ENERGY MEETS INDUSTRIES 2026
Resilience Instead of Standing Still
Geopolitical conflicts, economic uncertainty and new dependencies are fundamentally reshaping the framework conditions for industry, energy systems and infrastructure. The key question is no longer only how to achieve climate neutrality, but how Europe can remain competitive, sovereign and capable of action throughout the transformation.
This was precisely the focus of Energy meets Industries 2026 in Berlin. Bringing together leading representatives from industry, energy, infrastructure, science, politics and associations, Drees & Sommer hosted the fourth edition of the event. The format is guided by a simple principle: “Entrepreneurs take action.” Because the challenges of our time do not call for isolated solutions, but for collaboration across sectors and disciplines.
The discussions focused not only on the decarbonization of industry and infrastructure, but also on resilience, security of supply and Europe's ability to act in an increasingly complex world. One message became clear throughout the event: transformation will not be delivered by individual technologies or individual sectors alone. It requires cross-sector collaboration, strategic investment and the courage to pursue new approaches.
As Dierk Mutschler, Member of the Board at Drees & Sommer and initiator of the event, put it:
“Four years of Energy meets Industries have shown one thing: Europe’s future will not be decided within individual industries. It is created together – wherever people have the courage to take responsibility and actively shape the future.”
Approaches for a Resilient Europe
The event opened with a guided tour of the historic Kraftwerk Moabit, operated by BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme, where energy has been generated for more than 120 years. During the evening programme, participants discussed the topic “Resilience Instead of Standing Still – What Global Crises Mean for Industry, Energy Systems and Infrastructure” and explored how Europe can respond to changing geopolitical and economic realities.
Following the welcome by the initiators of Energy meets Industries, Dierk Mutschler and Lorena Lüdorf, the discussion was opened by Tanja Gönner, Director General of the Federation of German Industries.
Her message was clear: Europe must respond to these new realities with confidence. In a world long shaped by efficiency, global division of labour and cost optimisation, security of supply, resilience and strategic capability are becoming increasingly important. Germany and Europe should be aware not only of their dependencies, but also of their strengths.
Gönner spoke out clearly against isolationism and ambitions of self-sufficiency. Europe’s industrial base depends on open markets, international partnerships and global value creation. At the same time, critical dependencies must be reduced, risks identified early, supply sources diversified and critical infrastructure protected. Resilience, therefore, does not mean retreating from the world. It means remaining capable of action under changing conditions.
As Tanja Gönner put it:
“Becoming more resilient does not mean preventing every disruption. Resilience is the ability to remain capable of action under changing conditions.”
Carlo Masala Calls for Geoeconomic Thinking
Following Tanja Gönner, Prof. Dr. Carlo Masala took the stage. The Professor of International Politics and Security Studies at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich framed current crises not as isolated events, but as part of a profound geopolitical transformation. His central thesis: the world is in the midst of a struggle over a new global order, the outcome of which remains uncertain.
Europe, in particular, faces significant new challenges. The former success model built on affordable energy, global supply chains and reliable international framework conditions is increasingly under pressure. In response, Masala called for stronger geoeconomic thinking, greater technological competitiveness and enhanced European capacity to act.
At the same time, he emphasised the societal dimension of resilience. Economic and technological solutions alone, he argued, are not enough. What ultimately matters is a society willing to embrace change and actively defend democratic values.
“It is important to talk about the resilience of industry. But at the heart of all these questions lies the resilience of society. Without a resilient society, all other efforts are in vain.”
The panel discussion that followed highlighted just how closely resilience, infrastructure and competitiveness are now interconnected. Joining Masala on stage were Bettina Brennenstuhl, Member of the Executive Board of Dortmunder Hafen AG, Burkhard von Kienitz, Chief Operating Officer Processes at E.ON, and Gregor Langer, CEO of space-tech start-up TALOS Space. The discussion made it clear that resilience extends far beyond traditional security considerations. Whether energy supply, ports, logistics, critical infrastructure or technological sovereignty: resilience requires investment long before its benefits can be directly measured. The participants also agreed that transformation can only succeed if security of supply, economic viability and climate protection are considered together.
As Burkhard von Kienitz summarized: “We will not help the climate if we focus only on the climate. We need a balance between security of supply, affordability, democratic acceptance and environmental protection.”
The evening concluded with a CEO dinner, where participants continued their discussions and expanded their professional networks.
Decarbonization as a System Challenge
The following morning, Dierk Mutschler and Lorena Lüdorf opened the main conference day at an exceptional venue: the headquarters of transmission system operator 50Hertz Transmission GmbH in Berlin's Europacity district. Ten years ago, the building became the first in the world to receive the DGNB Diamond award from the German Sustainable Building Council. It also provided a fitting setting for discussions on energy system transformation.
“Change is in our DNA,” said Uwe Herzfeld, Head of Facility Management, Warehouse and Logistics at 50Hertz, in his welcome address. The keynote that followed was delivered by Prof. Dr. Michael Sterner, Professor of Energy Storage, Hydrogen and Energy Systems at OTH Regensburg and Head of the IFES Institute for Energy Storage. His presentation, titled “From Renewable Electricity to Green Molecules: Decarbonization as a System Challenge”, explored how renewable electricity, energy storage, sector coupling and green molecules can work together to transform the energy system. As one of the co-developers of the Power-to-Gas concept, Sterner shared his perspective on how decarbonization can be achieved through integrated energy systems. His conclusion was clear: climate protection and security of supply must go hand in hand. “All the solutions are already on the table. We just need to implement them.”
Michael Sterner's call for action was echoed throughout the subsequent panel discussion. The costs of decarbonization were a recurring topic, but so were the costs of inaction. Christian Feuerherd, CEO of BEW Berliner Energie und Wärme, emphasized that climate action and economic viability should not be viewed as opposing goals. “Ecology and economy go hand in hand. This is highly tangible and measurable.”During the panel “The Energy Mix of the Future – What Does a Resilient Energy Transition Need?”, Feuerherd illustrated this point with a practical example. According to his calculations, the cost of heat generation in a fossil-based energy system can be three times higher than in a renewable energy system at the same location.
Joining him on stage were Dr. Kirsten Westphal, Member of the Executive Board of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), and Claus Urbanke, Vice President Wind, Solar and Storage Development at Statkraft, Europe's largest renewable energy producer according to the company’s own data.Both speakers highlighted the growing societal polarization surrounding the energy transition and argued for a more pragmatic approach. Westphal, echoing a point already raised by Tanja Gönner the evening before, also called for regulatory frameworks that enable innovation rather than slow it down.
First Movers and Their Challenges
The next panel brought together Dr. Michael Bott, Director Decarbonization at Stahl-Holding-Saar (SHS), Alexandra Decker, Member of the Executive Board of CEMEX, Dörte Hirschberg, General Partner at Climentum Capital, and Dr. Jan Siedentopp from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Under the title “Carbon Management as an Economic Opportunity – Pathways to Climate Neutrality”, the panel explored the role of carbon management in industrial transformation.
Both Bott and Decker shared insights into large-scale decarbonization projects that require significant investment, long planning horizons and a high degree of strategic commitment. “Decarbonization is the future,” said Bott. He emphasized that continuing with business models of the past would ultimately threaten the long-term viability of industrial companies. At the same time, both speakers highlighted concerns regarding the future development of the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the predictability of future carbon prices. Representing the policy perspective, Jan Siedentopp reflected on the challenge of creating regulatory frameworks that simultaneously support decarbonization, competitiveness and affordability. At the same time, he made clear that the European Commission is actively exploring ways to support companies that move early and make investment decisions today. “The European Commission does not want to penalize first movers. It is also considering how revenues can be used to support companies that have already made investment decisions.”
Water as a Strategic Resource
Water was the focus of the next panel discussion. Dr. Achim Diehlmann, Head of the Mission:Zero environmental program at AUDI AG, Dr. Wolf Merkel, Member of the Executive Board of the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW), Christoph Ohlrogge, Head of Waste Management at Siegfried PharmaChemikalien Minden, and Karsten Specht, Managing Director of the Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband (OOWV), discussed how water is increasingly becoming a strategic factor for industrial development.
After years of droughts, heatwaves and low river levels affecting logistics and production, the topic has moved high up the agenda for companies and infrastructure operators alike. Interestingly, Wolf Merkel pointed out that Germany is not necessarily facing a long-term decline in overall water availability. “Based on the calculations available to us, total water availability across Germany is not expected to decrease significantly. In fact, it may even increase slightly.” The challenge, he explained, lies elsewhere: climate change is altering where, when and in what quantities water becomes available. As a result, Germany's water infrastructure must adapt to changing conditions.
Karsten Specht emphasized the need for early planning and long-term thinking. Utilities today face the dual challenge of ensuring reliable public water supply while at the same time enabling the expansion of new industrial facilities with high water demand. “If we understand challenges early and think ahead, we can usually develop solutions in time.” Companies such as AUDI and Siegfried are already pursuing this approach. AUDI, for example, has achieved near self-sufficiency in production water through advanced water management strategies. Since 2018, the company has operated a completely wastewater-free production facility in Mexico. “Every drop of water we have there remains within the process.”
Participation in the Best Possible Sense
Following the panel discussions, four innovative companies took the stage during the Start-up & Innovation Pitches, each presenting new ideas to accelerate decarbonization in just four minutes. Elias Aruna from Scale Energy introduced large-scale battery storage solutions for industrial sites. Niklas Hildebrandt from ELU Mobility presented software for the intelligent management of electric truck fleets and charging infrastructure. Patrick Richter from Agile Wind Power showcased Vertical Sky, a new type of wind turbine with a vertical rotor axis. Dr. Christoph Ullmer from Thüga explained how the company's subsidiary Regioladen+ uses artificial intelligence to analyze handwritten maintenance reports. Afterwards, the participants moved into the Deep Dive Sessions, demonstrating that Energy meets Industries is much more than a conference. It is a platform for active participation and collaborative problem-solving.
The sessions explored topics including:
1. From Industrial Site to Intelligent Energy System – Digital Energy Twins as a Foundation for Efficiency, Flexibility and Transformation
2. Decentralized Energy Supply for Industrial Sites: Vertical Wind, PVT and Other Solutions
3. Who Owns the Water? Future Resource Conflicts and Security of Supply
4. Thermal Storage vs. BESS: Energy Storage as a Competitive Advantage
5. From Vision to Reality: Who Will Build Europe's CO₂ Infrastructure?
6. Power-to-X Can Serve Industry – But Can the Market Deliver Power-to-X?
7. Transforming Energy Systems Through Intelligent Control of Decentralized Energy Resources
8. Fair Distribution of Grid Capacity Today and in the Future
Not Prepared for Disruptions
The final panel of the conference focused on the question: “Innovation and Digitalization: Which Technologies and Business Models Can Accelerate Transformation Sustainably?”
The discussion brought together Matthias Deeg, Partner at Horváth and member of its Competence Center Energy, Environment and Telecommunications, Tanja Dreilich, Supervisory Board Member of Wieland Group and CEO/CFO of Goldenberg AI Tech, Caroline Pim, Vice President Power Systems DACH at Schneider Electric, and Dr. Andreas Widl, CEO of the SAMSON Group.
Like many discussions throughout the event, the panel revolved around the opportunities and risks arising from growing dependencies, new vulnerabilities and technological change. To strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty, Tanja Dreilich advocated for what she called “friendly alliances” that would improve the negotiating power of medium-sized companies when dealing with hyperscalers and major technology providers. Andreas Widl offered a practical example from industry. At SAMSON, specialized teams use artificial intelligence and large language models to simulate cyberattacks on smart, interconnected valve systems in order to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen cyber resilience.
“You would be surprised how well it works.”
A live audience poll, however, revealed a different reality. Participants were asked to assess how well their organizations would cope with a four-week disruption of energy supply or critical supply chains. On a scale from one (very poorly prepared) to ten (very well prepared), the average rating was just 4.6, with the most common answer being three.
Even before the results appeared on the screen, Matthias Deeg had argued that resilience cannot be achieved through one-off projects. Instead, organizations need permanent structures and processes dedicated to identifying risks, strengthening preparedness and turning challenges into opportunities.
The discussion highlighted a recurring theme of Energy meets Industries 2026: resilience is no longer only a matter of infrastructure and energy systems. Increasingly, it is becoming a question of digital capabilities, organizational readiness and the ability to respond effectively to disruption.
The Next Generation in Focus
As Energy meets Industries 2026 entered its final sessions, the spotlight once again turned to a group that has been an integral part of the format from the very beginning: the next generation of leaders and decision-makers. One of the final statements came from Alexander Kost, a young entrepreneur leading a German mechanical engineering SME. Reflecting on the discussions and insights gathered throughout the event, he emphasized the importance of balancing environmental and economic sustainability: “We have spent a great deal of time discussing sustainability from an environmental perspective, which is extremely important to me. But we must also keep economic sustainability in mind, especially when it comes to safeguarding jobs.”
The importance of involving younger generations will remain a defining principle of Energy meets Industries 2027 in Munich. Looking ahead, topics such as cognitive robotics and quantum computing will be explored not only as technological developments, but as potential drivers of Europe's future competitiveness and transformation. In his closing outlook, Dierk Mutschler issued a clear invitation to participants: “If you want to join us next year, bring your successor, someone at least fifteen years younger than you. Or bring your adult children. And yes, we mean it.” Because shaping Europe's future is not just about discussing the next transformation step. It is also about ensuring that the people who will carry it forward are already part of the conversation today.
What’s Next?
The future of Europe’s industrial base depends on fresh energy in every sense of the word: innovative ideas, entrepreneurial courage, technological progress and strong collaboration across sectors. Energy meets Industries will continue to be a platform where these forces come together. Because Europe will remain competitive only if we see transformation not as a burden, but as an opportunity to strengthen resilience, innovation and prosperity.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to Energy meets Industries 2026 through their participation, insights and active engagement. The openness of the discussions, the willingness to challenge assumptions and the determination to develop solutions together are what make this format unique. The conversations do
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Drees & Sommer
Lorena Lüdorf
lorena.luedorf(at)dreso.com
+49 711 1317 1552