Forschungsstiftung).

Energy technology locations in Bavaria 

There is a focus on manufacturers of electricity generating technology in the segments of conventional power plant technology, nuclear power and photovoltaics in Munich, Erlangen, Nuremberg, Würzburg, Alzenau, Putzbrunn and Burghausen.

Information material