In recent years, renewable energies constantly gained importance in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). Alongside pursuing goals of climate protection and security of supply, the expansion of these technologies is central for economic policy. In 2011 the sector of renewable energies employed 28,200 people. The 3,600 respective firms in NRW had sales worth 8.7 bn Euro. Additional to the federal state, districts and municipalities benefit from this economic growth. The article points out the value added and employment effects of renewable energies for 2011 in the district of Steinfurt and shows its future tendencies. The results are based on an IÖW study for the Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Nature –and Consumer Protection in North Rhine-Westphalia.