Corporate citizenship

50Hertz supports numerous projects in its grid area, primarily relating to cultural, energy and environmental education, as well as youth and social affairs. Clear management and organisational structures have been established for the implementation of our many social activities. Our Communications & Public Affairs department is responsible for our engagement. The Department coordinates with management to set the goals, coordinate the activities and examine inquiries for worthy projects. Our guideline for donations and sponsoring defines our general support principles, assessment criteria and the organisational process transparently and consistently, and is binding for all employees. When granting donations and sponsoring support, it is always ascertained that the cause is commensurate with our corporate values, is geared towards sustainability, offers true added value for our society and the public and follows the defined process.

In the surroundings of the headquarters, the 50Hertz Netzquartier, sees itself as a good corporate citizen, whichactively contributes to making the new residential and working district “Europacity” attractive to its residents. The day care centre “Energiebündel” welcomes not only children of 50Hertz employees but youngsters from the neighbourhood as well. Since the summer 2017, the “Rundgang 50Hertz” exhibition is held annually in the Netzquartier building. Together with the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum for Contemporary Art in Berlin, outstanding works by graduates of various art academies in the grid area were exhibited. This offered talented young artists a platform for entering the world of the professional art market, making valuable connections and pursuing their career. The project will be continued in 2019.

Specifically educating children and adolescents about the energy transition is of great importance. An interactive exhibit called “Energie gemeinsam wenden” (Changing energy together), developed by 50Hertz and the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (Unabhängiges Institut für Umweltfragen e.V.) in late 2012, playfully teaches students about different aspects of the energy transition. The interactive exhibit was awarded the title of Project of the UN Decade “Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung” (Education for Sustainable Development) by the German UNESCO Commission. In the 2018 reporting year, 1,108 students visited the exhibit.

50Hertz also supports selected projects in its grid area that foster a multi-faceted cultural landscape. As part of the renowned Artist in Residence programme at the Konzerthaus Berlin, the pianist Sir András Schiff was supported. We also supported the Musikfestspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern again.

As in prior years, 50Hertz was again actively involved in numerous initiatives, associations and organisations in 2018. Some examples are the Rennsteig-Herbstlauf run in the Thuringian Forest, the Kreisfeuerwehrverband fire services association in Oberlausitz-Spree, the Schulförderverein parent teacher association in Röhrsdorf and the youth chapter for new volleyball talent of VFB 91 Suhl e.V.

In 2019, 50Hertz plans to compensate for the CO₂ emissions produced by air travel by promoting electrification projects in the Global South.