CEO of Westerwälder Holzpellets (wood pellets) GmbH, Langenbach

 

“I’d like to be in a position to offer my employees secure future prospects"

 

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

I’d like to be in a position to offer my employees secure future prospects, feed my family and enhance the quality of life on our planet.

 

Where do you see renewable energies in the year 2020?

At more than 20 - 20!
I think the market will probably bring renewables to 30 - 20.

 

Are you aware of the industry forecast for 2020 with a 47 % share of electricity from renewable energy sources? If so, what’s your view on that?

If you don’t demand it, and you simply say it’s possible, then it’s not possible. I believe a 30 – 35 % share of electricity can be achieved. By 2020, it should be possible for Germany to produce 30 - 40 % of its final energy using renewable sources.

 

In your view, how will the power plant park of the future with renewable energies look?

Decentralised biomass CHP; wind, wind and more wind; solar energy production costs that are a good deal less than the cost of electricity for the private end customer. So this means household storage systems, combined with electro-mobility to balance the load.

 

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

Urgent action needs to be taken with respect to CO2 emissions here. Household insulation, restructuring heating systems using biomass and only in very efficient applications, using a heat pump (capacity output kW > 4). But a heat pump run only on green electricity!

 

What’s your view on biofuels?

No BTL!!! The efficiency is simply not good enough! Vegetable oils and methyl ester are OK, if sustainability and environmental compatibility can be proven during cultivation and processing. The research and development of plants such as jatropha should be expanded.

 

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

1. Cost

2. Problems of financing large-scale projects?

 

When the day’s work is done, how do you like to switch off and relax?

I have a collection of historic steam engines

 

Expertise: wood pellets, cost-benefit analysis of plants, communal use of renewable energies

 

Press enquiries: Jörg Thielmann, +49.2661.6262.37, Jörg.Thielmann@ww-holzpellets.de