CEO
We are becoming climate positive
Interview with Dr. Georg Müller
“With our Mannheim Model, we aim to be one of the first climate-positive energy companies.”
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The CEO of our group of companies explains why we wish to become climate positive and how that should actually work.
Why has MVV now stepped up the pace even further when it comes to climate protection?
Protecting the climate and promoting the energy turnaround have long been the principles underpinning our actions. As one of the largest emitters, the energy industry has a key role to play in decarbonising the economy and society as a whole, and that in two respects. Expanding renewable energies, e-mobility, the heat turnaround, smart cities – these all need energy and can only work by using climate-friendly technologies. At the same time, the energy industry has to cut its direct emissions to zero. We have been pressing ahead with this for years now and currently with our course of heading for climate neutrality. Climate experts have nevertheless stated very clearly that industrial economies will have to move towards removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. With our "Mannheim Model", we aim to play our part and become one of the first climate-positive energy companies.How exactly does MVV intend to become climate positive?
As we head for climate neutrality, we have three areas of action: firstly the heat turnaround, secondly the electricity turnaround and thirdly green products and solutions for our customers. The heat turnaround is possibly the most important key for MVV to achieve climate neutrality by 2040. We are Germany's third-largest district heating supplier and will convert all our district heating generation in Mannheim and the metropolitan region to green energy sources by 2030, i.e. from 100 percent fossil-based to 100 percent green. To achieve this, we are drawing on a broader mix of green options than that at almost any other energy company. We are using waste heat from waste treatment, regenerative energies such as biomass and biomethane, river heat pumps and new possibilities in the field of geothermal energy, as well as waste industrial heat. In the longer term, we will even turn our biomass power plants and energy from waste plants into CO2 sinks. And we have also set ourselves ambitious targets for the electricity turnaround: By 2026, we intend to double our portfolio of renewable capacities once again compared with 2016, as we already managed between 2009 and 2016. Not least, we are also supporting our customers, whether they are private or commercial customers, as well as our SME and industrial customers, as they themselves head for climate neutrality.
Our milestones
We have set ourselves ambitious targets.
By 2026
860
proprietary electricity generation
from renewables.
By 2026
10,000
grid feed-in volumes
from renewables.
By 2030 compared with 2018 80 reduction in energy industry emissions (Scope 1).
By 2035 compared with 2018 80 reduction in indirect greenhouse gases (Scopes 2 and 3).
Our future: #climatepositive
We are still pioneers of the energy turnaround and have further stepped up the pace when it comes to protecting the climate. By 2040, MVV will be climate neutral. After that, it will be one of Germany's first energy companies to become climate positive. And because we started making substantial investments in climate protection, and thus in sustainable growth, more than a decade ago, MVV has already reached some major milestones as it heads for that goal.
Read about our climate-positive futureHand in hand: implementing climate protection
How can we help our customers to turn the energy turnaround into a reality for themselves - and that quickly and affordably? We have known for many years that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. That is why we find individual answers for each and every customer, regardless of whether they are tenants living in two-room flats, families in detached houses, shop owners, clubs, companies, large industrial players or local authorities.
Read about our sustainable customer solutionsHalting climate change
If climate change is to be halted, the energy turnaround will have to be speeded up and sustainable energy generation expanded across the board. Our strategic focus has been on renewable energies for many years now, as we are pioneers of the energy turnaround. We have already invested substantial amounts in a wide variety of renewable energy sources, and we will continue to do so. In the 2021 financial year alone, we invested a total of Euro 124 million in our New Energies segment.
Read about our renewable energy sourcesResponsibly securing the energy supply for the long term
Our focus is on turning the climate-neutral energy system of the future into reality. To this end, we are investing, putting the necessary conditions in place and implementing extensive measures. Throughout the transformation process, we are making sure that our customers at all times have a reliable supply of electricity, heat, gas and water.
Read about our reliable supplyEnergetically getting more done
Community, Responsibility, Appreciation and Courage – these values form the foundation of our corporate culture and are actively lived by our employees on a daily basis. We share ideas closely, overcome challenges and work on tomorrow's solutions. Together, we give of our very best. By putting our understanding of good management into practice, we promote and support a culture of working together on a basis of trust and permanent further development.
Read about our skills-enhancing culture2021 at MVV
Heading for climate neutrality pays off
We can look back on a very successful 2021 financial year. This shows that financial success and business stability can go hand in hand with climate neutrality.
Adjusted EBIT
Employees
Investments