A gas crisis looms in winter, and there are also risks when it comes to electricity. Politicians and experts are calling for energy to be used sparingly so that storage and power plant capacities are sufficient in the event of further Russian supply cuts. In addition to private households and public institutions, large companies have a key role to play here.

A selection of current plans:

The steel industry - production process dependent on natural gas

The raw material-intensive industry is concerned about its gas procurement. Germany's largest manufacturer, Thyssenkrupp, is preparing for interruptions or restrictions "in various scenarios". In the steel industry, natural gas is needed to generate heat, for example for rolling or in the coking plant. Less gas means less production. This can be "accompanied up to a certain threshold", explains a Group spokesperson. However, a minimum supply is essential to maintain processes, otherwise shutdowns and plant damage cannot be ruled out. Thyssenkrupp sees little potential for savings with gas: "Switching to crude oil or coal is not possible in our production processes."

The number two, Salzgitter AG from Lower Saxony, also emphasizes: "In steel production, there are several processing and auxiliary processes that rely on natural gas." The aim is to "limit its use to a minimum". Partial quantities can be replaced with oil. In addition, more use is being made of the so-called by-product gases. Salzgitter intends to switch from coking coal to hydrogen for the production of pig iron in the medium term - although natural gas mixtures will also be used here in the interim.

Automotive manufacturing - locations affected differently

To date, Germany's flagship industry has needed large quantities of gas for many processes and to supply energy to its factories. The Volkswagen Group, for example, has just converted the power plant at its headquarters in Wolfsburg from coal to gas. "We are in a situation where we can use both energy sources," said CFO Arno Antlitz in the spring shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine. VW is keeping a low profile on the consequences of complete supply or import stops.

Competitor Mercedes-Benz recently emphasized that a looming gas shortage was causing it considerable concern. The Stuttgart-based company is preparing to reduce consumption at its German sites by up to half if necessary. According to CEO Ola Källenius, there is an emergency plan: "We would be able to implement these measures this year." Electricity from gas combustion is to be replaced by electricity from renewable sources as often as possible. General energy savings are also planned, and oil could also be used if necessary. Källenius is cautious: "We don't know what will happen." Talks with the Federal Network Agency are ongoing.

As an automotive supplier, Continental is also affected by the energy crisis. The proportion of gas in the energy mix is significant, according to the Hanover-based company. Individual locations are vulnerable to varying degrees - "from not being affected at all, to the use of natural gas purely for heating purposes, to the generation of process heat, to the use of gas directly in the production process". Conti did not want to give any details. "We are monitoring the current situation closely."

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals - only little potential for reduction

With a share of 15%, the industry is the largest gas consumer in Germany. Here, natural gas is not only a previously indispensable energy source, but also a raw material that is used in many end products. The VCI association sees little potential for reduction: using other fuels would only save 2 to 3 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy from gas in the short term - companies would need around 135 billion kWh per year. VCI Managing Director Wolfgang Große Entrup said in mid-July: "For our companies, we are currently doing everything we can to exploit the very last gas savings potential."

Recently, however, more optimistic voices have been heard again. BASF expects to continue operating its main plant in Ludwigshafen even if a gas emergency is declared. According to CEO Martin Brudermüller, the gas still available should be sufficient to maintain operations with a reduced load. The Darmstadt-based Merck Group believes it is prepared for a shortage. "We are prepared to shift our production processes to crude oil, among other things," said CEO Belén Garijo to the 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung'.

Mechanical engineering - preparations for shortages underway

Even in the industry, which is dominated by SMEs and is often referred to as the "backbone" of the German economy, the impact varies from company to company. Matthias Zelinger, energy expert at the VDMA association, estimates that companies in the sector as a whole could have to make do with 20 to 40 % less gas for a short period of time.

At the end of June, almost a third of mechanical engineering companies stated in a survey that they were preparing for a shortage. Around three quarters of these companies are examining their own options - for example, by installing electric or oil-fired back-up systems. A third already had staggered emergency plans in the drawer.

Deutsche Bahn - per capita bonus for saving energy

With an annual consumption of around 10 billion kWh, the federally owned group is the largest single consumer of electricity in Germany. Last year, natural gas accounted for 6% of the electricity mix, coal for more than 20% and renewable energy sources for around 62%. Chief Human Resources Officer Martin Seiler refers to measures such as energy-saving driving in long-distance and regional transportation or the replacement of fossil heating systems with alternative heating systems.

Deutsche Bahn is also focusing on motivating its employees. The workforce is to receive a bonus of 100 euros per head, which will be increased to 150 euros if everyone saves enough energy. This involves, for example, particularly careful use of lighting, heating, air conditioning or refueling. The incentive system is primarily intended to reduce energy consumption in buildings and at train stations. Deutsche Bahn is not saying how high the potential is and what the specific scope of the savings should be.

Deutsche Telekom - office temperatures at around 20 °C

As one of the largest IT and service companies in the country, the Bonn-based group is a major energy consumer. Initiatives for greater energy efficiency are taken very seriously, it says: "This applies to the network infrastructure powered by electricity, our IT and our office buildings. We are keeping an eye on a potential gas embargo and are preparing for various scenarios."

In the offices, the current workplace directive applies with corresponding temperatures; for light activities in a seated position, this is around 20 degrees Celsius. "If there are any changes to the regulation, we would of course take them into account." Permissible minimum temperatures for heating or maximum temperatures for air conditioning are an issue in many companies. At Deutsche Telekom, however, a lot of work - where possible - is also done from home.

Smaller companies and regional chambers - approval procedures must be accelerated

The Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) have surveyed members in several federal states about their concerns regarding future gas supplies. In Lower Saxony, for example, a good two thirds of the often smaller companies see opportunities to reduce their electricity requirements by up to a tenth. The figure for natural gas is 62%. Authorities and politicians would then have to approve the necessary conversions quickly. According to the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce, many companies in Saxony are preparing to save natural gas or replace it with liquid gas and oil firing. A reminder here too, however: Extensive requirements and deadlines should not act as a brake now.