April 21, 2009

Alexandra Boy
Corporate Press
Phone +49 201 177-3167
Fax +49 201 177-3030
alexandra.boy@evonik.com
Evonik Takes Third Place in the International Energy Efficiency Awards 2009
Deutsche Energie-Agentur and Deutsche Messe recognize the Group’s innovations for improving energy efficiency

It’s a huge success for Evonik Industries AG! State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology Jochen Homann handed Dr. Hans-Jürgen Kress, head of the Operational Excellence unite (OPEX) at Evonik Industries the award for taking third place in the International Energy Efficiency Awards 2009 in Hannover this Tuesday. The awards are conferred by the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) in cooperation with the Deutsche Messe.

The award honors the efficiency innovations that were implemented as part of the Group-wide energy management system. Evonik established so-called Efficient Energy Management (EEM) in its Chemicals Business Area to continuously improve energy efficiency. The system involves applying the experience gained from individual units and sites to the Group as a whole. “Evonik is constantly putting its own processes and methods to the test—so that it can protect the environment, keep costs down, and secure its competitiveness,” comments Dr. Klaus Engel, Chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik. “We’re evidence that it’s possible to ease the burden on the climate and environment while achieving sustainable economic success.”

One example of an especially successful implementation is the overhauling of a postcombustion unit at the chemical production site in Münchsmünster. All the measures carried out there have led to an annual reduction of almost 9,300 metric tons of CO2 emissions. With a one-time investment totaling €500,000, the Münchsmünster site was able to lower its costs by €680,000 a year. So far Evonik has examined 26 of its 120 chemical sites and has recognized potential saving between 4 and 25 percent of annual energy costs. The company has already implemented 90 of the approximately 250 improvement measures developed during the process.

“With the EEM process, we’re pursuing the goal of improving energy efficiency for the long run at production sites and thus significantly lowering energy costs and greenhouse gases, which are damaging to the environment”, explained Dr. Kress, head of OPEX unit, which manages Efficient Energy Management. “With EEM, every site can use energy as efficiently as is possible with the current state-of-the-art technology. With business unit and site representatives, we’re advancing step-by-step toward an interdisciplinary, multi-step process.” After analyzing the generation, distribution and use of the energy required on site, site employees and the Group’s professional experts are jointly following up the project. The improvements are documented in implementation plans, which make the achieved results of energy efficiency measures available throughout the company.

Evonik employs about 165 persons, the large majority in facilities for the production of cyanuric chloride, at its Münchsmünster site, which is in Bavaria and not far away from the city of Ingolstadt. A thermal postcombustion unit burns the exhaust air produced during the production process by means of auxiliary burners, which prior to introduction of the energy efficiency measure consumed 400 kilograms of natural gas per hour. In a total of four steps, natural gas consumption was reduced by 72.5 percent to just 110 kilograms per hour. Among other things, a shell-and-tube heat exchanger for pre-heating the boiler feed water and a stainless steel chimney flue for lowering the flue gas temperature further were installed. Two turbines were overhauled and operation of the combustion chamber was improved, resulting in a further reduction of energy consumed.

Company information
Evonik Industries is the creative industrial group from Germany which operates in three business areas: Chemicals, Energy and Real Estate. Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals, an expert in power generation from hard coal and renewable energies, and one of the largest private residential real estate companies in Germany. Our strengths are creativity, specialization, continuous self-renewal, and reliability. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In its fiscal year 2008 about 41,000 employees generated sales of about €15.9 billion and an operating profit EBITDA of about €2.2 billion.

Information about dena
The Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) was established in the fall of 2000, with its headquarters in Berlin, as a centre of excellence for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Its goals are the rational and environmentally friendly exploitation, conversion, and use of energy as well as the development of sustainable energy systems with a greater emphasis on renewable energy sources. The dena shareholders are the Federal Republic of Germany, KfW Bankengruppe, Allianz SE, Deutsche Bank AG and DZ BANK AG.

Disclaimer
In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.