Still The important waterway of Hormuz is blocked. Important energy deliveries from the Gulf states cannot pass through them. A faster energy transition would ensure that consumers are independent of the energy market in such situations. FOCUS online spoke to Dr. Filip Thon, CEO of E.ON Energy Germany, talked about the status quo of the energy transition and the consequences of the Iran crisis.

FOCUS online: Mr. Thon, should we expect a new energy crisis because of the Iran war?

Filip Thon: I believe that the impact on German consumers is not directly comparable to the Ukraine crisis. The heating season will soon be over. In addition, with longer periods of sunshine per day, more renewables come into the power grid. If there is more sun, we have more energy. Physically speaking, we don’t have a problem.

Nevertheless, spot prices on the gas market are rising rapidly. The so-called TTF front contracts were now at over 55 euros per megawatt hour.

Clay: Yes, but that’s what they are short-term price movements for energy traders for the next month have to buy. We also see an increase in long-term prices for 2027, but this has so far been significantly lower. Of course, no one can predict this exactly. We can reassure our customers at this point: We have purchased electricity and gas for the long term and will keep the prices for our existing customers stable in the coming months.

Because you just mentioned renewables: How do you assess the progress of the energy transition in Germany?

Clay: We have already achieved a lot so far. On the producer side, in 2025 we had a share of electricity generation from renewable energies of almost 60 percent. We see steady growth, mainly from photovoltaics and wind turbines. However, this causes volatility, for example if there is too little sun or too much wind.

And what about the customers?

Clay: The topic of electric cars is at the forefront there, especially because of the new subsidies. In 2025 we will break the two million mark for electric cars for the first time. We are also seeing this development with electric trucks and electric vans. All mobility is gradually moving towards electric.

The charging infrastructure is also constantly growing. There are currently around 200,000 public charging points and over a million wallboxes for charging at home in Germany, without which electromobility would of course not work. At the same time, we see technology developing further. For example, you can now properly charge the battery and continue driving in 25-30 minutes.

Does that mean you are satisfied with the pace of expansion of the charging infrastructure? You often read that things are going too slowly.

Clay: This currently goes hand in hand with the increasing number of vehicles. I would say that fits. Where there is still a need for expansion is bidirectional charging.

Clay: This would be an option for people who own a house with a solar system in combination with an electric car: They could flexibly charge their car using a wallbox and either feed the electricity back into the grid or feed it from the car into the house. It is currently still the case that anyone who transfers energy from the grid to the car pays levies and taxes on it. If this energy is fed back into the grid and consumed by someone else, they in turn pay levies and taxes – on energy for which these costs have already been paid. There should not be such double burdens.

You just mentioned wallboxes – how has the demand for wallboxes, heat pumps and similar future technologies developed?

Clay: In 2023 there was an absolute peak in the number of PV installations. On the one hand, this was due to the energy crisis and, on the other hand, because many consumers wanted to become more independent. After a slump in 2024, we are now seeing a normal rate of increase again. PV systems are in demand again, especially those with solar storageso battery in the basement. By the way: In the last few days we have been overwhelmed by photovoltaic inquiries. We have therefore increased our solar teams and extended accessibility. In geopolitically turbulent times, it becomes clear under a magnifying glass: When it comes down to it, customers see renewables as the solution to being a little more independent in terms of price and physical energy.

Now there is a rumor going around that the federal government wants to end funding for PV – to what extent does this risk the ramp-up of PV systems?

Clay: I don’t want to take part in the speculation at all. An intelligently controlled PV system with a battery is worthwhile, regardless of whether it is subsidized or not. It is important that consumers use as much energy from their PV system as possible and thus save on grid fees, for example.

Keyword intelligently controlled: So-called smart meters are necessary for such control. You can also hear here that the expansion is stalling. What hurdles are there?

Clay: For smart meters, there is a mandatory rollout and meter installation upon customer request. Both work. The target equipment quota specified that we had to install at least 20 percent of the legally required installations for intelligent measuring systems in the group by March 31, 2025. All E.ON network operators have fulfilled this requirement. What is now important is that those operators who have not fulfilled it are either sanctioned or incentivized to fulfill the quota.

What might that look like, for example?

Clay: I can’t speak for the regulatory authorities on this. What is important is that this method has an effect. Consumers must be equipped with smart meters quickly and unbureaucratically.

What exactly are the advantages of smart meters for consumers?

Clay: The following scenario: A customer purchases a complete system consisting of a PV system with storage, heat pump and wallbox. Smart meters are the vehicle for intelligently using renewable energy. For example, they can control charging processes and ensure that the car is not charged at 8 p.m., when everyone is just getting home from work, thus driving up the price of electricity, but at two or three in the morning. Then the electricity is cheaper. This also allows you to control how much energy from the PV system goes into your home, how much goes into the battery or how much is sold. This all happens fully automatically and we take care of it in the background.

How can consumers save money with flexible charging?

Clay: You can do a variety of things there. For example, there is the possibility of not only taking advantage of the perfect charging time, but also trading with the energy charged at night. This means: We see when the car is charged and we know when consumers need their car charged. In the meantime, we then draw energy from the car, sell it onto the grid and buy it back again.

Could the electricity from an electric car be used to power the house?

Clay: It would be a solution for crises, but it would require bidirectional charging – and a special wallbox that is equipped for this.

If you charge the car at night and then pay little for the electricity that you then use to power the house, that would be a hack for cheap electricity.

Clay: However, you have to keep in mind that you may need the car from time to time. If you have a plan to not drive the car for two to three days, then you can optimize accordingly.

Do you also drive electric in your private life? Which energy transition devices do you use at home?

Clay: I only use green electricity. This is already standard for all of our household customers. I also drive semi-electrically – the next car will be fully electric. Finally, I examine the topic of balcony photovoltaics.

Finally, a look ahead. What other renewable energy trends should consumers pay attention to this year?

Clay: The trend is towards electric vehicles, bi-directional charging, heat pumps. In short: towards electricity and electrification – this remains an irreversible megatrend. This confirms that it is always better for consumers and households to move towards electrification and sustainable energy sources.