Techem CEO Matthias Hartmann: “Decarbonization needs data”

He is CEO of the Frankfurt-based technology leader Techem and makes a clear diagnosis: Without the radical digitalization of buildings, the energy transition will fail. At the Economic Talks on the Main, Matthias Hartmann explained how his company is leading the change – and why he is relying on new, global investors.

At the exclusive setting of the Steigenberger Icon Frankfurter Hof, around 100 opinion leaders and executives from the region gathered at the invitation of the FrankfurtRheinMain business initiative. The focus of the 119th Business Talks was Matthias Hartmann , CEO of the Eschborn-based energy service provider Techem. But the man driving the digital energy transition in millions of buildings is more than just a technocrat. Introduced as a former drummer in three bands and a passionate Eintracht Frankfurt fan, he embodies a modern, approachable leadership culture.

The smart home as a climate savior

Hartmann's central message was unmistakable: The stability of our power grids and the success of the energy transition will be decided within our own four walls in the future. He vividly outlined the reason for this: While in the past, a few reliable giants like coal-fired or nuclear power plants ensured a constant flow of electricity, today millions of decentralized sources – from solar roofs to wind turbines to balcony power plants – feed energy into the grid unpredictably. This system, consisting of countless weather-dependent generators on the one hand and millions of individual consumers on the other, threatens to collapse without intelligent, digital control.

“Without digitalization, there can be no energy transition” – Matthias Hartmann, CEO of Techem

Hartmann was not shy in his criticism of the national implementation, painting a picture of a country that is dramatically lagging behind in this key technology. While countries like Spain have long since completed the rollout of smart meters and Italy is already installing the second generation of devices, Germany is stuck at a rate of just five percent.

For Hartmann, the conclusion is clear: "Without digitalization, there will be no energy transition," he argued. Where a meter reader used to ring once a year, smart meters will in future provide real-time transparency. The goal is to make residents aware of their consumption. "If I know what I'm using every month, I have a completely different relationship with costs," Hartmann explained.

For Techem, this means a radical transformation: moving away from being a pure billing service provider and towards becoming a digital manager for everything that consumes energy in the building – from optimized heating and solar power from the roof to charging stations in the underground car park.

Between demands and customer service

Hartmann openly addressed the challenges. The entire industry, according to his self-critical assessment, is "not a world champion in customer service." Digital transformation, in particular, is ruthlessly exposing weaknesses and forcing greater efficiency and precision. He made it clear that this path is not yet complete. This open attitude resonated with the audience. His goal is to noticeably improve customer satisfaction. The cancellation rate has already been halved in recent years.

Insights into a failed deal

But why does an established company like Techem rely on global financial partners? Hartmann's answer lies in the business model itself: The transformation into a digital energy manager and the pre-financing of millions of smart meters require enormous capital investments. This is a growth dynamic that would be difficult to finance from ongoing operations.

Against this backdrop, his insights into the recent change of ownership became a rare moment of candor. A planned sale for €6.7 billion to a consortium led by the American Texas Pacific Group (TPG) fell through at the last minute due to unexpected competition concerns from the EU. Instead, Hartmann said, the previous Swiss majority shareholder will remain on board and lead a new consortium.

His accounts provided an authentic picture of the reality behind global billion-dollar transactions and the months of tension within management. Hartmann's conclusion is pragmatic: The strategic direction remains, and growth continues. Techem aspires to be a "European champion" that helps shape the energy transition from the Rhine-Main region.