Review of the year

Review of the year

2022

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The year 2022 will go down in KfW's annals as a very special year in many respects: At an unprecedented pace, Germany reduced its decades-long dependencies and placed its energy supply on a new and broader basis. On behalf of the Federal Government, KfW participated in the construction of the new LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel and provided liquidity for important German gas supply companies. KfW also made significant contributions to accelerating the sustainable transformation of the economy and society while further strengthening Germany as an industrial and technology location.

Image-Reference

On our website, pictures taken, among others, by the following photographers/photo agencies are used:

Agentur photothek.net, Deutsche Messe Hannover, Andreas Arnold, Jörg Böthling, Dominik Butzmann, Carsten Costard, Susanne Esche, Charlie Fawell, Rendel Freude, Torsten George, Gaby Gerster, David Greedy, Peter Himsel, Barbara Högner, Frank Homann, Fred Hoogervorst, Steffen Jagenburg (BRANSCH EUROPE), Thomas Klewar, Studio Kohlmeier , Florian Kopp, Georg Lopata, Jürgen Lösel, Kirsten Milhahn, Rüdiger Nehmzow, Rolf Obertreis, Rubén Arnaldo Farina Ortiz, Holger Peters, Joachim Röttgers, Mika Schmidt, Bernhard Schurian, Jens Steingässer, Pietro Sutera, Uwe Tölle, Jan Zappner.

Fotolia.com: amandare, Yuri Arcurs, Kitch Bain, Ingo Bartussek, Sergio Donà, drizzd, Dmitry Ersler, eyewave, Zoltán Futó, Eric Gevaert, Fotolia XXV, Friedberg, goodluz, Dirk Hoffmann, imageteam, Christian Jung, Abdelhamid Kalai, Sergej Khakimullin, Vladimir Kolobov, krizz7, Kzenon, lumen-digital, marog-pixcells, Mindwalker, Miredi, mirpic, Nebuto, Tino Neitz, Christian Pedant, Franz Pfluegl, prognone, Gina Sanders, Henry Schmitt, spree berlin, SVLuma, Kheng Guan Toh, tom, Torbz, typomaniac, VRD, Joachim Wendler, Sreedhar Yedlapati.

To the article "Supply of LNG"
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Supply of LNG

This year, Germany is facing its biggest challenge yet in terms of energy policy: within just a few months, previous fundamental decisions had to be revised and new ones made in order to ensure the country's energy security in the present and also in the future.

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Read the interview with Heliatek-CEO Guido van Tartwijk
Two man attaching solarfilms onto a wall

"On virtually any surface"

Heliatek CEO Guido van Tartwijk on his organic solar films, the solar market of the future and the most important decision in the company's history.

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Read the interview with Heliatek-CEO Guido van Tartwijk
Stefan Wintels and Robert Habeck

“A completely new dynamic”

Top-level conversation: Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck and KfW CEO Stefan Wintels in an interview about the consequences of the Ukraine war, new priorities and KfW’s role in the German Federal Government’s strategy.

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Read the article about the Arcadis Ost 1 offshore wind farm
Offshore wind farm

The home of wind

The German government is increasingly focusing on offshore wind power as it looks to expand the use of renewable energy sources. The Arcadis Ost 1 wind farm paves the way for further projects.

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A boost from the USA

On June 5, 1947, in a speech he delivered at Harvard University, United States Secretary of State George C. Marshall announced a financial aid programme for Europe. This year we celebrate 75 years of historical legacy and future mission with the Marshall Plan.

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Read the interview with Sigrid Nikutta and Stefan Wintels
portrait of Sigrid Nikutta and Stefan Wintels

“A completely new dynamic”

DB Cargo CEO Sigrid Nikutta and KfW CEO Stefan Wintels on the decade of decision, the transformation to carbon neutrality and the competition for the best employees.

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Landscape of Amazonas rainforest

Environmental protection

All over the world, people are working to protect our environment and conserve resources. On the occasion of the World Environment Day on 5 June, KfW Stories presents projects in the areas of climate protection, energy efficiency, renewable energies, natural resources and nature conservation.

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To the Earth Hour
KfW logo on the main house after dark

Earth Hour

On 23 March 2024, it was once again "Lights out for a peaceful and living planet!" in all of KfW's larger building units in Frankfurt, Berlin, Bonn and Cologne.

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Christiane Laibach Member of the Board of Managing Directors of KfW in the Palm House of the Palmengarten

“The coming years are crucial”

Interview with Christiane Laibach, KfW Executive Board member, on the occasion of the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP28) on climate change and biodiversity, and their importance for KfW Development Bank.

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Interview with marine biologist Professor Hans-Otto Pörtner
Mr Pörtner sitting at a table, speaking into a microphone

“We keep ignoring the red light”

Despite the Ukraine war and uncertain energy supplies, global warming and species loss are still the major issues and combined, they remain one of the greatest challenges of our time. KfW Stories talks to Hans-Otto Pörtner, marine biologist and co-chairman of an IPCC working group, about why it is especially important that we do not lose sight of these issues now and what the consequences might be if we do.

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underwater photograph of a shoal of fish

A protected area as large as Germany

Six years ago, KfW founded an innovative new fund for marine conservation. On behalf of the German Federal Government, it contributes to the preservation of endangered fish populations and the oceans. KfW Stories speaks to Executive Director Markus Knigge about what the Blue Action Fund has achieved since then.

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To the interview
Malachite sunbird in the Bale Mountains National Park in Ethiopia

Legacy Landscape Fund

Director Stefanie Lang talks about her fund and the biodiversity crisis.

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Full story
Portrait from Cristof Griebenow

Christof Griebenow is going green

Rwanda wants to build a green economy and hopes to ensure sustainable urban development too. KfW is helping the East African country to build the first green neighbourhood in its capital, Kigali.

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Read article about the KfW Capital Awards
Sarah Littek receives award on stage

"We are looking for great solutions"

Interview with the winners of the KfW Capital Award, Manon Sarah Littek and Sebastian Heitmann, about insights into the VC market in Germany.

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child playing at a garbage-filled lake

Wave upon wave

More than eleven million tonnes of plastic make their way into our oceans every year and a large proportion of this waste is carried there by rivers. The Aachen based start-up Everwave has developed technology that can be used to help collect this waste. The company was honoured with the KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award for its efforts.

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Read article about start-up LuxChemtech
Wolfram Palitzsch and Dr. Ingo Röver (from left), founders of LuxChemtech, pose with a silicon block and a solar panel

High-tech recycling

The manufacture of photovoltaic modules requires pure silicon. But it is scarce and costly. LuxChemtech has developed technologies to recycle silicon and other semiconductor materials and return them to the manufacturing cycle.

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Read article about start-up Wildplastic
Plastic granulate

A bag tidies up

Around five billion tonnes of plastic are in the environment – especially in countries without adequate recycling systems. Wildplastic collects this waste and uses it to produce rubbish bags. For its environmental and social idea, the company received the Special Social Entrepreneurship award in KfW’s business competition.

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Read article about start-up Enpal
A construction worker on the roof of a house laying a solar panel

Green, affordable, independent. And cool.”

Solar company Enpal has just become Berlin’s state winner in the KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award. Enpal CEO Mario Kohle on fossil fuel autocrats, the benefits of borrowed solar – and Enpal investor Leonardo DiCaprio.

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weLOG founder Manuel Rupp stands leaning against a storage shelf

Logistics at its best

Just a few clicks is all it takes to order online and get next-day delivery – so simple for customers but, for suppliers, a challenge of complex processes. weLOG GmbH offers sophisticated solutions that extend far beyond conventional logistics. The company was awarded the KfW Entrepreneurs’ Award as the state winner in Hesse, along with the “people’s choice” award.

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The two founders stand behind a counter on which the everdrop products are displayed.

Clean business

The Munich based start-up Everdrop has developed sustainable household cleaners that manage without plastic waste - and was rewarded with the KfW Entrepreneurs' Award.

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Actor Bjarne Mädel sits on the African E-Bike in front of the Alster

Powered by the sun

Jürgen Perschon from Hamburg and actor Bjarne Mädel are helping the transition to sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility in Africa. They talk to KfW Stories about their motivation, the assistance they are receiving from KfW subsidiary DEG and about the AfricroozE, the bicycle that can save lives.

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To the article
View into the furnace fire of a combined heat and power plant

Quality from Hessian forests

The medium-sized veneer and wood plant Mittenaar from Hesse invests in energy efficiency and energy security.

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