Climate Economy – Energy Companies and Society Have a Responsibility

On 26 September, this year’s FICHTNER Talks took place at Look21 in Stuttgart, with its guiding theme being “Energy companies and society have a responsibility”. Dr. Andreas Weidler, CEO of Fichtner, kicked off the event with a welcoming address. Dr. Albrecht Reuter, Melanie Siems, Margarita Antoni and Andreas Höfler moderated the event with its core topics of energy transition and transformation, which were discussed and debated through presentations by renowned speakers from politics and business.

Little did we know on 26 September that things could get even worse. After the ultra-hot summer, the numerous climate-related environmental disasters and the ongoing war in Ukraine, there was no end to the reports of crises.

Dr. Egbert Laege, CEO of SEFE Securing Energy for Europe GmbH, nevertheless gave us encouragement in his keynote speech and declared energy sovereignty to be a European, social project in which companies operate within the principles of the energy policy triangle and enter into strategic partnerships for this purpose. Climate and environmental compatibility are increasingly coming into focus alongside security of supply and affordability. For companies, this means having the courage to invest and develop new markets for green products, which we discussed at the FICHTNER Talks in light of the current transformation.

Trust in the Shapers, Technologies and their Digital Networking

Alexander Voigt from HH2E took over and explained that “the availability of capital and trust in the system are the key factors for a successful energy transition”. There is still a great deal of public support for the climate policy goals, but trust is needed in those shaping the transformation process and in the new, diverse technologies along with their integral, digital networking. Building and maintaining this trust is arguably the most important task at the moment. Renewable energies are expensive to purchase and cheap to operate. According to Voigt, it is therefore essential to ensure the necessary availability of capital – which requires support from the state in the form of sureties and guarantees, rather than the prospect of long-term subsidies that are often subject to exceptions.

Dr. Frank Golletz from 50Hertz was in no doubt about the need for a massive and rapid expansion of the grids at all levels and for all media. How else can we expect the 160 GW of onshore wind, 70 GW of offshore wind and 400 GW of solar PV planned by 2045 under the current grid development plan (NEP37/45) to reach consumers? In addition to the grids and charging stations, this naturally also affects the hydrogen infrastructure, which is to be developed from virtually zero to 50 GW.

A Rare Display of Unity

The panel discussions were characterized by a rare display of unity in the industry and beyond. In particular, it was the examples of unconventional partnerships across segments and regions that attracted attention. When Wolfgang Knorr from TTS Tooltechnic Systems, for example, explains his concept of sector integration and partnership with the municipality on the one hand and logistics companies on the other, it becomes clear what synergy gains can be expected on all sides and how a joint approach enables participation and generates goodwill. Trust in the system, as Alexander Voigt calls it.

Horatio Evers from BASF, Olaf Kieser from EAM, Ralf Klöpfer from MVV, Arnt Meyer from RhönEnergie and Andreas Wulff from the Brunsbüttel municipal utility also joined in the chorus of systemic integration, to name but a few. A number of success stories and practical experiences were thus promised for next year.

The expertise and commitment of all the speakers helped to make our event a complete success. Their presentations inspired us and showed us how important it is to fight as one for climate protection. Thanks to their talks, we have gained valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of climate protection. We believe that their ideas and experiences can make a valuable contribution to a sustainable future if we work towards it together.

Fichtner Talks 2024: Super-Complex Transformation Projects – The Energy Sector Must Prove Itself

The next FICHTNER Talks on 24 September 2024 will focus on the increasingly complex world of transformation and the role of the energy sector in this important societal task.

December 2023