Energy Consumption

GRI 302-1, GRI 302-4, SDG7, SDG13

50Hertz supports the goals of the European Union and the German government to reduce GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions, particularly through its grid expansion activities (which help to increase the share occupied by CO2-free energy sources in the electricity system) and through the optimisation of the company’s CO2 footprint. The second external energy audit in accordance with DIN EN 16247-1 was carried out as scheduled in 2019 in order to record the energy consumption of our facilities and administrative buildings. This audit was based on the energy consumption of 2018. It was the first time that the energy consumption of the new corporate headquarters - the 50Hertz Netzquartier in Berlin Mitte - was included. The Netzquartier was planned and constructed with sustainability, energy efficiency, ecology, utilisation options and accessibility in mind. The 50Hertz Netzquartier was awarded the internationally recognised Gold Standard by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) and the American Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard. In new buildings, sustainable approaches to construction are planned out and implemented where possible. The next energy audit will be carried out in 2023 based on 2022 consumption data.

Energy consumption 2018

_{Data source 2018: External energy audit carried out in line with DIN EN 16247-1 in 2019.}

The GHG emissions generated by 50Hertz come primarily from electricity (which is the cause of  almost 95% of our CO2 emissions). A noticeable reduction in our CO2 footprint can only be achieved in this segment. Our substations are the cause of much of our electricity consumption (55,497.65 MWh). Together, all of our switching stations (which only require electricity) account for 79% of our electricity consumption. The sites which carry out administrative and control tasks (such as the headquarters, the regional centres and the Control Centre) and also require thermal energy and fuel are responsible for around 21% of our total electricity consumption. The warehouse and radio relays do not consume significant amounts of electricity. Total energy consumption as a percentage of electricity transmitted has decreased slightly overall from 0.0629% in 2014 to 0.0605% in 2018.The external energy audit revealed potential areas that could be optimised. Measures to this effect have largely been implemented or are in the process of being implemented. These include insulation work carried out in the technical areas of the company’s headquarters and in the Teufelsbruch substation; temperature adjustments to the air conditioning units (switching from 21°C to 26 °C) in the technical rooms at the Röhrsdorf administration site; and energy-related repairs at the Bad Lauchstädt administration site.