The future is bright and warm
Interview with Carsten Birr, Managing Director and Marius Richter, Managing Director of Netz Leipzig GmbH
The German Electricity and Gas Supply Act (EnWG) aims for a 'as secure, cost-effective, consumer-friendly, efficient, and environmentally compatible' grid-bound supply of electricity and gas to the general public. In 2005, it was replaced by a new version, which focused, among other things, on unbundling. As a result of these new regulatory requirements, among other things, Netz Leipzig GmbH, a network operator, emerged, which feels optimally positioned for the future and change.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Birr, you have been the managing director of Netz Leipzig GmbH since 2016, and have been with them for several years. How did the company become what it is today?
Carsten Birr: Netz Leipzig was founded in 2006 due to new unbundling regulations. The EnWG aims at independence for energy suppliers, the separation of network operations and other functions. At the time of its establishment, the company was relatively small, with 20 employees, but then it grew steadily, so that today we operate in the market as a medium-sized network company with just under 400 well-trained specialists and trainees. Many network operators have developed into large network companies; we have taken over parts of the fixed assets, but not all.
Wirtschaftsforum: How is the portfolio positioned following the gradual development?
Carsten Birr: Providing Leipzig with electricity and gas safely and efficiently is our focus as an independent network operator. In addition, we deliver services for district heating network operations.
Wirtschaftsforum: How does Netz Leipzig handle the issue of sustainability?
Carsten Birr: Protecting the environment is a central issue that we have been addressing for a long time. We have established an energy and environmental management system that is certified according to ISO 14001 and ISO 50001, work with various control instruments to save energy and conserve resources. Internally, the issue also plays a major role: among other things, we create a greenhouse gas balance and are converting our vehicle fleet to electric cars.
Wirtschaftsforum: Is the heat transition an important point on the agenda?
Marius Richter: The city of Leipzig has set itself the goal of supplying Leipzig entirely with climate-neutral heat by 2038. We are creating the foundations to make this possible. Together with the municipal utilities, we are therefore relying on unavoidable industrial waste heat from the Leuna refinery, in order to contribute to environmentally friendly heat supply. Other topics include the densification of district heating in the city and the expansion of the power grid. We are currently looking for land for new substations to bring more energy to Leipzig and distribute it.
Wirtschaftsforum: In connection with the topic of sustainability, you also mentioned the mobility transition. Where does Netz Leipzig start?
Carsten Birr: Mobility is moving towards electricity. Therefore, we increasingly need network connections for charging facilities, which directly affects network expansion. We do not operate the charging stations ourselves but are service providers in the area of maintenance. What the customer wants is what we have to realize. We must therefore strategically look ahead and position ourselves robustly to deal with both fast and slow developments. Even if political conditions change, we must continue to be efficient.
Wirtschaftsforum: Looking ahead, are there new projects in the pipeline?
Carsten Birr: Our considerations always reach far into the future. Improving customer experience and service design based on digitalization are in focus. Additionally, the security of critical infrastructures is a topic that already concerns us today and will gain even more importance in the future. We have already made some strategic decisions, initially focusing on the security of objects, as well as the IT landscape. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is another big topic, but we are just at the beginning. There are initial pilot projects aimed at increased efficiency. One example is the analysis of data to proactively deal with maintenance and service. A very important issue that will occupy us today and in the future is how we can become even more attractive as an employer. For this, we have a lot to offer: a company with a purpose, offering the opportunity to shape the future and making Leipzig bright and warm.