The energy industry and policy environment are of fundamental importance to EnBW’s strategic roadmap. The Group’s transformation under the EnBW 2020 Strategy continues to plan. Financially, too, EnBW is right on track. Current key activities for the company’s onward development are the construction of the Hohe See and Albatros offshore wind farms in the North Sea, entry into attractive foreign markets and a large-scale solar power project. This is all in line with the EnBW 2025 Strategy, the next strategic phase in which transformation is followed by growth. In addition, EnBW is active in the areas of electric mobility, broadband and security infrastructure. The company also continues to press ahead with innovation as a further major focus.

Capital market activities follow Group strategy. In October 2018, EnBW thus became one of the first companies in Germany to issue a Green Bond in order to fund initial projects in the areas of wind power, solar power and electric mobility. With total investment of €12 billion coming up between 2021 and 2025, access to the debt capital market continues to be a high priority. As EnBW transforms into a sustainable, innovative infrastructure group, the Group will optimise future capital market activities and actively manage its financial policy. In the same context, EnBW will also continue to push ahead in terms of sustainable finance.

This reflects the increasing importance of nvironmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, with climate protection currently a particular focus. EnBW pursues the express goal of generating economic, environmental and social value for all stakeholders. Sustainability aspects are therefore firmly embedded in the company’s organisation and strategy. Economic, social and environmental aspects are also taken into account in the strategic infrastructure focal areas of generation, grids and customers. EnBW has provided holistic reporting of its corporate performance with integrated annual reports since 2013.

Sustainable evolution of the generation portfolio is another area of special importance. EnBW has already parted with eight coal-fired units, and nine power plant units are in the grid reserve. The company has so far switched one plant – Stuttgart-Gaisburg – from coal to gas. Redispatching of conventional generation capacity is set to increase, however, and the decommissioning of Unit 2 at the Philippsburg nuclear power plant in late 2019 will also be made up for with conventional generation. Despite this, EnBW continues to reduce carbon intensity across its generating portfolio.

It is achieving this by further expanding renewables and deploying a more efficient fossil-fuel generating mix. The further expansion of renewable energy sources will mean an important role for gas-fired power plants in order to ensure security of supply with dispatchable generating capacity.

The EnBW Group Bankers’ Day concluded with an afternoon guided tour of the Stuttgart-Münster municipal solid waste cogeneration plant. About a third of all waste generated in Baden-Württemberg is incinerated in this plant. The energy from the waste is used for district heating and also to generate electricity – an environment-friendly and economic form of waste disposal.