"Our state breathes optimism"
Energy Coast at the PowerNet 2024 energy transition conference
Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Daniel Günther put it in a nutshell in his welcoming address: "Our state breathes optimism". More than 500 participants on site, countless online - PowerNet 2024 was THE event for the energy transition in Schleswig-Holstein on 6 February 2024. Renowned guests from politics, business and science met in Neumünster to realise the motto of the conference "We are making the energy transition!" in various exciting sessions.
We make democracy with heart and mind. Together we are getting involved in the energy transition.
Managing Director of the EKSH
Prof Dr Frank Osterwald, Managing Director of the EKSH, summarised the spirit of PowerNet at the opening and also had words of praise: "It's great what science is doing for the energy transition." Daniel Günther also found that Schleswig-Holstein can indeed pat itself on the back: "170% electricity from renewable energies in relation to our consumption, locational advantages bring prosperity gains. A real opportunity to be a pioneering region!"
We want to infect the whole of Germany!
Minister President of the State of Schleswig-Holstein
Huge interest from politiciansk
In addition to Daniel Günther, numerous cabinet members of the state government took part in PowerNet, including Energy Transition Minister Tobias Goldschmidt, Minister for Economy, Labor, Technology and Tourism Claus Ruhe Madsen, Energy Transition State Secretary Joschka Knuth and Economy State Secretary Julia Carstens. Dr Ingrid Nestle, spokeswoman for energy and climate of the Green parliamentary group in the Bundestag, was present at federal level. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Dr Robert Habeck greeted the participants via video message: "Our greenhouse gas emissions are at their lowest level since 1950. Germany should have a sustainable future."
Schleswig-Holstein will always play a special role thanks to its long experience in wind energy.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection
Communication for acceptance and skilled labour
Significantly more communication is essential for decarbonisation, especially in order to create broad acceptance among the population. And to attract the necessary skilled labour, was the unanimous opinion at the panel discussion in the morning. Energy transition with neighbours: Denmark, as one of the frontrunners in global climate protection, took part in the debate with the German ambassador.
We should work together across borders, including in the area of skilled labour.
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark in Germany
People are very interested in going into renewables. We also need immigration.
President of the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE)
Recap: Enormous progress
Communicating, informing, motivating - the concluding panel discussion also focussed on providing information and taking people along.
Enormous progress has been made in the ramp-up of renewables. A positive future is on the horizon. This needs to be communicated.
Scientific Director of the ITE at the West Coast University of Applied Sciences
"Transformation is the new start. We need to create incentives for technical degree programmes. It's all about communication," says Prof Dr Oliver Opel, Scientific Director of the Institute for the Transformation of the Energy System (ITE) at the West Coast University of Applied Sciences.
Cooperation brings progress
As a partner of PowerNet 2024, Energieküste was of course on site to network on the energy transition in the north. This included a visit to the Energieküste partners, including watt_2.0, WT.SH, EE.SH and the Schleswig-Holstein Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which provided information on topics such as PPAs, the mobility transition and "Companies and climate policy requirements" in well-attended sessions.
The PowerNet event series is expected to continue every two years in 2026. Tobias Goldschmidt in a press release: "This networking is hugely important for the energy transition. PowerNet is therefore an important platform on Schleswig-Holstein's path to becoming the first climate-neutral industrial state by 2040, which is why the state is continuing to provide extensive financial support for PowerNet this year and in the coming years."
Download
only available in German
> Press release from the state government of Schleswig-Holstein
