Germany intensifies international cooperation on the increased use of re-newable energies
Signing of agreements with Brazil and Denmark

2 June 2004. Germany is intensifying its international cooperation on the increased use of renewable energies. At the renewables 2004 Conference in Bonn Federal Environment Minister J�rgen Trittin today signed new agreements with Denmark and Brazil. Denmark and Germany plan to cooperate more closely on offshore wind energy research. An intensive exchange of experience was agreed on with Brazil concerning fees for the feed-in of electricity from renewable energies into the grid.

J�rgen Trittin: "Denmark and Germany will more closely interlink their extensive research projects on wind energy use in the North and Baltic Seas. The share of renewable energies in electricity generation will increase considerably with offshore wind parks. We will make sure that this does not happen at the expense of the nature off our coasts."

Extensive research projects have been ongoing in both countries for many years to clarify technical issues and to analyse the impacts on the marine environment of offshore wind energy installations. With joint research projects and an intensified exchange of expert know-how, research funds are to be used even more effectively in future and the quality of research findings will increase. A first joint German-Danish research project aims to investigate possible impacts of the Danish offshore wind parks Nysted and Horns Rev on marine mammals and birds.

With regard to Brazil, Germany can greatly benefit from its wealth of experience with biomass and biofuels. At the same time Brazil is interested in Germany's experience with wind energy use.