The energy and environmental sector belongs to one of the strongest-growing branches of the economy. Energy efficiency solutions are also a prime example of the innovative capability of the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region (MRN). The "Energy & Environment" cluster in the MRN was chosen as one of the 12 winners of the first round of the "Competition for Consolidating Regional Clusters in Baden-Württemberg" by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Economy in the autumn of 2008. Around 250 partners from the business, science and public administration sectors have joined forces in the "Energy & Environment" cluster initiative to realise energy-efficient solutions along all stages of the value-added chain. Since its initiation, the companies, institutions, research establishments and colleges involved have been presenting themselves under the label "Region of Energy Efficiency". Like all other cluster activities, they are focussing in this area as well on achieving a lasting consolidation of the region's economic strength and creating new jobs in the sectors of the future.
The cluster's most important objective is to increase energy efficiency in the MRN, with its main focus being directed at existing buildings together with small and medium-sized companies. The cluster management also concentrates on successfully marketing innovative services and products both at home and abroad, as well as to supporting small and medium-sized companies by means of mutual collaboration or co-operations with major enterprises. Other responsibilities include intensifying the transfer of technology and supporting relocating companies and start-ups, tasks which are a practical supplement to the existing energy and environment-related expertise in the MRN. As well as energy efficiency, the cluster management also devotes itself to renewable energy (with the main focus on deep geothermics), as well as to coordinating activities for developing energy and environmental concepts for conurbation areas.
Noteworthy cluster partners in the field of science are the University of Heidelberg, Mannheim College, Kaiserslautern Technical College and the Mannheim Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW). From the world of business come companies such as BASF SE and Saint Gobain Isover G&H from the insulating material sector, ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd and Siemens AG from the building systems sector, Alstom and MWM GmbH from the power plant sector, KSB AG, a producer of energy-efficient pumps, and Bombardier from the innovative transportation technology sector. These are joined by the energy suppliers MVV Energie AG, Pfalzwerke AG and EnBW AG who focus strongly on renewable energy, as do TWL AG and Stadtwerke Heidelberg GmbH, as well as the numerous municipal public utilities and providers.
The regional networks that have been involved in the energy and environmental sector for many years also play an important role. These include EnergieEffizienzAgentur E2A, the "Rhine-Neckar Centre of Environmental Expertise" (UKOM) and Urban Plus, the "Alliance for Living, Environment and Occupation". The existing KLIBA energy agencies in Heidelberg, Mannheim Energy Agency, EOR in Rhineland-Palatinate, EAN in the Neckar-Odenwald administrative district and Energy Agency Bergstrasse also collaborate very closely with the cluster management.
Visit cluster-energie-umwelt.de for more information.
