Energy Industry

Essen is the powerhouse of Europe. Here in the centre of the leading European region for energy – the Metropole Ruhr – many well-known international energy companies have established their headquarters. Essen’s corporations hold leading market positions in energy generation, distribution and supply, as well as in energy management, and in doing so turn the city into a control room for the European energy industry. The Essen energy sector covers a wide spectrum ranging from these global players to companies operating in machine and plant construction, engineering firms and consultants, and through to highly-specialised service providers. Manufacturing companies in Essen stand for first class performance in the field of energy technology. The industry’s high level of employment and sales revenues make Essen the no. 1 energy location in Germany and Europe.

In Essen the synergy effects resulting from the “energy supply industry” are made use of locally. This applies especially to the strong presence of the construction and real estate industry – in particular the facility management segment, to transport and mobility, plant and machine construction, the environment and the IT industry. The energy industry and its supplier industries benefit in turn from the dynamically entrepreneurial region and from the capabilities of the energy metropolis.

In the European markets for electricity, gas and coal, Essen companies number among the key players:

• RWE AG is the no. 2 in the German electricity market.
• E.ON Ruhrgas AG is the no. 1 in the German gas market.
• Evonik AG is the fifth largest electricity provider in Germany and has a leading position in the field of biomass power plants.

A substantial part of the Essen energy supply industry is made up of small and medium-sized companies. In their entirety, these production and service companies, which in part are highly-specialised, represent the most important areas of the “energy” value added chain.

Further aspects of the energy supply industry in Essen are the well-known educational, research and development institutes, including the University of Duisburg-Essen, the HdT Haus der Technik, the GWI Gaswärme-Institut, the GFS Gesellschaft für Simulatorforschung and the Kraftwerkschule training centre, among others. These institutes ensure the availability and excellent qualities of the workforce.

The Essen energy supply industry is significantly involved in technological development. E.ON Ruhrgas AG, RWE AG and others are participating in the development and application of fuel cells. In both renewable and conventional energy technologies, Essen companies possess extensive know-how in research and development. A prominent technology enterprise in Essen, for example, is the internationally operating DMT GmbH.

Geographic concentrations of energy companies can be found at several locations within the city limits. Further stimulus for the energy supply industry may arise from the development of the new Essen energy district. In the future where the city centre and the university meet, real estate and land will be developed and sold to this special target group.

The most important network for the energy supply industry in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which is the former state initiative for future energy based in the immediately adjacent solar city of Gelsenkirchen, is working under the umbrella of the EnergieAgentur.NRW. The EnergieAgentur.NRW coordinates the joint collaboration of more than 3,000 participants in 18 working groups and expertise networks. Further networks include VGB PowerTech and VIK, the association for industrial energy and power station management, among others. These “local” institutions and special interest associations provide the Essen energy supply industry with easier access to networks, faster access to information and partners and, through the lobbying work of the associations, the possibility of intense dialogue with politicians and administrative authorities.

Essen is an internationally-recognised trade fair and events location providing a central platform for the energy supply industry. Of special importance are

• the E-world energy & water
• the German Hydrogen Energy Day (H2 Congress) 
• The World Hydrogen Conference WHEC 2010

The E-world energy & water is the most important integrated energy trade fair in the German-speaking regions. Each year it is presented jointly by the Messe Essen GmbH and ConEnergy AG and brings participants from all areas of the energy supply industry together in the Essen trade fair complex. With some 25% foreign exhibitors and trade visitors, the E-world practically brings the “gateway to the world” directly to the front door of the Essen energy supply industry.

For the first time in 2004, the German Hydrogen Energy Day and E-world were held simultaneously. The two-day trade fair and congress event provides a platform for the latest research and development findings and the future market development of hydrogen, the energy source of the future.

With the award of the 18th World Hydrogen Conference WHEC 2010 to Essen, in the year when Essen is the European capital of culture, the technological potential of the Essen energy supply industry has also been recognised worldwide.

Through a concentration of entrepreneurial, scientific and technical know-how in international corporations, in medium-sized firms and in educational and research institutes, the energy supply industry is an outstanding standard-bearer for the city of Essen, both nationally and internationally. The enormous potential offered by the industry forms an excellent basis for future development and is a driving motor of the future for the business location and the companies that have located here.

An address in the “powerhouse of Europe” is considered a ticket to success. This is further emphasised by the recent decision of E.ON Ruhrgas AG to build new corporate headquarters here, the decision of RWE AG to relocate its international trade floors to Essen, the largest energy trading floor in Europe, as well as specific re-locations of medium-sized companies to the European energy metropolis, such as bionamic energy GmbH in spring 2007.