For some years now Liechtenstein has been equipping itself with renewable energy sources, in order to meet in 2013 the ambitious targets set by the “Energy Strategy 2013” drawn up in 2004. Ultimately this is intended to yield a substantial reduction in emission of greenhouse gases. The Government is offering financial incentives by providing targeted subsidies for refurbishing buildings and for new builds, and by increasing the proportion of renewable energy sources used. The “Renewable Energy” series of stamps started in 2010 features such energy sources, which are self-renewing and thus sustainably available resources. “Photovoltaics” (face value CHF 1.00) is one of the few possible means of obtaining electricity from renewable energy. It works by converting solar energy directly into electricity by means of solar cells, which are predominantly made from silicon. Appropriately therefore this stamp also depicts a solar power module. By 2013 the installed capacity of the existing photovoltaic systems in Liechtenstein is to be increased by a factor of 2.5. “Solar energy” (face value CHF 1.10) can however also be used to produce heat. This is done by means of the solar panels illustrated on the stamp, which are generally mounted on house roofs. In this field the aim is to triple the total area of solar panels in Liechtenstein by 2013. The significance in Liechtenstein of “Wind power” (face value CHF 2.90) is still slight, despite the sometimes strong föhn winds. In Liechtenstein’s few wind turbines rotation of the rotors is converted into electrical energy and fed into the general electricity grid.

As in the first part, a heat-sensitive ink has also been used in this stamp series designed by Vito Noto. The body heat of a finger pressed on the black thermal ink causes a coloured pictogram to appear which represents the energy which can be regenerated.