Essen

  • 597066 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 9th – 13th

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 with nine of the 100 highest turnover companies in Germany, 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 challenges.

40 % of the nationwide electricity grid is controlled from Essen
14300 employees in the “Resource Efficiency” field
2 OF THE

largest energy companies

in Germany
980 exhibitors from 34 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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Factsheets: Greentech and Hydrogen

These delegates will visit you in 2025

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, CEO of 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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Fabian Schrumpf, Member of the State Parliament, CDU

The CDU focuses on freedom, security, and personal responsibility. Economic stability and competitiveness ensure prosperity, while solidarity, justice, and sustainability strengthen social cohesion. Key priorities include urban modernization, business development, safety, education, and climate protection. Measures include expanding industrial space, enhancing public safety, improving schools and childcare, and promoting energy-efficient buildings and solar power.

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Florian Fuchs, Member of City Council, CDU

The CDU focuses on freedom, security, and personal responsibility. Economic stability and competitiveness ensure prosperity, while solidarity, justice, and sustainability strengthen social cohesion. Key priorities include urban modernization, business development, safety, education, and climate protection. Measures include expanding industrial space, enhancing public safety, improving schools and childcare, and promoting energy-efficient buildings and solar power.

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Julia Jankovic, Member of City Council, SPD

The Social Democrats (SPD) are the second largest group in the City Council of Essen. Together with the other groups in the Council, their aim is to strengthen the coherence of the community, guarantee a blessing economy and create a vital living environment in Essen. Economically, they focus on supporting local businesses, promoting fair wages, and ensuring affordable energy. They push for secure employment and economic growth to support Essen’s longterm development and competitiveness.

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Daniel Behmenburg, Member of City Council, SPD

The Social Democrats (SPD) are the second largest group in the City Council of Essen. Together with the other groups in the Council, their aim is to strengthen the coherence of the community, guarantee a blessing economy and create a vital living environment in Essen. Economically, they focus on supporting local businesses, promoting fair wages, and ensuring affordable energy. They push for secure employment and economic growth to support Essen’s longterm development and competitiveness.

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Elke Zeeb, Member of City Council, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen

Bündnis 90/Die Grünen is a green political party in Germany. Our main political goals are green policies and social liberalism. We would describe ourselves as liberal with a centre-left base. Seven female and eight male representatives make up the Green Group on the Essen City Council. With 15 members this makes us the third largest group in the city council of Essen. In the committees our group works for climate awareness, a strong focus on public transport, participation of all citizens (young and old) and social justice, as well as green energy transformation.

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Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO, Messe Essen GmbH

Messe Essen ranks among Germany’s top ten trade fair venues. Located in the center of Europe, we are home to more than 50 renown fairs and exhibitions, including ten leading international trade fairs. One of our B2B formats with the greatest growth and future viability is E-world energy & water. E-world is Europe’s leading trade fair for the energy industry and the must-attend annual networking event for decision makers. As participant of the delegation trip to Houston, we very much appreciate the opportunity to increase our network globally.

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Stefanie Hamm, Managing Director, E-world energy & water GmbH

E-world energy & water is the leading trade fair for the European energy industry. As an information platform, it brings international decision-makers together in Essen each year. About 30% of exhibitors come from abroad, mainly from EU countries.

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Johann Böker, CEO & Founder, Greenflash GmbH

Greenflash is a German leader in the implementation of intelligent energy systems. These include photovoltaic systems, charging stations and energy storage systems, all from a single source and ready to use. Specializing in industrial and commercial companies, Greenflash plans and builds holistic and AI-based energy systems – for maximum efficiency, self-sufficiency, and sustainability. Its numerous customers include companies such as Hch. Kettelhack GmbH & Co. KG, HERMANN RECKERS GmbH & Co. KG and FC Schalke 04.

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Uwe Kerkmann, CEO, H2UB GmbH

H2UB is Europe’s leading Open Innovation Platform for the whole hydrogen value chain, scouting breakthrough innovation and facilitating collaboration between start-ups, corporate partners and investors to realize hydrogen projects. H2UB is providing market-leading and tailor-made start-up programs and offering venture clienting and corporate venture building activities from proof of concept to delivery, as well as venture building services. As a think tank, H2UB provides Market Intelligence Reports on hydrogen and energy challenges, and customized tech assessment of highly rated start-ups and innovative technologies. We are looking for partners from the US interested in potential cooperation and collaboration with European hydrogen innovation drivers.

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Stefan Lohrberg, Managing Director (Brand Communications), TAS Emotional Marketing GmbH

TAS EMOTIONAL MARKETING GMBH, headquartered in Essen, Germany, is one of the largest independent communications agencies, active for 35 years in the field of Brand Communications and Brand Experience. Since more than two decades TAS is a proud partner of RWE. E.ON, Westenergie and various future drivers in the energy sector. With 65 permanent employees TAS is furthermore responsible for a diverse client portfolio of regional, national and international brands from b2c & b2b sectors.

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Jan Milkereit, Director Communications, fischerAppelt, Ruhr c/o fischerAppelt, live marketing

A good narrative can remake the world. To help brands across the world, fischerAppelt has united nine specialist agencies under one umbrella. Together, we create narratives that move brands, seamlessly and efficiently harnessing the power of true experts across every marketing discipline and channel. We deliver marketing and communication solutions that are always aimed at the best overall business result for our clients: from data to design to distribution; from strategy to stories to experience; from planning to product innovation to performance and sales; and from creation to content to campaign rollout.

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Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Wieland, Scientific Director, GWI Essen e.V. – Gas- und Wärme-Institut Essen e.V.

As GWI Essen e.V. we focus on research and education. We specialize in the production and use of renewable gases, PtX applications, system studies, digitalization of the energy transition, independent technology consulting, and GIS-supported energy infrastructure planning. Our methods and technologies pave the way to climate neutrality. Our partners and clients are energy-intensive industries, technology providers, utilities, and municipalities.

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Dr. Olaf Breuer, Head of Sustainability Business Integration, Evonik Industries AG

Evonik is one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies. We may not manufacture tires, mattresses, medications, or animal feeds, but Evonik is part of all of those products – and many more. While we often contribute only small amounts of material, those contributions are precisely what make the difference. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for customers. About 32,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life, today and tomorrow.

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Achmed Junusov, COO, H2UB GmbH

H2UB is Europe’s leading Open Innovation Platform for the whole hydrogen value chain, scouting breakthrough innovation and facilitating collaboration between start-ups, corporate partners and investors to realize hydrogen projects. H2UB is providing market-leading and tailor-made start-up programs and offering venture clienting and corporate venture building activities from proof of concept to delivery, as well as venture building services. As a think tank, H2UB provides Market Intelligence Reports on hydrogen and energy challenges, and customized tech assessment of highly rated start-ups and innovative technologies. We are looking for partners from the US interested in potential cooperation and collaboration with European hydrogen innovation drivers.

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Joerg Rose, West Coast Representative, NRW.Global Business GmbH

Joerg Rose serves as the West Coast representative for NRW.Global Business, the economic development agency of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany. He supports companies along the U.S. West Coast in exploring business opportunities in NRW, providing insights into the region’s innovation landscape and facilitating connections with key partners. NRW.Global Business acts as a one-stop agency for international companies looking to invest, expand, or collaborate in one of Europe’s most dynamic economic regions.

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Julian Wessing, Startup Programs Lead: Energy, BRYCK GmbH & Co. KG

BRYCK is a leading innovation hub based in Essen, Germany, fostering the growth of deep tech startups in energy, sustainability, and industrial transformation. With a strong ecosystem of corporates, investors, and researchers, BRYCK accelerates breakthrough solutions in energy production, energy storage and grid resilience. BRYCK drives a livable future of clean and efficient energy systems by connecting European startups with global markets.

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Lukas Knolle, Personal advisor to the Lord mayor / Referent for investments and projects, City of Essen

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. 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. Head of the administration is the administrative board with Lord Mayor Thomas Kufen as chairman.

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Andre Boschem, Managing Director, EWG – Essen Economic Development Agency

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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Jennifer Ermert, Project Director International Business, EWG – Essen Economic Development Agency

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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Tobias Kerkhoff, Project Director Greentech, EWG – Essen Economic Development Agency

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. Tobias Kerkhoff via mail or telephone +49 155 62979 665.

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Go Theisen, Project Director International Business, EWG – Essen Economic Development Agency

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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