W.E.B celebrates anniversary

Notable guests congratulate the Waldviertel-based energy transition pioneer

25 years of W.E.B and 20 years as a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) are certainly cause for celebration: W.E.B invited partners and companions to celebrate together with a grand anniversary party. The list of prominent guests was spearheaded by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Member of the Provincial Parliament of Lower Austria Ludwig Schleritzko.

In his welcome address, the Austrian President pointed out the importance of such companies as W.E.B in the overall struggle against climate change, “The climate crisis is upon us and has become an arduous reality for all of us. What we need are sustainably thinking and acting businesses. The path of W.E.B has been characterized by pioneering spirit and innovative strength. Particularly worth noting are W.E.B’s firm roots in the region, which have remained as strong as ever despite the company’s international expansion. This gives me hope for the future.”

Ludwig Schleritzko was impressed by W.E.B as well, “Lower Austria is a clear trailblazer in the field of energy transition. This would certainly not be possible without such companies as W.E.B – companies that invest in the region, push forward developments and generate electricity. I am convinced that this was the right way to go, a strategy that will lead us into a successful future: let us use the resources in front of our doorstep – the wind but also the woods or the water!”

The W.E.B Board of Directors were overwhelmed by the guests’ reception and talked about the secret behind the success of W.E.B, “We are impressed by the development of W.E.B in the last few years every day anew. We assume a leading role in the international energy transition and all that based on wide-scale citizen participation. Our work focuses on the people, which is also why we are so happy about all the nice words and support for W.E.B. You encourage us to continue on our path,” as CEO Frank Dumeier looks both back on the past and forward to the future with great passion and energy.

CFO Michael Trcka adds, “The secret behind the success of W.E.B are undoubtedly our employees. Our great success would not be possible without them. Working with our team is always a pleasure and I am looking forward to shaping a future with clean energy together with our employees, partners and shareholders.”

Afterwards, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, Member of the Provincial Parliament of Lower Austria Ludwig Schleritzko, the W.E.B Board of Directors, Frank Dumeier and Michael Trcka, as well as representatives of the Secondary College of Business Administration HAK Waidhofen an der Thaya left their handprints as a symbol of how our own hands may help our climate.

The about 300 guests were invited into the pole tent to listen to a very special guest: the internationally renowned environmental scientist Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker talked about the climate crisis and its potential solutions, “The climate is probably our No. 1 problem at the moment, and there are many ways to solve it. We need to include the world’s developing countries; we need to use our energy more efficiently; and we need to increase the price of energy and CO2. Nevertheless, the most important answer for a sustainable future is renewable energy.”

After the kick-off speech, the panelists Ingmar Höbarth (Austrian Climate and Energy Fund), Peter Püspök (Austrian Renewable Energy Association) and Stefan Moidl (IG Windkraft) discussed what they had just heard. With W.E.B founder Andreas Dangl, Hans Winkelmeier (Energiewerkstatt Association) and Max Wachter (landowner of the first W.E.B power plant), “those who were there from the start” shared their nostalgic yet amusing stories of the foundation of W.E.B and the construction of the very first power plant in Mistelbach.

The last panel was formed by Nils de Baar (Vestas), Theodor Zillner (Austrian Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology), Wilhelm Rasinger (Austrian Shareholder Association) and Georg Schöppl (Austrian Federal Forests), who joined Frank Dumeier and Michael Trcka to discuss our energy future, and thus the future of W.E.B.

In the course of the relaxed conclusion of the celebration, there was no doubt among the guests that W.E.B would successfully continue on its path towards a future with clean energy.