E.ON boss Birnbaum: “There is a price for the conversion”

Electricity and gas will remain expensive, expects the head of Germany’s largest utility E.ON, Leonhard Birnbaum. In the ARDinterview, he explains what he believes is important when it comes to converting the energy supply.

Even if the end of winter is in sight – the energy crisis is not over yet, warns E.ON boss Leonhard Birnbaum. “Now we have to think about it: how will we get through next winter,” said the top manager ARD-Podcast “Energy crisis – and now?”. For this it is necessary, for example, to conclude corresponding supply contracts in addition to the liquid gas infrastructure. Saving energy is also important.

Birnbaum assumes double costs

Despite painful price increases, Germany is still getting through the crisis relatively well, said Birnbaum. However, according to the CEO, the level of electricity will remain high for the time being. The real price increases would not arrive for many until this year. His group, for example, has not yet passed on all the price increases resulting from the sharp rise in purchasing costs.

Overall, Birnbaum assumes that the monthly costs for energy will double for most customers – compared to the level before the energy crisis. However, an increasing amount of green electricity could help to avoid further extreme price fluctuations.

“Changes happen when there is pressure to act”

At the same time, the E.ON boss would like more tolerance for renewable energies. It is clear “that there is a price for this conversion,” said Birnbaum. Renewable energies consumed “an incredible amount of space.” Birnbaum expects that in 2030 around six percent of the German state area will be needed for wind turbines, power lines or lines. “The conversion requires us to devote much larger parts of our landscape to it.”

Birnbaum said that energy will continue to occupy Germany in the long term. The conversion of the energy system is changing many things fundamentally. But one can also look positively at the experiences from the past crisis year. “Changes happen when there is pressure to act,” said the head of Germany’s largest energy company. For example, he did not think it possible that terminals for liquid gas could be built in just a few months.