The electricity company Eon is responsible for connecting all the new wind and solar parks. Company boss Leonhard Birnbaum fears higher costs for consumers – and criticizes the federal government.
Leonhard Birnbaum, 57, head of the energy company Eon, welcomes people on the twelfth floor of the headquarters in Essen. The new company slogan is emblazoned on the facade, in English of course: “It’s on us – to make new energy work”, in plain German: In the energy transition, it’s up to us. The reason for the self-confidence is that the DAX company owns 1.6 million kilometers of electricity and gas networks in nine European countries; Eon is the largest distribution network operator in Germany and Europe. The group no longer has any power plants for this purpose. In order to be able to connect all the new wind and solar parks, Eon has to massively expand the network – that is a “challenge,” says former McKinsey consultant Birnbaum, who has led Eon for three years.