From liquid gas to solar: Powering Germany’s energy future

DCC Energy’s Managing Director in Germany, Christian Heine, talks about the market’s evolution, the growth of renewable energy, and how DCC is staying ahead of the curve to keep customers happy.

“It’s been an energising and inspiring journey. What I really like about DCC is that they encourage and empower us to act locally and to really take into account the specificities of the German market.”

Just shy of a year into his role as managing director Germany at DCC Energy, Christian Heine’s excitement about his work and the company’s mission is palpable. Christian has a country-wide focus that provides deep insights into the evolving needs of energy customers.

“German customers are discerning - they expect technical excellence, transparency, and sustainability,” Christian explains. “They want reliable partners who understand both compliance and innovation. Compared to other markets, the demand for integrated, low-carbon solutions is particularly strong in the commercial and industrial sector.” 

“It’s about orchestrating operations rather than balancing”

DCC’s presence in Germany comprises three distinct businesses: liquid gas companies PROGAS and TEGA, and solar energy company WIRSOL. The latter marked DCC’s entry into Germany’s renewable energy market in the summer of 2024. With TEGA’s liquid gas operations recently integrated into PROGAS, Christian feels confident about the group’s current setup and its readiness for the future.

“It’s about orchestration rather than balancing the different businesses,” Christian says. “PROGAS and TEGA provide the solid foundation – proven operations, strong customer relationships, and leadership in liquid gas and bio-liquid gas. WIRSOL adds the renewable energy dimension with solar PV, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and EV charging solutions. Together, they form a portfolio that reflects the energy mix of the future: cleaner molecules and smarter electrons. Our task is to integrate these strengths into one coherent customer offering and to continuously innovate through both organic growth and acquisitions.” 

Solar and battery storage serve as central pillars of Germany’s energy transition for commercial and industrial customers. Building on WIRSOL’s strong foundation – established in 2003 – DCC can now incorporate BESS solutions into broader customer energy strategies, supporting its vision to deliver fully integrated, low-carbon energy solutions.

“Storage allows us to optimise self-consumption, stabilise grids, and offer flexible energy management to our customers,” Christian explains. “Having been in business for over 20 years, WIRSOL knows how to do the technical engineering, they know the procurement, the construction, and they are very good in operational maintenance.”

Christian is particularly proud of two showcase BESS projects, in Münster and Kandel, both scheduled to begin operations in the first half of 2026.

“DCC’s strength lies in focus and adaptability”

Germany’s energy market is both the largest and one of the most fragmented in Europe. With over 400 liquid gas distributors nationwide, DCC must remain agile to stay ahead of the competition and meet growing energy needs.

“Our strength lies in focus and adaptability,” Christian notes. “We choose specific segments where we can lead – like liquid gas and bio-liquid gas, renewable energy solutions, and refrigerants – and we build strong, customer-centric operations around them. We act locally, supported by the global experience and financial strength of DCC. This combination of entrepreneurial spirit, disciplined integration, and strong capital allocation makes our approach distinctive in a highly competitive environment.”

In addition to DCC’s customer-centric approach, Christian highlights that its strong market capabilities help the company stand out to sustainability-minded customers: “We can provide tax-optimised solutions for customers to build ground-mounted and rooftop solar PV – with additional financing options included. This is highly attractive to our customers.”

Driving smart growth

Looking ahead, Christian is excited to continue DCC’s successful acquisition journey in Germany. He’s confident that opportunities exist which will strengthen the company’s position in the energy industry.

“I think what is also exciting is to really become one of the leading energy companies for commercial and industrial customers and to really be very smart about it,” he says. “Providing the offerings that our customers want and need to have better solutions; I think we're going to be very successful. We’ve just started in the German market and there has been good momentum which we're building on; I'm excited to carry it on. It's a lot of fun.”