TÜV Association: 60 percent of companies see opportunities for “Green Tech Made in Germany”

Nearly 60 percent of German companies see opportunities for a leading role in the GreenTech sector. Potential for more economic growth through environmental technologies. Securing competitive advantages through standardization and standardization. Many patents come from Germany, also in e-mobility.

Photovoltaics, heat pumps, circular economy: Green technologies play a central role in achieving climate targets. The international race for leadership in climate protection technologies is in full swing. More and more countries are taking measures to encourage the settlement of important key technologies at their sites. Germany also has good conditions to play at the forefront. A majority of 57 percent of domestic companies see a very large or rather large potential for Germany to take a leading role in green technologies. 35 percent see rather little and only 6 percent see no potential. These are the results of a representative Forsa survey commissioned by the TÜV Association among 500 companies with 20 or more employees.

“Green technologies are creating important growth markets that make a decisive contribution to combating the environmental and climate crisis,” says Juliane Petrich, Policy and Sustainability Officer at the TÜV Association. “GreenTech – Made in Germany is already an export hit. With the right framework conditions, the German industry can become the world market leader.”

The survey shows that especially large companies with 250 or more employees (67 percent) see potential for a pioneering role. The companies surveyed that trust Germany to take a leadership role see particularly large potentials in photovoltaics (79 percent), energy-efficient production (78 percent), and wind energy (75 percent). But also in the areas of energy storage (72 percent), circular economy (70 percent), heat pumps (62 percent), electromobility (53 percent), and hydrogen (53 percent), more than half of the respondents see great potential for Germany as a location.

“Even today, many patents in the field of GreenTech come from Germany. Within Europe, Germany is by far the most important research country for green technologies. More than half of the relevant patents in the EU came from Germany in 2022,” says Petrich. “In order for companies in Germany to develop green technologies, they need planning security. Cutting the Climate and Transformation Fund sends the wrong signal.”

Driving GreenTech “Made in Germany”

The demand for “GreenTech Made in Germany” in global markets remains high. However, the promise of quality must continue to be secured in the future through standards and certifications. These determine the possibility of market access, shape key technologies, and sustainably strengthen our resilience in an uncertain economic environment.

“Those who set the standards determine the market. The USA and, to a great extent, China have recognized this. We must not lose our connection here and jeopardize our market position,” said Petrich.

The TÜV companies want to support the development of green technologies with a focus on sustainability and environmental compatibility, for example through tests and certifications. This will ensure that products and services meet the established standards. Petrich: “In green technologies, alongside safety, quality is particularly important. You need to be able to rely on these technologies to truly deliver what they promise. Is a gas power plant H2-ready? Is a product recyclable? How efficient is a product or facility? Independent tests not only secure the necessary trust in green technologies but are also crucial for market access.”

Translated automatically from German.