Czech Republic - RWE Innogy plans to construct around 100 MW of wind farms

RWE Innogy GmbH, Essen, is taking over six wind energy projects in the Czech Republic with a volume of 100 megawatts from project developer Aufwind Energie GmbH, Regensburg, as well as its local project development company AFE Bohemia s.r.o.. Building permission for the six locations in Bohemia and North Moravia is expected between 2009 and 2011.

“The Czech Republic has long numbered among RWE’s core markets. With the current transaction, we are securing a good starting position which will allow us to substantially grow in the area of renewable energy here“, explained Fritz Vahrenholt, Chairman of the Board of Directors at RWE Innogy.

Renewable energies currently account for 4.7 percent of power generation in the Czech Republic. By 2010, this share should increase to 8 percent. The European Commission has set a target of 13 percent for the year 2020. At present, less than 100 megawatts of wind power capacity is installed in the Czech Republic.

Jürgen Meyer, Managing Director of AFE Bohemia s.r.o.: “Together with RWE Innogy, we want to further develop the market for renewable energies in Central and Eastern Europe as it has a high potential for growth". RWE Innogy already took over wind energy projects in Hungary with a planned installed capacity of around 300 megawatts from Aufwind Schmack in March. The first building permits for these projects are expected to be granted this year.

RWE in the Czech Republic:

RWE Innogy is already represented locally with two biogas plants and several CHP plants. The company wants to continue to grow here in the areas of both wind energy and biomass.

RWE Transgas a.s. is responsible for the energy business of RWE Energy in the Czech Republic. The company coordinates the supply of gas in the Czech Republic via six “RGCs” (Regional Gas Companies) and controls the import, transit and gas shipping business. The gas lines belonging to RWE Energy subsidiary RWE Transgas a.s. form an important part of the transit route between the Russian natural gas fields and the Western European market.