Michael Teigeler, CEO of Stadtwerke Heidelberg Energie, was honored as "Energy Manager of the Year." At the same time, Professor Christian Held received a special lifetime achievement award.
At a ceremony following the fifth E&M Energy Managers Conference in Berlin, two distinguished figures in the industry were honored on October 8. Michael Teigeler, CEO of Stadtwerke Heidelberg Energie, was named "Energy Manager of the Year." At the same time, Professor Christian Held, a partner at BBH, received a special lifetime achievement award.
The "Energy Manager of the Year" award has been presented for 25 years, supported by Energie & Management, the BBH Group, and m3 management consulting. It recognizes outstanding professional achievements and the implementation of forward-looking projects. The jury honored Teigeler's commitment to transforming energy and heat supply, his contribution to the municipal heating transition, and concepts that combine technical infrastructure, urban development, and citizen participation.
"Anyone fortunate enough to work with Michael Teigeler gets to know an exceptional person: He radiates cheerful composure and loves discussions free of hierarchy," jury member Christian Held emphasized to warm applause from industry representatives. Teigeler persistently and very successfully pursues ambitious goals. Thanks in no small part to Michael Teigeler, Stadtwerke Heidelberg serves as a role model in many respects for municipal utilities in Germany and Europe, particularly in the challenging heating transition.
"He has done a great deal to preserve and develop the pluralistic energy industry," Held emphasized. In his acceptance speech, Teigeler described the energy transition in Heidelberg as a "matter close to his heart." A central element is the Energie- und Zukunftsspeicher (Energy and Future Storage Facility), built under his leadership. Due to its architectural design, the storage facility has attracted attention beyond the region and is regarded as a new landmark in the city. Technically, it buffers peak loads in the district heating system and reduces the use of fossil fuel-based generation.
In view of rising fossil fuel prices, the storage facility has proven its value sooner than expected. At the same time, Teigeler emphasizes the economic dimension of the transformation. Acceptance is important, but viable financing is crucial. Over the past ten years, the share of renewable energy in Heidelberg's district heating supply has increased to 50 percent.
By 2030, the supply is expected to be largely climate-neutral, and by 2035, completely climate-neutral. To finance this transition, the municipal utility also relies on citizen participation. Through the "heidelberg KLIMA-INVEST" product, citizens can provide capital for projects supporting the local heating and energy transition. Several million euros have been raised and invested specifically for this purpose.
Professor Christian Held, a BBH partner and attorney, was honored with a special lifetime achievement award as an influential figure in the energy industry. In particular, he had helped ensure that more than 140 municipal utilities were established in the new federal states following German reunification, said Christina Sternitzke, Managing Director of EWI-Fördergesellschaft, in her tribute. As an attorney, lecturer, author, and source of inspiration, he had played a significant role in shaping developments in the German and European energy industries.
"He combines legal expertise with business acumen and a keen sense of the challenges facing the industry," said Professor Ines Zenke, a BBH partner and attorney. In their brief speeches, both award recipients thanked their teams and families for their tremendous support. At the same time, they emphasized the major challenges that continue to confront the industry as a result of the energy transition, geopolitics, and economic developments.
Optimism was also the prevailing mood at the preceding conference, with participants confident that these challenges could be overcome through close partnerships among municipal utilities, technical experts, lawyers, and the financial sector. The prevailing sentiment was that it was not enough to wait for political directives from the federal government or the EU; it would be better to implement what is possible within one's own sphere of responsibility.
The evening then concluded in a lively atmosphere with good food, drinks, and animated discussions among the award recipients, speakers, jury members, and industry executives.
