Düsseldorf Municipal Utilities demonstrates a promising trend and persists in funding sustainable energy sources.
In the heart of Germany, Düsseldorf's municipal utilities, Stadtwerke Düsseldorf, are making significant strides in the energy transition. These investments allow the company to grow while partnering with renowned entities like Düsseldorf craftsmanship and local industry to drive change.
One of the most notable projects is the creation of a covered charging park at Faährstraße, equipped with a photovoltaic system on the roof, signifying a strong commitment to e-mobility.
The portfolio of measures implemented by Düsseldorf's municipal utilities, while not explicitly detailed in available sources, is likely to include expanding renewable energy production (solar and wind), upgrading grid infrastructure with smart technologies, integrating large-scale energy storage, and exploring new technologies like hydrogen and geothermal energy. All these efforts aim to promote community involvement in sustainable projects.
The investments are not limited to future-oriented and sustainable expansion and renovation in classical energy supply but also extend to charging infrastructure for electric mobility and decentralized energy solutions for private households. These investments are made possible by the successful business strategy and the shareholders' decision to forgo dividend payments.
One innovative project is the use of river water heat pumps at the power plant site Auf der Lausward, which will win heat from the Rhine water and feed it into the district heating network. The investments will focus on expanding and decarbonizing district heating, modernizing and digitizing networks, and further expanding renewable power generation.
A significant portion of the profit will not be distributed to shareholders but will remain in the company to strengthen its capital base. In 2024, the municipal utilities had an annual surplus of 104 million euros. For the current year 2025, investments of around 180 million euros are planned. Düsseldorf's municipal utilities aim to invest over one billion euros by 2030 in climate-friendly and future-proof energy supply. More than two-thirds of these funds are being used for green measures and projects.
Investments in green measures and projects have almost doubled since 2021. Notable projects include a cooperation with Rheinbahn and H2 MOBILITY Germany, the construction of a new drinking water tower in Düsseldorf-Gerresheim to secure the drinking water supply for around 800,000 people in Düsseldorf, Mettmann, and Erkrath, and a partnership with Henkel to use industrial waste heat for Düsseldorf's district heating, greening district heating.
The digital version of the Stadtwerke business report 2024 provides more information about these projects and the company's performance. CEO Julien Mounier states that these projects contribute to achieving climate protection goals and ensuring sustainable supply security for Düsseldorf's residents. The decrease in results was primarily due to lower revenues from trading activities as a result of the relaxation on energy markets.
In 2023, investments were at 95 million euros, and in 2024, they rose to 125 million euros. An electrolyzer will supply the new hydrogen filling station at Höherweg with hydrogen from next year, with electricity produced from the biogenic share from the waste incineration plant.
These investments and projects by Düsseldorf's municipal utilities underscore their commitment to a sustainable and climate-neutral future for the city and the region.
- The collaboration between Stadtwerke Düsseldorf and Henkel in utilising industrial waste heat for Düsseldorf's district heating is an example of how environmental-science and business intersect, aiming to green district heating.
- The city's municipal utilities, Stadtwerke Düsseldorf, have entered the realm of climate-change mitigation by integrating hydrogen and geothermal energy technologies into their portfolio, demonstrating their forward-thinking finance approach.
- In alignment with the aim of promoting community involvement in sustainable projects, Stadtwerke Düsseldorf is partnering with entities like Rheinbahn and H2 MOBILITY Germany to construct a hydrogen filling station, merging business and environmental priorities.
