Focus on future technologies

The third expert meeting devoted to energy was hosted on 7 December at the Villa Ida Media Campus in Leipzig. The one-day conference attended by more than 200 energy experts was held under the motto 'An energetic region – competing concepts'.

Said Deputy Mayor of Economic Affairs and Employment Uwe Albrecht: "By discussing energy storage and electromobility, we tackled two highly topical issues. The topics ranged from the development of electric cars and the necessary infrastructure to the future suitability of fuel cells and their impact on private, public and commercial transport."

Parallel to the conference, the Power & Environment Cluster Board only founded this year presented the findings of a survey on the main current issues and future developments in the energy sector. The study was carried out by the HHL Graduate School of Management in Leipzig by a team headed by Prof Iris Hausladen. The results will help gear work in the cluster to the needs and interests of the commercial companies and other actors in the cluster.

One advantage of the Power & Environment Cluster in the Leipzig region – including compared to other clusters – is the local presence of the entire value chain in the energy sector from power generators, suppliers, network operators and service contractors to consumers in both the public and private sector.

The efficient cooperation with research centres enables the development of forward-looking, sustainable energy supply concepts. Through its support for economic policy, the Office for Economic Development provides the framework required for successful cluster work. Concrete projects in which the Power & Environment Cluster is involved include:

• Energy-efficient city
• The German government's Electromobility Model Regions programme

A separate series of workshops has been launched on fuel cell and hydrogen technology in the Leipzig region.