Boost for digitization | Offenbach

Offenbach – “It’s almost like Thomas Gottschalk’s outside bet,” jokes EVO spokesman Harald Hofmann when he hands over to the away team. Ralf Siefen, managing partner of DCG, stands on the roof of the new data center and explains structural details – live with the cameraman. Cut: A drone shows a long shot with the protagonist at a lofty height. This is followed by a switch to the interior (photo) before Lord Mayor Felix Schwenke, Georg Müller (MVV board member) and Christoph Meier (EVO board member) answer Harald Hofmann’s detailed questions. Economy Minister Tarek Al-Wazir alone had to cancel at short notice.

Public live stream in front of 300 guests

With so many parallels to the television world, the question of the “audience rating” may be allowed. According to EVO, it was a good three hundred yesterday. Not bad for a new format and more than the energy supplier would have invited to the Alte Schlosserei … Here, too, as a silent participant on the home PC, you can say: applause, applause. This fact is the result of an initial crisis that has forced us to take unfamiliar steps since spring.

But doesn’t the corona pandemic also include one or the other chance? For EVO, which has been working from home since March, Meier says: “It stuttered in the first week, after that nobody would have expected it to work.” The prerequisite for this: The local supplier has invested heavily in IT for years. “Every employee has a laptop with the appropriate software; that made everything easier. But the decisive question is how to use it. We used this for regular communication with employees. That further strengthened our sense of togetherness – despite the distance, ”says Christoph Meier looking back.

Mayor Schwenke wants to position Offenbach more economically

Mayor Schwenke directs his attention to the economic aspects of this and possible other data centers. “For Offenbach this is essential and part of our economic policy; we are trying to set up the city more broadly – not only to locate handicrafts, retail, industry and services, but also research and development. Keyword: Design Park. ”He still remembers the first discussions about the construction of the Main DC data center and the market entry. “Those responsible there naturally ask themselves questions: Are we correct, is this the right place? Are the promises kept? Can we rely on EVO and the city as partners? So today is a good day: We can deliver! “

For Georg Müller, the electronic components (e.g. for power plant control) are by no means new territory, but: “We network faster and strengthen, we work together differently.” That also includes a cultural change. “This event as we are running it right now has something of normality about it. It shows that digitization takes place in the mind. It will stay that way even after the corona pandemic. And yes: there has been a positive boost for digitization in the past few months. “

Energieversorgung Offenbach invests in the 110 kV network

This could be accompanied or continued by the EVO. “We see ourselves as enablers for energy-efficient data centers,” said CEO Meier. On the way there, EVO is planning a 30 million euro investment in the 110 kV network for a “safe and comprehensive power supply” over the next few years.

From Martin Kuhn

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