Germany to open climate research institute in coal region
Clean Energy Wire
The German environment ministry (BMU) says it will open a research centre focused on reducing emmissions in energy-intensive industries in the eastern German coal region of Lusatia.
In a press release, Jochen Flasbarth, state secretary in the BMU, says the centre, which is scheduled to open this year in Cottbus, the region’s biggest city, shows that the government takes structural economic change as seriously as ending coal-fired power production.
“Transforming the industry in the medium to long term in a climate-neutral way is a mammoth national and international task. Ideas and innovations for this transformation will also come from Cottbus in the future,” Flasbarth said, adding that the whole region could benefit from the research centre. Initially funded with two million euros, the centre will focus on setting up research clusters and implementing the government’s plan for decarbonisation, particularly in energy-intensive industries like the production of steel, concrete, chalk and chemical and metallurgic products, the BMU says.
