Polarstern: Managing Director of Projekt GmbH and the Projekt group Ubbo de Witt together with the founders of Polarstern (f.l.t.r.): Florian Henle, Ubbo de Witt, Jakob Assmann, Simon Stadler.
Powering the energy changeover together with new ideas – that’s the goal of the partnership between Projekt GmbH and Polarstern. The wind energy company is acquiring a 50 percent share plus one vote in eco-energy utility Polarstern. The participation is more than a strategic partnership. That’s because what unites the two companies is their common commitment to developing and implementing groundbreaking projects that drive the expansion of renewable energies. Each of them contributes its own core competencies and strengths to the joint management team, covering both the generating and the marketing sides of the business. “I’m excited at the opportunity we now have with Polarstern to supply our green energy directly to consumers. That gives them the chance to experience the energy changeover in a concrete way. All this in a package that stands out for even more sustainability including eco-gas, as well as helping families in developing countries to build their own micro-biogas plants. Generating clean energy where it’s needed is the right way forward – worldwide,” says Ubbo de Witt, Managing Director of Projekt GmbH
With their complementary business areas, the two companies aim in the future to make the most of synergy effects. “Projekt GmbH is a respected and experienced partner on the green energy market. The participation of one of the earliest wind energy pioneers gives us the strength and know-how that enable us to cover the process chain from the generation of renewables to delivery to final customers – honestly and sustainably,” says Florian Henle, co-founder of Polarstern.
Two trailblazers on the green energy market
As early as the 1980s, energy history was being written in Oldenburg. This was the location of the first university Physics course to research the decentralised generation of renewable energies. And even back then, the operation of the “Energy Lab” on the university campus demonstrated the feasibility of the approach. Projekt GmbH was founded from this seedbed, and since 1993 it has been planning and implementing wind energy projects. The company consistently displays the courage to innovate. In 1996 it initiated and built the first wind farm financed only by residents of the local district, the “community wind farm”. Work began in 2001 “beyond the horizon” on the Sandbank 24 offshore project. The company is the largest independent prototype operator and service supplier, with services including technical operation management. That means its core team has built up know-how over many years of practical and pioneering work that goes into consulting and expertises or due diligence analyses. For its vision of a 100% supply of energy from renewables, the company continually explores new paths. Now, teaming up with Polarstern, it is not only a generator but also a supplier of clean energy.
The objective of Polarstern GmbH, founded in summer 2011, is to change the world with energy. It is the first eco-energy utility to offer households throughout Germany exclusively 100% eco-electricity and 100% eco-gas from waste substances. Simultaneously, for each customer the company invests in renewable energies. Characteristic of Polarstern is its global approach. That means it doesn’t just promote the expansion of eco-energy at home, but also in developing countries. “Ultimately, the energy changeover can only work globally”, says Florian Henle. “With Polarstern we want to kick-start change and at the same time be an example for how we ourselves can embrace change in our daily lives and our economy.” Polarstern is also the first company with a competitive tariff for 100% eco-gas from waste substances to supply to the whole of Germany. This is based on a trading system comparable with that on the electricity market. It enables Polarstern to supply its eco-gas up to 44% cheaper than current competitor offers.
About Polarstern
Polarstern GmbH was founded to change the world. The independent energy utility enthuses people around the world for the energy changeover and enables them to transfer to renewables in a way that makes sense. The company offers consumers all over Germany a product that combines not only 100% genuine eco-electricity, but also 100% genuine eco-gas with direct development aid. This is how every customer, when buying energy, supports the development of renewable energies in Europe and developing countries. For each kilowatt-hour sold, 1.25 cents from electricity and 0.25 cents from gas are invested in new European eco-power plants. Additionally, for each customer, Polarstern helps a family in Cambodia to use clean energy. It also supports the construction of micro-biogas plants. That improves quality of life both there and here.
The TÜV technical testing organization has approved both the eco-electricity and the eco-gas. Furthermore, the electricity supply is certified with the Green Electricity label in the Gold category. Polarstern is supported by committed celebrities such as extreme mountaineer Hans Kammerlander, snowboard professional David Benedek, Andreas Schützenberger from skate arena construction company IOU RAMPS and Jonas Imbery, founder of music label GOMMA.
