Why is Essen the heart of the energy revolution?

Essen, located in the central zone of the?Ruhr?area, has a rich and interesting historical past. Today a melting pot of technology and culture, the landscape contrasts the city’s beginnings as a coal hub with transitions to industry, alongside music and art.

One of the largest urban areas in Europe, Essen is considered the heart of the energy revolution. Way back in 1782, the Krupp family first set up operations in the Essen region and by the 18th century, the first large coal mines were opened. The city saw major growth during the 19th century when it housed one of the largest coal mine complexes in the world, which led to several steel and iron factories in the area. The Zollverein coal mines are now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and coal is no longer the driving force of the economy. However, Essen remains the hub of innovation and technological advances in the power industry.

Essen is often considered the energy capital of Germany with?E.ON?and?RWE, Germany's largest energy providers, both headquartered in the city. In addition, since 1937, the city has been home to Gas- und W?rme-Institut Essen e.V. (GWI) renowned for practically oriented research on technologies related to natural gas and gases from various other alternative sources. The GWI currently has 60 member companies, consisting of enterprises such as gas and energy companies, gas suppliers, manufacturers, and trade associations.

Now part of the North Rhine Westphalia state, Essen is both, a major industrial area hosting the headquarters of major companies such as thyssenkrupp, Evonik and DB Schenker, as well as the seat of academia and culture, with Folkwang College of Art, the University of Duisburg-Essen, and museums such as the Museum Folkwang and the Ruhr Museum.

Proactive with initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the city's resilience to climate change, Essen is known for its sustainable practices in protecting and enhancing nature and biodiversity and efforts to reduce water consumption. The city won the?European Green Capital honour?two consecutive times, for the years 2016 and 2017. This award is given to European cities that have a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards, are committed to sustainable development, and can be seen as a role models to inspire other cities.

True to its legacy of leading the power industry, Essen continues to support Europe’s transition to low carbon energy systems with several new forays into alternative fuels such as hydrogen and fuel cells. Supported by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the first hybrid SOFC system in Europe is being installed here, along with GWI, to further research into low-emissions, clean energy systems that can power the future.