Essen

  • 595908 inhabitants of the city of Essen
  • 10 th largest city in Germany
  • 23155 companies
  • 9 of the 100 largest companies in Germany

Our delegation from Essen is visiting you in Houston from March 18th – 21nd

Essen is a strong business location in the heart of the Ruhr Valley – Germany’s largest metropolitan area and one of the largest metropolitan areas in Europe with a population of 5.1 million.
Essen offers excellent conditions for business and investment and is a top business location, high performing and internationally-oriented mid-range businesses and innovative start-ups. The central location guarantees the proximity to high-performance suppliers and customers, as well as, the availability of skilled workers. Essen is not just a business, service and trade center. Essen is also a university city, was the European Capital of Culture in 2010 and the European Green Capital in 2017 and still much more. In a nutshell: Essen is a metropolis with many qualities and the right location for your business commitment.

Essen plays a leading role in the energy sector in Germany and throughout Europe – from energy generation and supply to energy technology and energy trading to energy research.

Whether renewable energies, green hydrogen or resource efficiency – here, large companies, small and medium-sized companies, innovative start-ups and renowned research institutions drive the development of new technologies and provide sustainable and climate-neutral solutions for energy and environmental economic problems.

40 % of the nationwide electricity grid is controlled from Essen
13299 employees in the “Resource Efficiency” field
2 OF THE

largest energy companies

in Germany
900 900 exhibitors from 31 nations at E-world energy & water

NO. 1
energy
CAPITAL

OF EUROPE

Engine of

THE ENERGY
TRANSITION

FOR EUROPE
20 MIN. to the nearest international airport

AT A GLANCE:

location advantages
city of essen
  • Central location
  • Optimal accessibility
  • Large customer, sales and labour base potential
  • Attractive employment market
  • High quality of life
  • Affordable housing
  • Extensive educational opportunities
  • Variety of cultural and recreational possibilities

Factsheet Essen

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Essen – Europe’s energy capital & H2 think tank

These delegates will visit you

Thomas Kufen , Lord Mayor of the City of Essen

Thomas Kufen was born in 1973 in Essen and after completing his training as an office administrator, he worked as a commercial employee in the family business for nine years. In 1989, Kufen joined the Christ-Democratic Party (CDU) Essen, where he held various positions in the course of his political career. Most recently, he was chairman of the CDU faction in the City of Essen Council. In the years 2000 to 2005 Thomas Kufen was a member of the parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia, and from 2005 to 2010 he was Integration Commissioner of the Government of North Rhine-Westphalia. 2012 Thomas Kufen returned as a deputy in the parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia, where he was the energy policy spokesman of the CDU parliamentary group and member of the Group Executive Board of the CDU parliamentary group until 2015. On October 21, 2015 Thomas Kufen was elected lord mayor of the City of Essen. He was re-elected in September 2020. In 2014 he became a member of the state board of the CDU NRW, since December 2018 he is a member of the federal board of the CDU in Germany.

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Katherina Reiche, Chairwomen of the Board of Directors at Westenergie AG and chairwoman of the National Hydrogen Council

Westenergie AG, with its headquarters in Essen, is the biggest energy and infrastructure provider in Germany and the largest subsidiary company of E.ON SE. The Westenergie Group’s distribution system operators cover a 37,000 km long gas network. The electricity grid managed by the group covers a network around 196,000 km long — enough to lap the world five times over. With the provided infrastructure, the Westenergie Group ensures an energy supply to millions of households in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate und Lower Saxony — not only with electricity and gas, but also with water and broadband internet. With approximately 10,000 employees and around 1,400 municipal partnerships, the company makes a significant contribution to shaping a climate-neutral western region in Germany. Included (amongst others) in the Westenergie Group’s portfolio is Westnetz GmbH, Westenergie Netzservice GmbH as well as Westenergie Metering GmbH. Further information at www.westenergie.de.

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Lars Martin Klieve, CFO, Stadtwerke Essen AG

Stadtwerke Essen AG, Stadtwerke Essen AG, local utility, owned by both public and private shareholders. With approx. 850 employees we are providing essential services like gas, water, sewerage, heating and electricity. Committed to sustainability we ensure reliable and eco-friendly energy supply to residents and businesses. As part of this delegation trip to Houston, we aim to exchange ideas and best practices with industry professionals to further enhance our services and contribute to a sustainable energy future.

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Patrick Schneckenburger, Managing Director, E.ON Energy Solutions Gmbh

E.ON is one of Europe’s largest operators of energy networks and energy infrastructure and a provider of innovative customer solutions for ~ 48 million customers. At E.ON Energy Solutions we are offering to cities and industries tailored energy solutions in the space of heating, cooling, power generation and energy efficiency. As partner of choice for our customers, we compete to reduce their CO2 emissions and at the same time expand the competitiveness of their business.

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Dr. Carsten Borchers, Managing Director/Vice President Global Green Gas Projects, E.ON Hydrogen GmbH

At E.ON Hydrogen our mission is clear: to combat climate change by helping industry and transportation sectors decarbonise. We provide sustainable and competitive hydrogen solutions to our customers by granting them comprehensive access to the entire value chain: from import of green hydrogen and hydrogen production, to infrastructure development and tailored individual solutions. We are part of the E.ON Group – one of Europe’s largest operators of energy networks and a provider of innovative customer solutions for 48 million customers. We leverage the collective expertise of E.ON and its subsidiaries across Europe and stand united in our dedication to driving energy transition.

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Niklas Kuntschner, Partner, Certified Public Accountant and Certified Tax Advisor, HPW – Holthoff-Pförtner Wassermann PartG mbB

HPW is a medium-sized consulting and auditing firm managed and owned by lawyers, auditors, and tax advisors. One of our core business areas involves assisting clients with national and international structuring and M&A projects. Additionally, we provide support to our clients during negotiations with national tax authorities. One of my personal priorities is to support and advise startups and young entrepreneurs from various industries, occasionally collaborating with the EWG – Essen Economic Development Agency. I would like to connect with representatives of economic development agencies in the United States to gain insights into their areas of operation and business strategies.

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Prof. Christoph Wieland, Scientific Director, Gas- und Wärme-Institut Essen e. V.

The Gas und Wärme-Institut Essen e.V. (GWI) is the leading energy research institute in Essen, researching on innovative energy technologies and fuels since 1937. With more than 100 employees we are not only active in R&D, but offer also professional trainings for industry and a testing laboratory for gas infrastructure and equipment. With our strong network of more than 50 members from industry and associations, we foster the transformation of the German energy system.

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Daniel Düren, Director, Economic Development SE, NRW.Global Business (North America) LLC

NRW.Global Business: NRW.Global Business is the economic development agency of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). As One-Stop-Agency for foreign investors, NRW.Global Business supports international companies with their investment projects and settlements in NRW.

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Tobias Grün, Member of the Executive Board, BRYCK GmbH & Co. KG

BRYCK is an innovation hub and future factory at the heart of the Ruhr area. Germany’s industrial center and biggest metropolitan region. We create a network of aspiring founders, growing startups, progressive scientists, accelerating investors and corporate innovators around a best-in-class accelerator program in energy-, health, and industry-tech. We think and act in ecosystems – connecting people and communities to amplify what is already successful and co-create what is still needed.

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Uwe Kerkmann, CEO, H2UB GmbH

H2UB is Europe’s leading open innovation platform for the entire hydrogen value chain. We work with the brightest entrepreneurs, companies and investors from around the world to contribute to the common goal: Net Zero! We support European hydrogen start-ups, provide them with a tailor-made acceleration program (HUB Sprint and HUB Bootcamp), connect them with international companies and introduce them to investment partners. We are looking for partners from the US interested in potential cooperation and collaboration with European hydrogen innovation drivers.

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Silke Lenz, Head of the Communications department at the City of Essen, spokesperson of the Lord Mayor Thomas Kufen

The City of Essen lies in the heart of the Ruhr area. Essen is a modern business, commercial and service metropolis and home to the headquarters of some of Germany’s biggest companies: These include RWE AG, Evonik Industries AG, E.ON SE, or Hochtief AG. The Messe Essen is one of the top-ten German trade fair locations. With over 10,000 employees, the city administration looks after the needs of around 590,000 residents in Essen. The administration ensures the public services for the citizens. Seven different business areas are responsible ranging from budget to urban planning, mobility and environmental issues, sport, social affairs, culture and family as well as public safety. Head of the administration is the administrative board with Lord Mayor Thomas Kufen as chairman. The City Council as a political body represents the interests of the citizens. It recommends or commissions the administration. The Lord Mayor and City Council are elected every five years.

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Christoph Monse, Head of Finance and Energy, Essener Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH (EVV)

As a municipal holding company and a 100% subsidiary of the City of Essen, we are doing everything we can to ensure that Essen continues to improve. We are energy suppliers and service providers, we help shape the energy transition and are drivers of innovation. We are also driving forward topics of the future: with our Smart City activities and with renewable energy projects.

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Andre Boschem, Managing Director, EWG – Essener Wirtschaftsförderungs­gesellschaft mbH

Andre Boschem has been a business promoter for over 20 years and has headed the Essen Economic Development Corporation (EWG) since 2018. In particular, he has made a name for himself in the development of innovation ecosystems integrating industry, SMEs and start-ups. For Andre Boschem, international networking and teamwork as well as cooperation are success factors for a strong business location.

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Daniel Adler, Head of Innovation, EWG – Essener Wirtschaftsförderungs­gesellschaft mbH

The EWG – Essen Economic Development Agency is the central contact and service point for the economy in our city. We are supporting e.g. foreign companies and start-ups in establishing a company in Essen. Essen is the energy capital of Europe – we are the H2 think tank and the engine behind the energy transition. Important topics of this trip to Houston for us are ClimateTech and Start-ups. We would like to get in touch with innovative companies and start-ups and discuss business possibilities.

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Jennifer Ermert, Project Director, PMO & International Business, EWG – Essener Wirtschaftsförderungs­gesellschaft mbH

The EWG – Essen Economic Development Agency is the central contact and service point for the economy in our city. For organizational issues before, during or after the delegation trip, please contact Ms. Jennifer Ermert via mail or telephone +49 176 4734 6785.

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Go Theisen, Project Director, PMO & International Business, EWG – Essener Wirtschaftsförderungs­gesellschaft mbH

The EWG – Essen Economic Development Agency is the central contact and service point for the economy in our city. For organizational issues before, during or after the delegation trip, please contact Mr. Go Theisen via mail or telephone +49 176 6077 2860.

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Contact
persons