Electrical energy harnessed in kids' footwear
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany's most populous state, is making significant strides in its transition towards a renewable energy future. NRW Minister President Wüst has given the starting signal for a notable conversion, though specifics about the timeline and progress remain undisclosed.
One of the key sites undergoing transformation is that of French glass and windshield producer, Saint-Gobain. Currently, the company consumes as much energy as a small city uses in a year, primarily in the melting process of sands at 1,500 degrees Celsius. To address this energy-intensive process, an own hydrogen production and an own electrolyzer are to be built on the site, providing process energy for glass production in the future.
NRW's renewable energy expansion is not limited to individual sites. The region is actively building out renewable infrastructure across solar, onshore and offshore wind, and green hydrogen technologies. RWE, a major energy company, has won tenders to develop two new large-scale solar farms in NRW, which, when completed, will generate enough clean electricity to supply approximately 11,300 households. Construction could commence in early 2026, with commissioning by the end of that year.
The broader Rheinisches Revier, an important lignite (coal) mining area in NRW, is being developed as a green hydrogen hub. This strategic transformation includes expanding wind farms and pioneering hydrogen storage facilities like Gronau-Epe to decarbonize industry and power systems.
NRW’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy is emphasizing innovation and technological advances to turn the region into one of Europe’s most modern, climate-friendly industrial centers. Digital transformation and climate goals are central pillars of their strategy.
Germany as a whole is adding large amounts of renewable capacity, with 8.65 GW of new renewable installations (mostly solar and onshore wind) between January and July 2025. However, the pace must accelerate to fully meet ambitious 2030 targets.
Coal-fired power plants in the Rhine region are scheduled to be shut down by 2030 if possible. Consumption from renewable energy sources in NRW increased by 4.7% in 2019, amounting to 210 petajoules (58.4 billion kilowatt-hours). This growth, combined with the initiatives mentioned above, suggests a promising trajectory for NRW's renewable energy consumption.
The focus on renewable energy in NRW aligns with Germany's national goals of increasing renewable energy shares and aims to cover 80% of electricity consumption with renewables by 2030. Biomass and wind power still play a significant role in renewable energy sources in NRW, while solar energy, environmental heat/geothermal energy, and wind power have seen substantial growth from 2009 to 2019.
As NRW moves forward with its renewable energy transition, the region is poised to become a key player in Germany's energy transformation, positioning itself as a model for other regions aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and embrace a sustainable future.
- The environmental science community will closely observe Saint-Gobain's strategic move to build an on-site hydrogen production and electrolyzer, as it aims to transition from energy-intensive sands melting to hydrogen-based process energy in NRW.
- Financing the increasing infrastructure needs of NRW's renewable-energy industry, such as solar farms and hydrogen storage facilities, will be a crucial aspect in the region's transition towards a carbon-neutral future.
- Given the region's commitment to digitalization and green technologies, the science and finance industries are likely to invest in and collaborate with NRW to accelerate its progress towards becoming a leading example of renewable energy adoption and environmental sustainability.
