The Energy Coast: a hotspot for renewable energy
The North Sea coast in Schleswig-Holstein is Germany’s prime location for the renewable energies of the future. It has experts, scientists, creatives and energy enthusiasts, all of whom are using the resources at their disposal to create an ultra-innovative energy system. They have consolidated their expertise under an umbrella brand called the ‘Energy Coast’ since 2020. We spoke with Project Coordinator Kirsten Voss about the location’s advantages, the challenges and how a completely climate-neutral future is being created here.
WTSH-Online editorial team: The west coast of Schleswig-Holstein is considered the ‘cradle of wind energy’, and these days the Energy Coast has established its position of being a pioneer in renewable energy. It is steadily building on this pioneer role and strengthening the economic factors. What makes the Energy Coast appealing for new companies?
Kirsten Voss: There are many factors to that. Above all else, there are vast amounts of green energy which provide a basis for significant value-adding potential in a very wide variety of areas. There are strong, established companies leading the way successfully. The energy transition has been and is being done in a connected way across the Energy Coast, and all the aspects of an integrated system have already been developed. As a result, business starters with a pioneer spirit and innovative projects from all over Germany and Europe can find an ideal home in our state. On top of that, international investors have access to promising opportunities with targeted government policies, scientific research and financial incentives and support.
WTSH-Online editorial team: The Energy Coast stands out for having a large number of cross-sector projects and partnerships. Can you name a few examples illustrating the development and establishment of a comprehensive, sustainable energy system?
Kirsten Voss: Some good examples are GP JOULE and CustomCells, both Energy Coast pioneers. The GP JOULE Group, in Reussenköge, has succeeded in developing future-proof solutions for wind, solar and hydrogen in an extremely short space of time. Sector coupling, or integrated energy, is especially important in this, as can be seen in a pilot project called ‘eFarm’. The innovative, green hydrogen mobility project shows how it can be possible to produce fuel-grade hydrogen and heat using wind and the sun.
CustomCells is developing lithium ion batteries, which are a key technology for storage solutions. Since its founding in 2012, this innovative company has grown rapidly. In early 2024, it inaugurated a new, sustainable head office in Itzehoe and opened its first international location in Detroit in the United States. CustomCells works for industries such as automotive and aviation as well as for research organisations. Just like GP JOULE, its employees come from everywhere to work at CustomCells on the Energy Coast.
WTSH-Online editorial team: Let’s take a look at skilled workers. The ‘True North’ is forecast to see a capability gap of at least 180,000 skilled workers by 2035. How are you responding to this on the Energy Coast? What concrete action are you taking?
Kirsten Voss: The skilled worker gap is significantly smaller in occupations working on climate protection. We have already launched a range of activities and are working together with partners intensively on more concepts to close that skilled worker gap. Information and communication are crucial for this. The Energy Coast offers a wealth of great jobs with a unique work–beach balance – sustainable jobs right by the water. Globally successful businesses, industries that genuinely matter for the future and an active academia and science landscape all act as milestones for our climate-neutral future. And, with the large number of small- to medium-sized enterprises, there are not only flat hierarchies and opportunities for rapid upward mobility, but also family-friendly working models. We want to use platforms such as the internet and social media to show the occupations that are in demand and how people can get into them as a career starter or changer. Women in particular are under-represented in many climate-related jobs, so we are putting a focus on this.
WTSH-Online editorial team: Now, short and sweet to finish: why should businesses as well as skilled workers come to the Energy Coast?
Kirsten Voss:
1. If you want to set things in motion and shape a sustainable future, you are going to need to come to the Energy Coast.
2. We have unique conditions for achieving success, whether you are a company or a skilled worker. Profits are made on the Energy Coast.
3. The Energy Coast in the True North is home to Germany’s happiest people because we have the right work–life balance here.
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Energy Coast:
The North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein is Germany's hotspot for renewable energies. Experts, researchers, creative minds and energy enthusiasts are working flat out here to develop a highly innovative, sustainable energy system from inexhaustible resources. The Energy Coast was initiated in 2020 as a network and umbrella brand by the Regional Cooperation West Coast. The RK-Westküste is an association of the districts of Nordfriesland, Dithmarschen, Steinburg and Pinneberg, which are considered pioneers of the energy transition, the Entwicklungsgesellschaft Westholstein mbH, the WEP Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft des Kreises Pinneberg mbH, the Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft Nordfriesland mbH, the Flensburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Kiel Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The aim of the Energy Coast is to strengthen the existing economy, attract new companies and skilled workers, and create a distinctive image for the business location. The Energy Coast is making a significant contribution to transforming Schleswig-Holstein into the first climate-neutral federal state. The Energy Coast is financed with funds from the West Coast Regional Budget and the partners of the West Coast Regional Cooperation, as well as the Heide A.ö.R. Development Agency. The West Coast Regional Budget is funded by the ‘State Economic Programme’ with funds from the joint federal-state programme ‘Improvement of Regional Economic Structures’.
