Europeans already knew in the 12th century that it is possible to grind flour with wind energy. But people in North Rhine-Westphalia have always been a bit more curious. To find new ways of using energy from renewable sources such as wind, water, the sun, biomass and geothermal energy, RWE, Germany’s largest power generator, created a subsidiary which is dedicated entirely to the development and expansion of power and energy generation from renewable resources. In addition to this, RWE Innogy invests in other innovative companies that are advancing next-generation technologies against climate change. The result of this is that Germany is already the world leader in wind energy and photovoltaics and North Rhine-Westphalia is first among the German federal states. The environment loves it – and so does the economy. North Rhine-Westphalia isn’t the leading European energy region for nothing.