Innovation

The energy industry faces enormous challenges: People demand that energy be affordable and its supply reliable. At the same time, CO₂ emissions must be significantly reduced. Research and development is key to mastering these challenges and we have the “energy to lead” in this field as well. Our prime objective is to increase efficiency Glossary and reduce emissions from electricity generated from fossil fuels.

Reorganization of research and development in the RWE Group.

In April 2008, we created a unit responsible for developing our strategy in the field of research and development (R&D) and coordinating all of the Group’s R&D activities, including patents. Operational implementation remains in the hands of our subsidiaries.

We can only remain competitive over the long term if we constantly invest in new technologies and refine existing ones. In this field, we co-operate with partners in plant engineering and the chemical industry. As a result, the activities are only partially reflected in our R&D costs, which amounted to €105 million in the 2008 financial year. In light of the growing importance RWE accords to research and development work, we intend to increase our budget in this area.

Last fiscal year, 330 employees were entrusted with R&D work throughout the Group either full or part time–60 more than in 2007. This was in part due to the initiation of a number of new R&D projects.