Welcome to Consolinno, Simon!

Welcome to the team, Simon! You come from a scientific background—what motivated you to switch to Consolinno? 

I really enjoyed being a scientist and consultant, and I hope to retain my analytical and systemic thinking skills. However, after more than 10 years in science, I wanted to take the next step: to be more involved in implementing the energy transition and closer to the customer! 

You have already managed large projects. Is there one that particularly sticks in your mind? 

That's a very difficult question—I've had the opportunity to contribute to so many great projects. unIT-e² was a lot of fun: an exciting symbiosis between the energy industry and the automotive sector, large-scale field trials, lots of political and regulatory issues... a great project!

The person who has influenced me the most is probably C/sells: digital power grids are an incredibly exciting topic, a huge consortium, high political visibility thanks to the showcase approach, and fantastic collaboration between science and practice. It brought together the best of both worlds! 

The energy transition often sounds like technology and numbers. What does it mean for you personally? 

Even if it has almost become a platitude: climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and the energy transition is the most effective solution. For me, the energy transition is our generational project, which must not fail. That's why, on the one hand, we need the necessary seriousness, a lot of brainpower, and hard work to find a solution. On the other hand, for many of us, working on the energy transition fills our entire professional lives. That's why it has to be fun, otherwise you'll freeze in shock when faced with the huge tasks at hand...   

You now hold a key strategic role at Consolinno. How do you intend to advance our vision for the energy transition? 

As a (former) scientist, I have a pretty good idea of what a climate-neutral world might look like and what technologies would be needed to achieve it. I try to align our product portfolio with precisely these systemic targets. A concrete example: an EMS such as our Leaflet HEMS has to play an important role in the power grid of the future. That's why we need to understand the requirements of grid operators even better and tailor the features of the EMS accordingly. In this context, I also consider strategic partnerships with pioneers in the energy industry to be absolutely essential. 

What inspires you about Consolinno's work? 

Consolinno has a really exciting product portfolio and the people who work here are mostly intrinsically motivated with a clear focus on the future. I also find the Leaflet HEMS very exciting: it has a clear customer focus, but is also linked to the highly regulated energy industry. 

What do you think we need to really bring about widespread energy transition? 

Good products with clear added value (including financial value for customers) and the necessary emotion behind them! The days when investments in the energy transition could be motivated by idealistic values are over. Now, a clear consumer focus is needed—even if this is sometimes not so easy for technicians and engineers! 

How do you recharge your batteries? What inspires you? 

I'm currently attempting a daring balancing act: on the one hand, I hope that some of my two children's boundless energy will rub off on me. On the other hand, I try to regularly schedule a few quiet hours in the Alps with my running shoes, racing bike, or climbing gear. 

Finally, if you could change one thing in the world right now, what would it be?

I would like to quote Harald Lesch: "We need more of a 'can-do' mentality!" Less pointless discussions about bullshit topics that just waste time, and more motivation and action on the really important issues.

That's exactly where I would really like us all to develop a better sense of which discussions and arguments are worthwhile (and then we can throw ourselves into them wholeheartedly) and which squabbles are completely useless.

And what's more, the energy transition is very ambitious and fraught with uncertainty—but that's nothing unusual for projects of this magnitude. I would hope that we respond to these uncertainties not with pessimism, but with optimism and a zest for action!