The Energy Team: New Leadership, Renewed Vision for the Emsland Group
The Emsland Group is taking a significant step forward in its sustainability journey with the further evolution of its dedicated Energy Team — underscoring the company’s dedication to addressing energy challenges and achieving its ambitious environmental goals.
The Growing Role of the Energy Team
Since its inception, the Emsland Group’s Energy Team has played a strategic role in advancing the company’s sustainability goals. Key achievements include:
- Transitioning from gas to sustainable steam at the Emlichheim site, saving nearly 7,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually.
- Exploring cutting-edge technologies for application in production to ensure reliable energy supply for the future.
- Setting ambitious targets such as achieving greenhouse gas neutrality by 2040, five years ahead of the German Climate Protection Act’s mandate.
The Energy Team is now poised to consolidate its efforts, moving from a dispersed group to a concentrated team of selected experts dedicated solely to the energy management of the company’s seven production locations in Germany. This newly focused approach will enhance strategic planning and implementation of transformative energy solutions.
Strengthening Expertise for a Sustainable Future
Axel Mueller-Wennekers joins the energy team at the head as Energy Supply Manager. With over 20 years of experience in the energy supply sector, having managed energy utilities such as steam, heat, and compressed air for industrial clients. His extensive portfolio includes aiding in the planning and constructing over 150 energy facilities, ranging from small-scale operations to large industrial headquarters.
Upon joining the Emsland Group in late 2024, Mr. Mueller-Wennekers’s first steps have involved reviewing and aligning existing energy contractor agreements with the company’s long-term sustainability goals in terms of security of supply. By leveraging his extensive energy supplier insights and collaborating with company management and colleagues, he says he aims to create actionable recommendations to transform innovative ideas of the company into implementable action plans.
Looking Ahead: A Collaborative Approach
Mr. Mueller-Wennekers is ambitious in his goals for the energy team, including transitioning all plants to 100% renewable energy by 2030. He explained that this path, however, will not be an easy one: “the biggest challenge we face currently is achieving CO2 neutrality in our factories where no competitively priced renewable energy source exists nearby.” Mr. Mueller-Wennekers said that investing in partnerships with sustainable energy suppliers is currently being considered as a possible solution. This would not only secure a sustainable energy supply for the company, but also benefit local communities by offering alternative energy sources to them as well. The company’s headquarters in Emlichheim, Germany, for example, already uses energy from a local renewable power plant, which the nearby community utilizes as an alternative heating source as well.
Conclusion
With the newly evolved Energy Team, the Emsland Group has once again reinforced its steadfast commitment to sustainability. Through strategic partnerships, innovative solutions, and a collaborative mindset, the company remains a leading force for paving the way towards a more sustainable future, benefitting both the organization and the communities it serves.
Discover more about sustainability at the Emsland Group.
