Promotional Topics
Focus of KfW
Work on a wind turbine in Morocco. Source: KfW Picture Archive / photothek.net
Within the German Financial Cooperation KfW Entwicklungsbank concentrates on three areas in the energy sector. In addition to fighting poverty, our promotional activities focus on protecting the environment, the climate, and natural resources.
Access to Energy
Currently about 1.6 billion people - many in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia - have no access to electricity, many more must rely on increasingly scarce traditional biomass such as wood or dung for cooking and heating. Access to modern energy is, however, a key factor for sustainable development and improving living conditions. Without energy there is no economic growth and no escape from poverty.
Renewable Energies
In 2010 the share of renewable energies in worldwide electricity generation was almost 20 per cent worldwide. This trend continues to climb, the potential of renewable energies for heating and cooling purposes is still only insufficiently used. KfW Entwicklungsbank supports its partners in developing a sustainable energy supply based on renewable energies such as wind and hydropower, solar, modern bioenergy and geothermal.
Energy Efficiency
Using energy efficiently is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect the environment and climate and reduce harmful greenhouse gases. KfW Entwicklungsbank finances investments in improving energy efficiency along the entire value chain, such as rehabilitating old power plants and constructing and renovating existing electricity transmission and distribution systems. Reducing energy consumption on the demand side also receives special attention. Particularly in buildings the energy is often used ineffeciently.
Energy and Environment
Supplying more people with more energy should not be achieved at the expense of the environment. Thus, KfW Entwicklungsbank always tries to use natural resources as sparingly as possible: All Financial Cooperation projects are assessed for their environmental and social impact already at an early project phase.
Last updated: July 2011
