The Brilon-based company HOPPECKE Batterien GmbH is a partner in the new network for the energy industry in the German state of NRW. On 13 August, in Düsseldorf, Economics Minister Christa Thoben fired the starting gun for this cooperative initiative in NRW’s energy industry. „With its unique blend of global players, small and medium-sized companies and small think tanks, together with excellent research facilities, North Rhine-Westphalia is an ideal breeding ground for forward-looking developments from the ranks of energy industry members “, said Economics Minister Christa Thoben in Düsseldorf at the introduction of the new Cluster. She continued: „Our role as the state government is to provide sensible framework conditions which will allow close cooperation between all players in the energy industry’s value-added chain, at the same time also involving other sectors “.

„Under the name EnergieRegion.NRW we wish to make the outstanding achievements of our region in the energy sector much more widely known, both at home and abroad. Our aim is to gain even greater recognition throughout Europe for North Rhine-Westphalia as a forward-looking energy region“, Thoben added.

Cluster Manager and ambassador of EnergieRegion.NRW is Dr. Frank-Michael Baumann, Director of EnergieAgentur.NRW: „Increasingly we want to take the initiative, instigating innovative projects which we then accompany right through to the marketing stage “, said Baumann.

Energy companies value the Cluster especially as a neutral information and communication platform in the energy field. This aspect was stressed by Dr. Marc Zoellner, the Chief Executive of HOPPECKE Batterien GmbH, who cited as an example the successful cooperation in the cluster on a project dealing with fuel cells for lift trucks. At this level, further forward-looking projects will be launched, involving regenerative energy and emission-free drives. Dr. Zoellner supported the intention of the state government to implement innovative concepts quickly and efficiently.