216/02
Johannesburg / Berlin, 3. September 2002

Jürgen Trittin: Renewable energies the key for a future-oriented global energy supply

Two billion people in the world are not connected to an electricity supply and are thus cut off from any economic development. A drastic development of renewables is imperative in order to solveour energy problems and give energy supply a viable basis for the future. Solar thermal power is one element of this strategy. Countries with high solar radiation have very favourable conditions forthe use of solar thermal power plants. An international event hosted by Federal Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul at the World Summit inJohannesburg examined solar thermal power and the possibilities for increasing power plant efficiency.

"Renewable energies and efficient management of energy are pillars of the new direction in energy policy introduced by the Federal Government," said Trittin. " Germany has shown that a new energypolicy is possible in a major industrialised country. We must correct our own errors with regard to development, so that the countries of the South do not repeat our mistakes." The Minister addedthat a drastic development of renewables is needed in order to provide the people of developing countries with access to energy. Solar thermal power plants can also play a role. Such power plantscannot be used in the North.

The technical potential for solar thermal power plants is already available. The conditions enabling their use must now be created, through financing and infrastructure measures. Topics such asthese formed the discussion at the event, which was also attended by the head of the Global Environment Facility Mohammed El-Ashry, bank representatives and experts in solar energy. The FederalGovernment is committed to making the use that solar thermal power plants possible. The Federal Environment Ministry presented an international initiative to develop a market introduction strategyfor solar thermal power plants. This partnership was initiated by the Federal Environment Ministry.

"The development of renewable energies will not only benefit the climate, but also the economy, and will create jobs at a local level," said Trittin. "The use of solar thermal power plants cangive countries with high solar radiation independence from expensive energy imports. In the medium term, solar power would represent a valuable export for these countries."