E.ON Innovation

In a circular economy, waste doesn't exist. Every material has a next life. And Urban Mining is one of the most powerful tools to make that real: recovering valuable raw materials from existing infrastructure instead of extracting new ones. The scale of this opportunity becomes clear when you look at Germany alone: the country sits on an anthropogenic stock of around 28 billion tonnes of material [1] – embedded in buildings, roads, and energy networks. That’s roughly 340 tonnes per person. Yet secondary raw materials currently make up only 13 % of total resource consumption [2]. The potential is enormous. Practical examples show how urban mining works: → The dismantling of unused buildings provides large quantities of recoverable materials. → Air conditioning and ventilation systems contain metals and plastics that can be reused. → Power and data cables in walls and ceilings hold valuable metals such as copper. → Even non-functional telecommunication and data cables represent a valuable resource. → For the energy industry old unused copper cables are particularly important. Copper can be recycled indefinitely without any loss in quality. It sounds like a no-brainer – but it’s not that simple. Many older underground cables are oil-impregnated and contain hazardous substances that can contaminate soil and groundwater if not handled carefully. The plastic insulation often includes toxic additives that require specialized disposal – not a standard recycling process. That’s exactly why urban mining needs foresight. Every recovery project must be planned with environmental safety at its core: professional material separation, strict standards, and thorough risk assessment from the very first meter of cable. The raw materials are already beneath our feet. The real challenge isn't finding them – it's recovering them responsibly. It’s all part of our Nature Strategy, which combines responsible resource recovery with biodiversity preservation and circular thinking. Interestingly, I generated the accompanying image with the help of AI, highlighting how technology can support circular innovation. If you want to learn more about how we bring our circular economy initiatives to life, click here: https://lnkd.in/enWsQhzn #EONNatureStrategy #CircularEconomy #ItsOnUs

The circular economy is not just a theory. In the Circular Place, an internal marketplace for spare components at E.ON, it’s a tried and tested model. The main challenge is scale. Before we’re ready to fully close the loop, we have to see what works within existing systems. When I came up with the idea for the Circular Place, I was told to go ahead and implement it. I didn’t need a business case. I didn’t have to justify the concept. I received all the support I needed to get the project up and running Today, about 200 users have about 1,000 single parts on the platform. The numbers are small but growing. The Circular Place proves that the energy sector can apply circular thinking to conserve resources. At E.ON, we invest in research and development to drive circular concepts. Until the results are in, we are already getting things done. Find out what else we are doing to shape sustainability beyond decarbonization here: https://lnkd.in/enWsQhzn How are you implementing circular concepts in a running system? #EONNatureStrategy #CircularEconomy #ItsOnUs

The recent escalation in the Middle East is yet another reminder that energy systems built on extraction and one-way consumption are fragile by design. Furthermore, it shows that the future in times like these is no longer easy to predict. And yet, the mainstream conversation still treats the circular economy as a sustainability-only topic. Here's what I think we're overlooking: The circular economy isn't just a sustainability strategy. It's a resilience strategy. One that finally aligns sustainability, economic viability, and resilience. When we reduce consumption through lifetime extension and recover and recycle critical materials at end of life (EOL) as effectively as possible, we create a second supply source. One that doesn't rely on international shipping routes. One that doesn't collapse when trade agreements shift overnight. But the real impact runs deeper than stable supply chains. Recycling critical materials creates the resource base needed to accelerate renewable energy innovation: more solar capacity, more battery storage, more grid resilience. And that innovation is ultimately what breaks the cycle: moving us away from geopolitical dependencies. This is what drives my work at E.ON every day. And it goes beyond sustainability. It's about keeping energy and nature in balance, especially when the geopolitical landscape is anything but. This transition won't happen overnight, but the direction is clear. Companies and policymakers need to work in lockstep: stimulating demand together, rewarding innovation, and creating the policy framework that makes circular economy models commercially viable. The EU Circular Economy Act is moving in the right direction. But real acceleration happens when the full value chain moves together. Geopolitical uncertainty isn't going away. But our dependency on it can shrink. It's on us.

What’s more important? The big picture or the small details? Do local environmental initiatives even matter when we have a global climate crisis to manage? I say: why not both! Future-proofing Europe’s largest grid for the energy transition usually means thinking BIG – big enough to modernize a distribution network spanning 1.6 million kilometers. The #EONNatureStrategy keeps track of the small details, like … … the storks nesting on top of our power poles … the sheep “mowing” the grass in our PV parks … and of course the birds and the bees thriving in biotopes under our power lines.* Here’s why biodiversity matters: - Leading the energy transition with a decarbonization-only approach isn't enough. - We also need to support environmental ecosystems and innovate our use of resources. - When a biodiversity initiative shows results, we can scale it up across our network. - Each small detail contributes to the bigger goal: making the energy transition sustainable in itself. What do you think: “don't sweat the small stuff” OR “every little detail matters?” PS: You can find out more about our projects here: https://lnkd.in/eKAz87eQ #decarbonization #itsOnUs

The idea of a non‑linear economy is more than a century old, and the term “circular economy” has been in use for over 30 years. And yet, there are still many stereotypes and misconceptions about what my work as a circular economy expert actually involves. 🤷♀ What others think I do: What my KIDS think I do On the plus side, it’s a positive picture – and it’s not entirely wrong. To kids, circularity comes naturally. Their first instinct is to use whatever materials are on hand to explore, learn and play. This natural creativity is the perfect inspiration and a handy reminder to remain curious. What my FRIENDS think I do Sure, recycling is a big component of circularity, but the circular economy is much more than recovery and reuse of raw materials. It begins with a reduction of the need for resources and a value chain built for longevity. That way, we can extract maximum value from minimal resources before recycling what little is left. In the energy sector, the potential to reduce, reuse and recycle resources is huge. What my COLLEAGUES think I do Yes, I am often in meetings. For our circular approach to the energy transition to work, many stakeholders need to get involved. That means networking, sharing information, changing hearts and minds within the company, across our industry, and beyond. Together, we can build a more resilient, efficient, resource-friendly grid – a goal we can all get behind. WHAT I REALLY DO As Circular Economy Lead at E.ON, I bring an academic background in sustainability engineering, as well as many years of expertise in research and consulting into an industry that can benefit hugely from applying circular principles. My job is to change misconceptions within the business, help others understand the value of circularity, initiate partnerships across corporate divisions and initiate transformation from the ground up. …and I’ll probably do some creative upcycling, recycle some waste and take some meetings along the way, too 😉 Find out more about what I actually do here: https://lnkd.in/enWsQhzn Have you come across any of these stereotypes working in sustainability/ the circular economy? #EONNatureStrategy #CircularEconomy #ItsOnUs

I spend most of my days behind a desk, staring at a computer screen, just like most of you. It’s great to get out and see the work getting done on site! Here I am visiting a workshop in Wesel, where we send decommissioned transformers to be refurbished and redeployed. That’s when my research, meetings, and planning on a screen becomes real: - On average 10% of power transformers in our stock are refurbished per year - refurbishment can add 30 years to operational life - if a part is no longer needed, it’s added to Circular Place, our internal trading platform It’s all part of our Nature Strategy, which complements climate action with preservation of biodiversity, and mindful resource usage. https://lnkd.in/enWsQhzn If you’re in a similar field, I can highly recommend putting on a hard hat and visiting a work site after a long week at the office! Let me know what you learn 👇 #EONNatureStrategy #CircularEconomy #ItsOnUs