One good way to cut CO₂ emissions is to modernize and upgrade existing power plants. This applies particularly to coal-fired power plants, which generate considerably more emissions than combined-cycle stations. We’re experts at refurbishing such plants to boost their efficiency. In our newly installed coal-fired plants, efficiency is expected to exceed 50 percent by 2020, compared to current rates of up to 47 percent. This increase will be a boon to power utilities, enabling them to realize substantial cost savings.

It’s been 18 years now since our company first became active in the field of offshore technology. We’ve already provided turbines for several offshore wind farms and are currently involved in a number of further projects. For instance, together with our Norwegian partner, StatoilHydro, we’re now testing the world’s first multi-megawatt floating wind turbine off the coast of Norway. We supplied the Hywind prototype turbine, which went into test operation on September 8, 2009. This pilot project aims to demonstrate that wind turbines which are not firmly anchored to the seabed can generate substantial amounts of energy. Located some 12 kilometers southeast of the Norwegian island of Karmøy, the floating turbine is held in place by three steel cables moored to the seabed at a depth of 220 meters. It has a capacity of 2.3 megawatts and a rotor diameter of 82 meters. During the two-year test phase, the electricity generated will be transported to the mainland via a marine cable. All our turbines feature high corrosion protection, remote monitoring options, lightening protection systems and position lights. With over 800 megawatts of installed capacity and an order backlog of more than three gigawatts, we’re now the market leader in offshore wind power.

When electricity is generated by means of solar-thermal technology, mirrors are used to focus solar rays. The resulting high temperatures heat water, producing water vapor which drives a steam turbine that generates power without producing any CO₂ emissions. Our SST-700 industrial steam turbine, which generates up to 130 megawatts of electrical power, enables rapid startup times and quick load reversals, making it particularly suitable for solar-thermal power plants used for non-continuous operation.

A smart grid is an intelligent network for power transmission and distribution that is based on bidirectional communication among all the players in the electricity market. It encompasses the entire energy conversion chain, from power generation to end consumer. Power utilities must achieve a balance between electricity production and the actual electricity consumption of households and industry. This task is all the more daunting because energy from renewable sources is fed into the grid at irregular intervals. That’s where the smart grid comes in, creating an overarching structure comprising large, centralized suppliers, small, decentralized suppliers who feed into the network only intermittently, and consumers. This integrated approach is made possible by features such as the grid’s expanded automation structure, advanced sensors and decentralized information and communications structure. In addition to enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the power supply chain, smart grids enable consumers to actively participate in the energy market and thus contribute to climate protection.

Electric motors are now an integral part of daily life and industrial activity, powering everything from escalators, ventilators and trains to paper machines. At a medium-sized paper-making company, for example, more than 3,000 motors operate around the clock. And they consume a lot of electricity: electric drives and motors account for up to 70 percent of the energy consumed in industrial plants. We’re tackling this challenge with new energy-saving motors that reduce power losses by as much as 40 percent compared to conventional motors. By using frequency converters on previously unregulated drives, energy consumption can be cut by up to 50 percent. When energy-saving motors and frequency converters from Siemens were installed at an automotive paint line, for instance, the amount of power consumed by the pumps, ventilators and logistics installations was slashed by an impressive two-thirds.

Computers, servers and data centers devour enormous amounts of electricity. In Germany alone, data centers consume as much power as 2.5 million households. That translates into nearly 6 million tons of CO₂ – and the figure is rising. In response to these challenges, we’ve developed our integrated Transformational Data Center portfolio to address all data center needs – from planning and assembly to operation and outsourcing.