Turning Up the Volume with Four New Voices: Call for a Holistic European Energy Union

Less than one year has passed since Energy Solutions was launched as a direct response to the ambition of creating a holistic European Energy Union. Now that response is turning up its volume with four additional voices.

Since April 2016, the Energy Solutions Secretariat has received an overwhelming level of interest from both the industry and the political arena. The common denominator is an urge to address the need for integrated energy solutions across national, sectorial and individual interests.

The four new voices all represent key industries:

Aurubis, German based world leader in producing and recycling copper
ista, one of the leading international energy service provider for buildings
PKA, one of the largest Danish pension funds, investing i.a. in European infrastructure projects.
Statoil, Norwegian developer of offshore oil and gas, today with a large international portfolio of energy investments.

All four represent different sectors – and yet, all four are part of the solution in addressing the energy system as a whole for holistic policy-making.

To Vice President for the EU Political Affairs Office of Statoil, Anders Marvik, being a part of Energy Solutions is a natural part of the ambition to shape the future of energy:

Anders Marvik, Vice President for the EU Political Affairs Office of Statoil
Mr. Anders Marvik, Vice President for the EU Political Affairs Office of Statoil

We believe we have an important contribution to make in finding solutions for a low carbon future in which governments, energy producers and consumers all act responsibly. For our company this means to explore for the best barrels, remain the most carbon efficient oil and gas producer in the world and pursue business opportunities in renewables and CCS. It also means taking part in platforms such as Energy Solutions in advancing common solutions to key energy and climate change challenges in Europe.

Likewise to Director for External Affairs from Aurubis, Mr. Kuby, the copper industry holds a central position in shaping the energy system of tomorrow:

Mr. Kuby, Director for External Affairs at Aurubis
Mr. Kuby, Director for External Affairs at Aurubis

This transition to a more resource- and energy-efficient production and consumption is highly complex and affects almost all economic and policy areas, says Mr. Kuby.

Copper is indispensable for this (low carbon /sustainable / green / energy efficient) energy transformation program. To paint the picture: Efficiency and innovation are part of the DNA of Copper; as an excellent conductor of heat and electricity it can be found in almost any electricity and heating.

At ista, Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Dr. Mirko-Alexander Kahre says:

Dr. Mirko-Alexander Kahre , Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications & Public Affairs
Dr. Mirko-Alexander Kahre , Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications & Public Affairs

ista is one of the leading energy service providers in buildings. We believe that consumption transparency is key for the future of energy. Therefore we are very pleased to be part of the Energy Solution network to strengthen a transparent, innovative and affordable future energy landscape.

While producers of the energy solutions are crucial to coin a truly holistic energy union, enormous investments are needed as well. Therefore, PKA joins to help bridging the financial gap between supply and demand of energy infrastructure Investments.

PKA is proud to join Energy Solutions. PKA will bring first-hand experience in how to scale energy solutions through partnerships between the public and private sector:

Peter Damgaard Jensen, CEO at PKA
Mr. Peter Damgaard Jensen, CEO at PKA

The major factor behind any progress has always been investments, and PKA is proud to join Energy Solutions. PKA will bring first-hand experience in how to scale energy solutions through partnerships between the public and private sector. PKA and our members are committed to supporting the transition to a green economy and by 2020 we aim to have invested €3-4bn in sustainable energy solutions, says CEO, Peter Damgaard Jensen from PKA.

The four new industrial solution creators take a seat on the Energy Solutions Advisory Board, now represented by 3M, Aurubis, Danfoss, DONG Energy, EDF, E.ON, GE, Grundfos, ista, Microsoft, Panasonic, PKA, Rockwool, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Statoil, Velux and Vestas.

The Advisory Board has an important role to play in advising on energy solutions along the policy-making process, ranging from managerial questions in delivering integrated energy solutions across interests to technical issue areas across energy silos in seeing the energy system as a whole.

Energy Solutions looks forward to commencing an exciting year later this month in Brussels, bringing together key decision-makers incl. Vice-President of the European Commission, in charge of Energy Union, Šefcovic, Members of the European Parliament incl. Mr. Petersen, Mrs. Niebler, Mr. Poche, Mr. Duncan and Mr. Turmes as well as high-level representatives from the industry for discussions on the future energy market in realizing a European Energy Union.