The VDI's energy barometer also focuses on companies' innovation plans with regard to products, processes and services (1 = strongly decreasing, 3 = constant, 5 = strongly increasing). In the April 2013 survey, the findings from January were confirmed in the area of hydropower technology: according to the participants' assessment, the existing innovation potential has already been exploited in many cases. In contrast, the high innovative strength of wind energy technology was rated as consistently positive. Nuclear technology recorded a slight increase - despite the planned nuclear phase-out. Respondents also rated the innovative strength of decentralized CHP plants more positively than in January.