Building Europe’s future energy infrastructure
How electrification, hydrogen, energy storage and digitalisation are reshaping the energy transition
Honeywell’s Ben Linke, Industrial Automation President Europe, speaks with Manfred Bernhardt of Streicher Anlagentechnik Head of Plant Engineering Division, about the infrastructure investment, technology choices and industry collaboration shaping the energy transition in Germany and across Europe.
Europe’s energy transition is changing the infrastructure used to generate, transport and store energy. Power networks are expanding, hydrogen infrastructure is developing, and operators are considering how storage and digital technologies can support an increasingly connected energy system.
Recorded at GasTag in Munich, this conversation explores how those changes are unfolding in practice. Ben Linke and Manfred Bernhardt discuss the growing role of electrification, where hydrogen could complement it, why storage and efficient transport matter, and how collaboration can help turn energy ambitions into working infrastructure.
The views expressed are those of the speakers. Customer examples, statistics and figures discussed are illustrative and may be based on publicly available data, estimates or assumptions. Unless stated otherwise, they do not identify or represent any specific customer. Results vary by deployment and operating conditions. References to technology capabilities, including data analytics, artificial intelligence and predictive monitoring, describe general functionality and may not reflect the features of every product or deployment. This video contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.
Infrastructure for the Energy Transition
The transition is not only about changing how energy is produced. It also requires infrastructure that can move, manage and store energy reliably as demand patterns evolve.
In the interview, Manfred Bernhardt describes investment in power-line expansion and a shift towards electric heating among households and smaller businesses. At the same time, gas infrastructure remains part of the picture as industry considers how hydrogen could develop alongside electricity. For infrastructure providers, the challenge is to support today’s energy requirements while preparing assets and capabilities for what comes next.
Where Hydrogen Fits Alongside Electrification
Electrification is becoming more prominent, but not every industrial process can readily move to electricity. Energy-intensive operations may require other pathways where direct electrification is difficult or impractical.
The discussion points to Germany’s developing hydrogen core network and cross-border conversations with European countries capable of producing hydrogen. In this context, hydrogen is presented as a complement to electrification: a potential option for industrial applications that need substantial, dependable energy supply, rather than a single answer for the entire energy system.
Storage and Digitalisation: Making a More Complex System Work
A more diverse energy mix creates new operational demands. The speakers highlight the importance of improving transport efficiency, reducing losses and expanding storage across both electricity and hydrogen infrastructure.
Battery systems can support electricity networks, while converted or purpose-built facilities may have a role in hydrogen storage. Digitalisation adds another layer by helping organisations use timely operational information to position resources appropriately and optimise their use. Together, storage, automation and better information can support decisions across an increasingly interconnected energy ecosystem.
Collaboration Turns Ambition into Infrastructure
No single organisation can deliver the energy transition alone. Infrastructure builders, grid and energy operators, technology providers and suppliers each contribute different capabilities, and their work must connect effectively.
Manfred Bernhardt emphasises reliability, coordinated delivery and supply-chain cooperation in the relationship between Streicher Anlagentechnik and Honeywell. The wider lesson is that infrastructure change depends not only on individual technologies, but also on practical partnerships that can bring engineering, automation and digitalisation together.
Looking Ahead
Europe’s future energy infrastructure is likely to combine electricity, hydrogen, storage and established energy systems in different ways. The right balance will depend on the application, available infrastructure and the pace of change.
For the organisations building and supporting that infrastructure, the direction expressed in the interview is clear: collaborate across the value chain and develop energy pathways designed to be sustainable, safe and durable.
