Around 200 participants at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society in Ludwigshafen / Politics, business and science discuss the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition in the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar
The "Energy and Environment" regional conference of the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar (MRN) took place today (22.5.25) on the premises of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society with around 200 participants. This year's motto: "Transformation through Innovation: Focus on Energy, Environment and Skilled Workers".
After a welcome address by Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller, President of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, the District Administrator of the Rhine-Neckar district, Stefan Dallinger, gave an insight into the future strategy of the MRN institutions in his role as Chairman of the Rhine-Neckar Region Association. By focusing on four fields of action (infrastructure / innovation / work / administration) and even stronger interdisciplinary networking, the region is to be even better positioned to meet current challenges.
Dr. Erwin Manz, State Secretary in the Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy and Mobility of Rhineland-Palatinate, gave the keynote speech on the topic of "Climate crisis - can we adapt to a hot future?". "In Rhineland-Palatinate, the temperature has risen by 1.8 degrees since the early industrial era. If global temperatures rise by more than 2 degrees Celsius, we will reach the physical and economic limits of adaptation. That is why we are investing money quickly and systematically in both climate protection and climate adaptation measures. Companies can contribute to climate protection and adaptation in the areas of site and infrastructure security, supply chains and procurement as well as employee protection and work organization. Although these measures are a cost factor, they are also a decisive survival factor," Manz emphasized.
Panel: Call for more systematic networking, both technically and in dealing with the framework conditions
The subsequent panel discussion with high-ranking participants from business, politics, educational institutions and administration presented views and opinions on the topic of "Energy transition - challenges and opportunities for the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar", but also set out in search of solutions. In addition to Erwin Manz and Gunther Piller, the other participants were Dr. Uwe Liebelt (BASF SE and Chairman of the Board of ZMRN e.V.), Dr. Gabriël Clemens (MVV Energie AG and Board Member of ZMRN e.V.) and Dr. Tibor Müller (Deputy Managing Director of IHK Pfalz). Among other things, they discussed unused sources of waste heat in the region, from geothermal energy to data centers. The "Rhine-Neckar Heat Atlas" is currently being created to exploit the potential between sources and consumers.
However, there was also a lot of discussion about the diverse structural framework conditions. The administration must reduce bureaucracy, but also use its discretionary powers where existing laws allow. There is also a fundamental demand for earlier, faster coordination between business, science and politics. Innovation can only flourish if it is also promoted, and this cannot be achieved with a zero-risk mentality. Strategic sovereignty is needed in the MRN in order to develop key technologies itself again. Real-world laboratories, for example, could be an effective means of promoting innovation, especially in the MRN, where close networking already takes place across three federal state borders. The MRN could serve as a blueprint for other regions, from selective testing to rolling out on a large scale.
The panel concluded by expressing confidence that a significant proportion of the federal government's "special funds" for infrastructure measures will also flow into the MRN, as many of the energy topics addressed in the coalition agreement are already being worked on in Rhine-Neckar, such as the development of hydrogen infrastructure, the heating network or potential geothermal use. A sense of proportion is also important in the regionally coordinated use of funds.
Following the panel discussion, six best-practice presentations by companies and institutions from the MRN and the Belgian partner region Flemish Brabant underlined the current intensive commitment to innovation in the energy sector.
In the afternoon, four parallel specialist forums offered the opportunity to delve deeper into the topics of "Using sustainability reports effectively", "Energy efficiency in companies", "Hydrogen as a future technology" and "Sustainable construction and renovation".
Other voices from the regional conference:
Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller: "We are delighted that the Energy and Environment Regional Conference of the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar is being hosted at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society - and what's more, with this socially so important topic. 'Energy and the environment' is also a central component of education and research at our university. For example, we offer a Bachelor's and Master's degree course with a dedicated focus on sustainability management. In addition, sustainability is a cross-cutting topic in all subjects and central administration. The university is also active in research and transfer in the field of energy and the environment: from sustainable innovation management and AI-supported campus management to energy market mechanisms and energy management or sustainability concepts for the wine industry. The regional conference is therefore also in good hands with us from a technical perspective."
Dr. Doris Wittneben, Head of Future Fields and Innovation, Metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar GmbH: "The metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar is facing major challenges in the energy transformation. The exchange at our regional conference encourages us to be able to master these challenges - but it also requires the corresponding cohesion of business, science, politics and society. Our Energy and Environment Cluster with its numerous partners is ready to accompany and moderate the transformation in Rhine-Neckar."
About the Energy and Environment Regional Conference
The Energy and Environment Regional Conference is organized every two years by the Future Fields and Innovation Department of Metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar GmbH and is tailored to the interests, challenges and needs of the players in the various economic sectors of the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar. It offers industry representatives and interested parties a unique platform for the exchange of specialist knowledge and the presentation of successful practical examples and innovative solutions.
You can find the press release and further images online in the press area of the Metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar GmbH.
Contact:
Sonja Einig
Consultant Future Fields and Innovation
M 1, 4-5 | 68161 Mannheim
Tel. 0621 10708-434
sonja.einig@ 8< SPAM protection, please remove >8 m-r-n.com
