Stadtwerke Südholstein: As a Regional Energy Provider in the Energy Transition
Interview with Thomas Behler, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Südholstein GmbH
Pandemic, energy crisis, infrastructure problems – while many wait for the next crisis, Stadtwerke Südholstein has long been creating solutions and defying the constant stress of the utility industry. Managing Director Thomas Behler explains why he invested early in district heating, what heat pumps can really achieve, and why sometimes someone needs to act as a 'provocateur' so that in the end, everyone benefits.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Behler, you have been working in the supply industry since 2007. How have you experienced the recent crises?
Thomas Behler: We saw Corona as an opportunity. The employees could work from home and the shutdown phase was used to push forward with construction work. While other municipal utilities closed their shops, our motto was: Those who work outside and can maintain distance should continue to work. With volatility, there are not only threats but also opportunities. The energy crisis was then another dimension. When the war broke out, we were overwhelmed by customers due to our comparatively low prices. The energy discounters have left the market and canceled their contracts. As a basic supplier, we took in these customers.
Wirtschaftsforum: You already made a significant strategic decision in 2021 – against gas and for district heating. Why?
Thomas Behler: When I started here, the development of an industrial area with gas was planned. I informed the shareholder that this plan would not be implemented with me. That was months before the outbreak of war. It was far from unanimous in the council, but we decided for district heating. With this, we have probably created important expansion conditions for the rest of the city.
Wirtschaftsforum: How do you see the future of gas?
Thomas Behler: We are convinced that the share of gas will noticeably decrease in the future. Even today, we observe more and more private households switching to future-proof alternatives like heat pumps. In new construction, district heating or heat pumps are now almost exclusively used. This positive trend, in our opinion, will continue to accelerate. Just two years ago, it was often thought that older buildings could not be sensibly retrofitted with heat pumps. However, practice shows: In very many cases, it is indeed possible! Therefore, we expect the importance of gas as a revenue and profit source to steadily decrease in the coming years – and we see this as a great opportunity for further expansion of sustainable energy solutions.
Wirtschaftsforum: A major topic is also the condition of the water networks. What is the situation like for you?
Thomas Behler: In Germany, it has generally been observed that infrastructure has been less of a focus in recent years. In Tornesch, apart from a few isolated cases, there are no major challenges. In Pinneberg, although the infrastructure is not completely up-to-date, it is still generally reliable. For the future, however, we would like to invest even more in modernization than before in order to ensure the high quality of our supply over the long term. This will also affect pricing, as water prices have often been politically influenced and not always cost-covering. Our goal is to find sustainable solutions together to ensure our infrastructure remains stable and future-proof. Proactive planning is the best way to avoid long-term challenges and ensure supply security for everyone.
Wirtschaftsforum: What vision do you have for Stadtwerke Südholstein?
Thomas Behler: We feel particularly obliged to meet the needs of our municipalities and would like to actively support local administrations – especially in light of the great challenges they face. As a municipal utility, we see ourselves as enablers and partners, who together with the municipality, look for sustainable solutions. An important approach is the optimization of structures: many tasks are currently being done twice, which we would like to address together in the interest of cost efficiency. Also, we are considering innovative ideas such as using data centers as decentralized heat sources. After all, a large part of the energy used there is generated as heat, which we can usefully recycle. The heat transition will remain a central topic for all of us. Without the initiative and the impulses from the municipal utility, it will be difficult for many cities to master the challenges of the future. We are aware that we must use our resources responsibly – because the shortcomings of the past decades cannot be made up for overnight. We therefore rely on sustainable, realistic steps and close cooperation with all stakeholders to find the best solutions for our region together.
Wirtschaftsforum: How do you position yourself between the various interests of politics, administration, and citizens?
Thomas Behler: We consciously take on a responsible role, even though it is not always comfortable. As a municipal utility, we benefit from being able to objectively consider technical and economic aspects – free from political constraints. This allows us to advance innovative and sustainable solutions, such as the increased use of green roofs on flat roofs, which is becoming increasingly important for sewage management. In such cases, technical necessities are our top priority. We know that such measures are sometimes difficult to explain and do not always immediately receive approval. That's why a close cooperation with the administration and politics is important to us, in order to find the best ways together and to communicate them understandably to the citizens. We see ourselves as constructive impulse givers, who openly address what is necessary for the future of our cities – especially on topics such as climate adaptation and infrastructure. Even if our proposals are sometimes perceived as uncomfortable, we want to provide guidance and take responsibility. Our goal is to be a reliable partner to the municipalities, honestly stating what is feasible – and jointly developing solutions that are sustainable in the long term.