‘Sustainability is a huge task we need to undertake together’

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Eva, you have been Head of Global Sustainability at ENERCON since 2023. Isn’t that an easy job when you work for a wind energy converter company?

Not as easy as you might think! But yes of course, the fundamental concept of sustainability is something we are already very familiar with at ENERCON – and that has always been the case. It was the driving factor for company founder Aloys Wobben and remains a great motivation for many employees to work at ENERCON today. With our products and services we are able to make a contribution to generating the cleanest possible energy and reducing impacts on the climate and the environment. But this is just the start of our sustainability journey. Our aim is to integrate sustainability into our economic actions even more systematically.  

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Why is the topic of sustainability gaining yet more significance for ENERCON right now?

As a global company we need to take extensive responsibility and demonstrate this in a transparent way, as is rightly required by law. We are seeing rising average temperatures, an increase in extreme weather events and social injustices. All of these developments put our own futures as individuals at risk, as well as the future of the company. It therefore has to be in our own interest to bring about change wherever we can and make a positive contribution. This could be in terms of climate protection, our use of resources or the fair treatment of individuals in our company and our supply chains. We are serious about this and are tackling it head on.  

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How is ENERCON ensuring this duty is being recognised and fulfilled in practice?

At the end of 2024 we published our new sustainability strategy, which is our compass on the way to sustainability in all areas of the company worldwide. In addition to areas of action, our sustainability strategy also defines clear objectives that reach far beyond legal requirements. As an example, our CO2 reduction targets are currently being checked by the Science-based Targets initiative to assess whether they really are in keeping with the Paris Agreement targets. Transparency is particularly important for us here. Key figures and regular reporting help us to manage the implementation of the sustainability strategy and also give outsiders an insight into our progress and the areas where we still need to catch up. On top of this, we have set up an internal ‘Sustainability Council’. This format facilitates cross-department communication and creates synergies for successful joint implementation of the strategy.  

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Where does ENERCON see a particular need to take action with regard to sustainability?

As a wind energy converter manufacturer, we are in the comfortable position of creating products that amortise their carbon footprint in the space of a few years. However, since they only make up part of our sphere of influence, we do not want to rest on our laurels. Instead, we are searching intensively for ways to make our products and our manufacturing, logistics and recycling processes even more sustainable. The keywords here include lower-emissions steel, recyclable rotor blades and e-mobility. The first initiatives have already started up in the areas of occupational health and safety and equal opportunities, with the effects already noticeable. I think ENERCON is heading in absolutely the right direction.

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What would you like to see in terms of sustainability at ENERCON?

I want us as a company to continue to have such a strong commitment to sustainability and achieve even closer cooperation between departments. We have employees who are bursting with ideas and highly motivated to drive sustainability in their area of responsibility. This level of motivation needs to be maintained and encouraged – also in view of complex data collection and reporting – and passed on to our customers and partners too! What is certain is that sustainability is a huge task we need to undertake together. I am very pleased that today we are already working with customers and partners in our value chain who share this view, actively approach us with ideas and also support our own initiatives. Good cooperation is the key to success.

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Thank you and good luck on the rest of this journey!

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