INSPIRE 2025
Closing Ceremony

Relevant content was on the agenda on Friday. More spotlights were cast on e-mobility and green financing with an excursion into digitalisation and AI.

Participants were able to start the final day of the conference feeling energised with the Austrian Rowing Federation. Together in one boat, the visitors of the INSPIRE energy summit engaged their sense of rhythm, team spirit and exercised mind and body 

Once again, this showed the strength of the collaboration between VERBUND and the Austrian Rowing Federation (ÖRV). The motto “By our own power” unites rowing and energy generation at numerous levels: the perfect symbiosis of athletic endurance and responsible use of natural resources makes all the difference.

Together in one boat with the ÖRV

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Presentations

Transformation of mobility

Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, director of the Automotive Research Centre, kicked off the last day of the conference. In his keynote speech, he discussed the measures China is taking to secure its position as a pioneer in the e-mobility sector. Europe must be prepared, because according to Dudenhöffer, electric cars will be the same price as combustion-engine cars before 2030.

The future of e-mobility

The following panel commended the already widespread use of carbon-free parcel delivery and electric vehicle fleets. In the future, work will focus on lorry charging to further expand the transition to e-mobility. Wolfgang Pfarl (Austrian Post) announced that Vienna would be the first metropolis in Europe to completely switch its vehicle fleet to e-mobility by 2030. 

Rudi Kuchta, Wolfgang Pfarl and Roland Lausch talking with moderator Damita Pressl.

Transformation: Socially compatible and acceptable

Anna-Katharina Hornidge, director of the German Institute of Development and Sustainability and professor at the University of Bonn, emphasised: we live in a multipolar world. Many different systems of organisation create uncertainty at many different levels. She came to the conclusion that what is needed in the future is a global communication strategy with a focus on peace and the common good. She focused on cooperative logic: “We must think European.”

Digitalisation and AI

The subsequent discussion with Achim Kaspar, COO at VERBUND AG, and Erin Beilharz, principal consultant at Lufthansa Systems and advisor at Navon World, tapped into the importance of the human factor in the integration of AI and digitalisation in companies. Kaspar: “We need to use the latest technologies to be able to produce competitively and cost-effectively. We want to provide our employees with the best possible tools.” 

The effects of the climate

Roberta Boscolo, head of the Climate and Energy Unit of the World Meteorological Organisation, gave an outline of current global weather conditions and the impact of climate variability on the energy industry. Meteorological data are essential for predicting and managing the highly variable generation of renewables as effectively as possible. In light of this development, Boscolo recommends intensifying data exchange and changing our focus from the past to the future.

Video message from Peter Kollmann

A video message from VERBUND CFO Peter Kollmann opened the panel on green financing. Kollmann explained that green finance is valuable for companies for both strategic and economic reasons. Measures in the area of green finance implemented by VERBUND have clearly communicated the Group’s DNA to the capital market. Many new investors were also brought on board, helping to secure more favourable conditions and increase demand for bonds. 

Impulse presentations on green finance

Afterwards, Gerhard Marterbauer took to the stage and outlined green financing. Then, Michaela Keplinger-Mitterlehner spoke about financing the transformation. Felix Müsgens discussed the tension between efficiency and acceptance, explaining: “We must be careful not to lose acceptance when it comes to costs.” The roundtable was finished off by Anton Burger. He reported on the value of a well-planned transformation. In the end, everyone agreed that transformation is possible. 

INSPIRE wrap-up

At the end of the conference, Michael Strugl emphasised: “Transformation is a major challenge. It's complex, but it's doable if we do it right. Doing it right means doing it together. Our experts have shown us how to do this. We at VERBUND have the commitment, we have the know-how, we have the resources and we have the skills. We have the will to drive this state forward on this crucial issue. We can only do it together. That’s the spirit of INSPIRE!”

That was the INSPIRE energy summit 2025

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We are looking back at an exciting and extremely interesting event.

But the third round is already scheduled for 2027. Stay tuned.