Rivers And Oceans As Clean Sources Of Energy

The third day of the acqua alta, which will take place from 10 to 12 November at the CCH - Congress Center Hamburg - will be focusing on the topic of hydro energy. Experts from Germany and abroad will be presenting new developments and projects. Not only will the classic types of energy generation from water power be addressed, but also the advanced and climate-friendly use of tides and sea currents.

According to the latest forecast of the industry association VDMA Power Systems, an increase of around 30 percent is expected for the area of water power plants in 2009 despite the financial and economic crisis. According to the German Federal Minister for Transportation and Construction, Wolfgang Tiefensee, the field of water power offers immense opportunities for reducing CO2 emissions, for new kinds of energy generation as well as opportunities for future-oriented companies as is the case for electric mobility in the automotive sector. Therefore, he strongly appreciates that the acqua alta will also be presenting this side of the topic "water" to the broader public now.

In order to highlight the potential of hydro energy more strongly in the current discussion about the possibilities of CO2-free energy generation, the acqua alta is addressing the topic of water power with a special convention programme for the first time in 2009. Several of the world's leading research institutions in the field and particularly the most important companies working in this sector will be presenting their products, services and projects in Hamburg and providing their assessments regarding the opportunities in this area of energy generation. Particularly German companies are involved in the advancement of the topic to a great extent.

For instance, the Institute for Water and River Basin Management of Karlsruhe University will be providing information on modelling methods for planning water power plants, and RWE Power AG will be presenting the use of pumped storage hydro power stations. Additional topics include international water and energy projects in the US, Rotterdam and Nepal. The Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management of Technische Universität Munich is involved in the convention programme as well as the Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute in Karlsruhe.

A special forum on 12 November 2009 in Hamburg will be addressing the inexhaustible potential of energy from the sea - waves, surf and current. In theory, a large part of the global power requirement can be met by wave power alone if we manage to make innovative technologies ready for the market.

E.ON will be dealing with marine technologies as a contribution to climate-friendly power generation. They are part of the "innovate.on" initiative, in which the power company bundles and specifically develops promising key technologies for climate-friendly energy supply.

The Federal Ministry for Transportation, Construction and Urban Affairs as well as the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety have taken on the patronage for the acqua alta and strongly appreciate the advancement of the convention and specialist exhibition.

The acqua alta, International Conference and Exhibition On Consequences of Climatic Change and Flood Protection will be taking place from 10 to 12 November 2009 at the CCH - Congress Center Hamburg. With its main topics Consequences of Climate Change, Flood Protection, Catastrophe Management and Water Management, it offers all organisations, research institutes, municipal umbrella organisations and industries involved a platform for specialist exchange and the development of joint strategies for fulfilling these common global tasks.