CEO of wodtke GmbH, Tübingen

“More than ever – and in response to the concept of climate change – it is of paramount importance that we realise it is down to all of us to support new and future-oriented construction methods and energy systems.”

Why do you work in the renewable energies sector? What motivates you?

It has always been the company’s philosophy to shape the future along sustainable lines. More than ever – and in response to the concept of climate change – it is of paramount importance that we realise it is down to all of us to support new and future-oriented construction methods and energy systems. The energy consumption of the houses of future generations will be streamlined to the maximum. In association with corresponding key energy technologies for intelligent building, our products, systems and solutions serve to enhance quality of life.

Many people would like to have a beautiful “heating unit” in their living space. Our high-grade design brings the concept of climate protection directly into our clients’ living rooms.

Where do you see renewable energies in the year 2020?

The government’s environmental targets for 2020 are ambitious, but – if the targets are consistently pursued – they can also be described as feasible. One of the goals in particular, to significantly increase the share of renewables in the heating market, will make heating with wood pellets even more of an attractive option. Pellet technology will secure its place among future-oriented heating systems. The fact is that oil and gas are too “precious” to be used as fuel.  So we have to fall back on other, regenerative fuels and energy-efficient heating systems, e.g. heating with pellets.

We don’t want to polarise the individual energy sources by describing them as either “good” or “bad”, we want to contribute to a robust energy supply that makes economic and ecological sense. And in this respect, against the background of rising oil and gas prices, wood pellets (and wood chips) still have huge development potential, as does solar power, for example.

What’s your view of the development of renewable heat sources?

Legislators have already set some important aspects in motion: the rapid introduction of up-to-the-minute heating technologies coupled with funding to increase the use of renewable energies (e.g. through the market incentive programme) will certainly advance renewables. Binding limits for emissions and efficiency – such as those envisaged by the amendment of the 26th Ordinance of the German Federal Emissions Control Act – are desirable, but should not be discussed and argued over for too long in advance – this will only serve to unsettle the customer and is absolutely detrimental to the market.

But in view of the laws and directives that are already in place, levels of bureaucracy should not be overdone. Existing laws and directives are already difficult enough to negotiate for both manufacturers and the end customer.

In your view, which debates over renewable energies will define the year 2009?

1. Amendment of the 26th Ordinance of the German Federal Emissions Control Act / passing by German Parliament

2. Fuel price developments in heating oil and gas, but also wood pellets

Expertise: Pellets, financing and project development, acceptance of renewable energies, communal, private and oublic use of renewable energies, political frameworks and subsidies, pellet-primary-oven technology, research and development, jobs, trend research, design, development of pellets in Germany 

Press Enquiries: Ulrich Seidel, +49.7071.700338; Ulrich.Seidel@wodtke.com