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Opening event vgbe Congress – vgbe presents 6 awards for outstanding achievements

Under the motto “Making success visible”, vgbe recognizes outstanding achievements in the energy sector to highlight key areas of importance to companies in electricity and heat generation.
  • 11. September 2024

Under the motto “Making success visible”, vgbe recognizes outstanding achievements in the energy sector to highlight key areas of importance to companies in electricity and heat generation. At the opening event of the vgbe Congress 2024, held from September 11 to 12 in Potsdam, the vgbe awards were presented by vgbe Chairman Dr Georg Stamatelopoulos:

Innovation Awards

The Innovation Award, with a prize of 10,000 Euros, was awarded in equal parts to Anna Lankovska of AS Latvenergo and Dr Jan Figgener from RWTH Aachen.
Anna Lankovska was honoured for her pioneering work “Wind energy in Latvia – mismatch between the potential and reality”. In her research, she explored the potential of wind energy in Latvia and identified significant opportunities both on- and off-shore. A wind farm in the Ventspils area was modelled using Energy Pro software to assess power production, operational limitations and to calculate investment costs and payback time. Her work makes an important contribution to future political and economic decisions, which are crucial for the country’s independent energy security and efforts to mitigate climate change.
(f.l.t.r.: Dr Georg Stamatelopoulos, Anna Lankovska, vgbe Innovation Award winner 2024, Dr Oliver Then)

Dr Jan Figgener received the award for his dissertation “The development of battery storage systems in Germany: A market review (status 2023)”. He investigated the aging of battery storage systems in households and developed data-driven methods to estimate key parameters such as usable capacity and internal resistance. His analysis reveals annual capacity losses and variable increases in resistance, allowing for new approaches to the maintenance and optimisation of home storage systems. The market analysis, created as part of the dissertation, supports politics regarding the formulation of a national storage strategy.

(f.l.t.r.: Dr Georg Stamatelopoulos, Dr. Jan Figgener, vgbe Innovation Award winner 2024, Dr Oliver Then)

Quality Award

Dieffenbacher Energy GmbH was honoured as this year’s vgbe Quality Award Winner for the project “Fuel switch from coal to gas and hydrogen at the EnBW power plant in Stuttgart-Münster”. Following EnBW’s corporate goal of becoming climate neutral by 2035, a new combined heat and power plant is being built at the EnBW site in Stuttgart-Münster, initially relying on more climate-friendly natural gas and later switching to green hydrogen. Dieffenbacher Energy GmbH distinguished itself through outstanding quality and reliable project execution, particularly by taking over the contract after the bankruptcy of the original contractor.

(f.l.t.r.: Sebastian Völker, Dieffenbacher Energy GmbH , Dr Oliver Then, Executive Managing Director, vgbe energy, Michael Class, EnBW, Dr Georg Stamatelopoulos, vgbe Chairman)
Siemens Energy Global GmbH Co. KG was recognized as the second-place winner. Siemens Energy upgraded the complete control system of EnBW’s Altbach/Deizisau heating plant 2, implementing a standardised solution for the central diagnosis and monitoring of the switchgear modules. The project work was successfully completed on schedule and within budget, with particular attention to health and safety. Nüsse Kabel- und Rohrleitungsbau GmbH was the third winner of the Quality Award. As part of the GETH2 Nucleus infrastructure project, Nüsse installed underground pipelines at the Emsland power plant, overcoming several complex challenges. The work was completed without damage and with high flexibility.

Health and Safety Award

The Health and Safety Award went to Lukasz Krasowski from RWE Nuclear GmbH for his project “From good to best –stress relief”. The corporate strategy “From good to best” focused on improving health management and open communication about mental health. A concept, which included a video with real-life scenarios and awareness-raising measures, led to positive changes in corporate culture and better integration of health management. The long-term effects are still being evaluated.
(f.l.t.r.: Dr Georg Stamatelopoulos, vgbe Chairman, Lukasz Krasowski, RWE Nuclear GmbH,
Dr Oliver Then, Executive Managing Director, vgbe energy)

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