What does Siemens Energy do, and why is it important to monitor political developments?
Siemens Energy is a global technology company with a broad portfolio that includes wind energy, power plants, electricity grids, and industrial gas turbine and compression technology. As an active player in the energy sector and energy-intensive industries—a highly regulated market—it is crucial for us to understand ongoing changes, including the energy transition and geopolitical influences. As a technology provider, it’s essential for us to have a clear understanding of what is happening in the sector and where it is headed, particularly with regard to legislation and standards. Policy in general is very important to us, and Polpo plays a key role in this regard.
Can you describe the impact political monitoring has on your work?
There are numerous regulations that permit or restrict certain technologies. One example concerns legislation on greenhouse gases like SF6, an essential component in switchgear but also a potent greenhouse gas. For years, we have been actively involved in efforts to transition from SF6 to what we call ‘blue GIS’ and other more sustainable solutions. Nearly all components of our portfolio have a regulatory aspect. This active role is vital to ensure that our technologies comply with current and future regulations.
How does political monitoring support your advocacy efforts?
Before we started using Polpo, keeping track of the political decision-making process was a significant challenge. Polpo is extremely useful for providing easy access to procedures, documents, meetings, and developments, helping us stay better informed about the policy issues that directly affect us. Even with limited resources, Polpo enables us to stay up-to-date on all important topics. This is crucial because our technologies are often part of the solution. It’s also important that we demonstrate the state of the technology and how it can contribute to goals like reducing CO2 emissions. This input is often appreciated by policymakers.
What are the key themes for Siemens Energy at the moment?
Everything related to energy is important to us, whether it’s grid congestion, green hydrogen, offshore wind, or energy storage in batteries. These themes are not only critical in the short term but also for the long term, as we contribute to the national plan for a climate-neutral society by 2050. These topics are significant for shaping and considering how we transition to future energy strategies. It’s vital to understand the policies, incentives, and mechanisms the government will use to stimulate companies to take these steps. For the government, it’s also important to understand what is feasible now and in the future, which is where Siemens Energy plays a role.
How does Polpo specifically help in tracking these themes?
Polpo is indispensable for Siemens Energy when navigating political and policy landscapes. It’s incredibly convenient to quickly check Polpo to find plans and documents. This tool enables us to conduct targeted research thanks to advanced search functionalities that quickly and accurately filter specific information. One key feature of Polpo is the stakeholder analysis, which helps us identify relevant actors and gather information about their participation in debates. This helps us understand the sources of information, including insights into lobbying efforts and activities of MPs.
Furthermore, Polpo provides insights into how trends develop around the themes we follow. These trend analyses are visualised with graphs that show us when and how often certain topics arise, allowing us to respond proactively to significant events. With Polpo, we can focus on what truly matters, thanks to its ability to filter relevant information.
How can Polpo be used by a commercial company to create growth opportunities?
Currently, within our organisation in Europe, there is significant focus on subsidies. This is because many new technologies depend on the availability of subsidies; without them, our clients’ business cases would not succeed. We use Polpo to gain a much better understanding of the subsidy landscape and to identify what subsidies are available and how they work. This insight is critical for determining how we can strengthen our position in the market and achieve greater success.
Polpo also supports us in identifying which subsidies are available for our projects, an important indicator for estimating their likelihood of success. This applies to new themes such as hydrogen, industrial heat pumps, or battery technology, as well as more “classic” themes like electricity grids, which are currently a major topic. Polpo helps us understand the current situation—the ‘lay of the land’—and identify the right stakeholders to proactively, and sometimes even assertively, position our solutions.