Modern Energy Region with Tradition

Energy Region Lusatia

Cottbus is known to many people as the City of Energy. Three important large-scale power plants "electrify" the region. The surrounding Lusatian lignite coal-mining district provides the energy source. Like no other energy region in Germany, the area has been shaped by lignite opencast mining. At present, this industry is experiencing major changes.
With its large-scale projects in the fields of land rehabilitation, urban reconstruction, renewable raw materials and alternative methods of energy generation, Lusatia proves to be an innovative "real world laboratory" in the East of the Federal Republic of Germany. This is a region characterised by research, development and production. In the middle of all this activity, the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus and the Hochschule Lausitz (FH) University of Applied Sciences provide the function of constant impulse generator and pulsating research laboratory.

Advantages for Investors

  • Centre of the Lusatian energy region
  • Highly qualified workforce through industry-specific education and training
  • Attractive cost structures, for instance, with regard to renting office premises
  • Highest funding rates in Europe

Science, Research, Networks (selection)

  • Research capacities at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg (e.g. Institute of Power Engineering), at the Center for Energy Technology Brandenburg (CEBra), at the Research Centre Landscape Development and Mining Landscapes (FZLB)
  • Education of excellent specialists at the BTU in the fields of machine construction, electrical engineering, industrial engineering and management, environmental sciences, process engineering, to name a few
  • Diversified range of research and development topics:
    Energy policy, power plant planning and operation, energy sources, energy generation, heat engineering, regenerative energy sources, environmental protection
  • Key research field energy:
    Conversion, transmission and utilisation of energy
  • Numerous networks and initiatives focusing on the topic of energy/environment:
    Brandenburgische Energie Technologie Initiative (ETI - Brandenburg Energy Technology Initiative), Netzwerk Energiewirtschaft/Energietechnologie - EWET (Energy Industry/Energy Technology Network), Solarregion Berlin-Brandenburg e.V., CEBra e.V., Bundesverband Wärmepumpe e.V. (bwp - Federal Association Heat, reg. ass.)

Enterprises

  • Major energy producers such as Vattenfall Europe Mining & Generation AG and Envia Mitteldeutsche Energie AG have their headquarters in Cottbus
  • Federal State Office for Mining, Geology and Raw Materials is located in Cottbus
  • All major energy suppliers in the new German federal states are within reach within a 200 km radius
  • Important small and medium-sized enterprises active in the fields of coal mining, energy production, energy conversion and energy transmission are located here