Dr Werner Schnappauf gives keynote speech on the German Energiewende in Helsinki

On the occasion of the 70-year company anniversary of Finnish energy group Pohjolan Voima, Dr Werner Schnappauf, partner at GvW, gave the keynote speech yesterday. In his presentation in Helsinki, he focused on the German Energiewende and the future of the energy sector. A top-class group of participants subsequently discussed the future framework of energy production.
 
Dr Schnappauf acknowledged the issues related to the Energiewende and highlighted the necessity to reform the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) in Germany after the federal election. Other challenges that the former Bavarian Secretary of State for the Environment addressed in his speech included so-called capacity mechanisms to achieve long-term investments and therefore security of supply. At the same time, he campaigned for a stronger European approach with regard to energy politics and emphasized, in the presence of the Finnish Minister for Economic Affairs, Jan Vapaavuori, the importance of the reciprocity between energy, industry and prosperity.

With 37 power stations and a share of 20% in the total Finnish power production, Pohjolan Voima is one of the biggest energy companies in Scandinavia. The Helsinki-based group generates power from water, uranium, wood, turf, biomass, fuels, coal, gas and oil. 

With Dr Schnappauf’s active support, the energy practice of Graf von Westphalen is constantly developing. In particular, issues relating to the Energiewende have become increasingly relevant. The firm advised on various transactions regarding solar parks this year and acted as a representative of the German-Israeli Renewable Energy Committee (G.I.R.E.C.) at the Intersolar fair.