This is increasing the demand for innovative products that help protect the environment. As an industrial company with a broad portfolio, Bosch develops and produces resource-efficient and eco-friendly technologies in the fields of wind energy, biofuels and solar energy.

Drives and transmissions for wind power and marine energy plants
With innovative drive and transmission solutions, the Bosch subsidiary Rexroth supports manufacturers of wind turbines. In 2006 alone, more than 2,500 turbines worldwide were fitted with Bosch Rexroth products. Bosch Rexroth also develops robust and efficient drive concepts for the young sector of marine energy generation. The first prototypes – with hydraulic components and transmission technology from Bosch Rexroth – are already being tested in plants off the coast of Norway and Great Britain.

Solar collectors for heat generation
With Bosch solar collectors, heating and hot water can be provided by the sun - completely free of any CO2. Of the renewable sources of energy, solar heat generation is one of the biggest contributors towards covering worldwide energy consumption. And Bosch is pressing ahead with the development of solar technology.  As part of a technology initiative launched by the German government, Bosch is conducting research with BASF and Heliatek in the field of organic photovoltaics. The aim is to make the production of solar cells much more cost-effective and to increase their range of application. As organic solar cells can be as flexible and thin as a transparent envelope, they offer a great deal of potential. They can be used on rooftops, as foldaway cell phone chargers, or on car roofs.

Using biofuels with the Flex Fuel system
The Flex Fuel injection technology developed by Bosch makes it possible to use any mix of gasoline and the biofuel ethanol. Workable: Bosch components that have been tried and tested in their millions are adapted for Flex Fuel applications. Today, around 80 percent of the vehicles produced in Brazil are fitted with a Flex Fuel injection system. Interest in Flex Fuel is on the rise in other countries too. For example, the French car manufacturer PSA is installing the Bosch system in vehicles for the French and Swedish markets. Negotiations are also underway with potential customers in other countries. 

Wind power, solar energy and the Flex Fuel drive are just three examples of how Bosch is providing technical solutions to ecological challenges, and thus making a valuable contribution to long-term environmental and climate protection.