Wind turbines, solar modules and hydrogen storage

    Energy

    We are already experts in a field that is crucial to our future: energy efficiency and renewable energies. We finance innovative energy and environmental projects and secure the sustainable supply of electricity.

    The promotion of energy efficiency and the expansion of renewable energies are core elements of the energy strategy of the Federal Government. German and European industries are leaders in the field of energy efficiency and green technologies. Germany is a pioneer in advancing renewable energies and low-emission technologies.


    One of the leading financiers in the world

    We act in concert with the government, industry and the people in Germany and Europe by financing projects that are ecologically necessary, economically smart and strategically important for our future. Already we are among the leading financiers of energy-efficient natural gas and steam power plants as well as sophisticated projects that harness wind energy, including offshore, and solar energy. Many projects in which we acted as structurer have been acclaimed by leading international technical journals as Projects of the Year.


    Energy-efficient power plants complement renewable energy

    Worldwide demand for energy, however, is rising faster than renewable energy projects can establish themselves widely - by a rate of 50 per cent by the year 2030, according to the International Energy Agency. This means that new conventional electricity generation plants must be built and existing power plants modernised. We finance sustainable projects that lead to improved energy efficiency, and we support German and European exporters. The environmental and social impact of such projects plays a decisive role in our financings.

    We have more than 40 years of experience in the financing of energy projects, and we actively co-design the evolution of electricity generation. Our focus and technical expertise make us an opinion and competence leader in the field of energy and the environment.


    Our financing products:

    • Tied export financings with and without ECA cover
    • Investment loans in Germany and abroad (including investments in domestic local utilities)
    • Structured financings and project financings

    Selected financing cases:

    Onshore and offshore wind power

    We finance onshore and offshore wind farms all over the world, e.g. the offshore wind farm Butendiek in the German part of the North Sea and onshore wind farms in Argentina.

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    Photovoltaics

    We finance photovoltaic installations and solar power stations worldwide, e.g. Cestas in France, one of Europe's largest photovoltaic power stations.

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    Megaproject NordLink: "Green cable" to link Norway and Germany

    The 1,400 megawatt subsea cable will link the electricity markets of both countries for the first time.

    Norway will export hydroelectric power to Germany, which will in turn send surplus wind and solar power to Norway. The reservoirs in Norway will be able to serve as natural storage for the imported energy. NordLink was put into operation in May in 2021.

    Find out more about NordLink here

    INFOGRAPHIC

    Desalinating seawater into drinking water

    Around 60% of Germany’s drinking water comes from groundwater, yet it is a water-rich country. What about countries with significantly lower amounts of rainfall and groundwater, e.g. in Israel?

    Today, 70% of its households are already supplied with drinking water from seawater desalination plants. With Sorek B, a plant financed by KfW IPEX-Bank, this figure will rise as high as 85% from 2023.