Siemens 2012 Annual Report Download - page 46

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subsidiary Transnet BW and three other grid operators foresees HVDC trans-
mission lines along several corridors. However, I’m assuming the approval
process will take a very long time. There are also technical challenges to be
mastered – because, even though HVDC lines have already been installed
in countries like China and India, that doesn’t mean such routes can be planned
and implemented overnight in Germany. On the contrary, the process will
take several years. But we must address this challenge if we want to succeed
in restructuring the energy system.
In our view, highly efficient power plants like our combined cycle
plants are another factor that can facilitate the transition to a new
energy infrastructure: Stadtwerke Düsseldorf, a municipal utility
in which EnBW holds a majority stake, plans to build just such a plant
at the Lausward site in Düsseldorf. As with the EnBW Baltic  and 
projects, Siemens will be the supplier. What criteria played a role
in your investment decision?
. : Combined cycle power plants of the type supplied by Siemens
are highly efficient systems that generate low-carbon power. They have fast-
start capability and are highly flexible in terms of startup and shutdown –
which makes them particularly suitable for an energy market moving toward
fluctuating renewable energies. Of course, in addition to boasting high effi-
ciency and rapid startup, every new plant must also be economically viable.
Another concern is reducing energy consumption, in other words,
saving electricity. What can an energy company like EnBW contribute
here?
. : A couple years ago, our slogan was “Empowered to cut consump-
tion.“ Now you could, of course, say that a utility company should be happy
if its customers use lots of energy. But quite the opposite is true: we want to
help our customers conserve energy and boost energy efficiency. For years,
we’ve been offering tailored solutions that make our customers’ operations
more energy-efficient. One thing is clear to us: at EnBW, we can be compet-
itive only if we provide our industry customers with energy that is so afford-
able that they can keep their production in Germany.
Smart grids are one option for flattening consumption peaks. To what
extent is EnBW involved here?
. : We’ve been testing smart grids in trial communities for several
years now. We’re also analyzing how our customers can benefit from intelli-
gent electricity meters. We want to help our private, business and industry
customers consume less energy. For example, appliances and equipment that
require a lot of energy should be operated at night, when electricity is less
expensive, rather during the day, when demand is high.
That sounds like a business field with lots of potential for EnBW.
How can Siemens provide support here?
. : Siemens is a technology leader in many fields. Since the entire
development process for the production, distribution and consumption
of energy is extremely complex, system providers like Siemens have major
market opportunities.
In your view, what factors are most crucial for the successful
transition to a new energy system?
. : We need a wide range of technical solutions to make the new
system a success. In addition, a very stable legal framework for marketing
renewables must be in place. We also need to expand the grid so that
energy from the generation centers, which in the future will be in northern
Germany, can be transported to the consumption centers in the south. We’ll
need a greater number of highly flexible power plants, such as the combined
cycle plants I’ve already mentioned. In addition – and this is very important –
 – EnBW has commissioned
Germany’s first commercial offshore
wind farm, the EnBW Baltic  project,
using wind turbines from Siemens.
Comprising  turbines with a total
capacity of . megawatts, the instal-
lation is located in the Baltic Sea, about
 kilometers north of the German town
of Zingst on the Darß peninsula.