Dear Readers, we’re excited to introduce the brand-new C4 Blog and share our very first blog interview, featuring our Executive Director Harald Beck.
The main themes of our conversation included C4 Energy’s business direction, insights from the sale of the Schkopau lignite power plant, and the broader significance of the energy transition.
We extend our sincere thanks to Mr. Beck for his time and engagement — and we hope you enjoy reading!
You are Executive Director and also Senior IT Manager of the C4 Group — that sounds like a broad portfolio. What does a typical workday look like for you?
That’s not an easy question to answer, since my workday consists of many different responsibilities. I lead major client projects in which C4 Energy plays a key role — for example, carve-out and carve-in projects where clients sell or integrate business units. Our job is to ensure that these units continue functioning smoothly in their new environments, particularly in terms of IT systems and operational processes.
We also lead mission-critical IT projects or take on interim management roles. In these areas, our clients rely heavily on our decades of experience in the energy sector.
In addition to these duties, I also handle a range of tasks for the broader C4 Group — maintaining relationships with clients, advisors, and team members; supporting sales efforts; expanding our internal organization; overseeing accounting — and the list goes on. As you can imagine, my day doesn’t follow a classic 9-to-5 structure. This role really means being available 24/7. But to answer the most important question up front: yes, I would absolutely do it again.
C4 Group’s services are made up of multiple units. Under C4 Energy, your focus is on the energy and utilities sector. Could you explain the core areas in which C4 Energy operates?
When we founded the company, the choice of the name “Energy” was deliberate. Our expertise initially lay in IT across all key areas relevant to the energy industry. Over the years, our competencies have expanded far beyond traditional IT consulting.
Today, C4 Energy operates on four main pillars.
First: software-related consulting services in SAP across all systems (ERP, BI, HCM, CRM, IS-U), including implementation, customization, and operations.
Second: development services, which we offer jointly with our clients across major platforms.
Third: organizational and management consulting — covering reorganization projects, business building, and interim management.
And fourth: assuming operational responsibilities (outsourcing), where we take over entire departments to manage support, operations, or project execution on behalf of our clients.
What distinguishes C4 Energy’s project and consulting experience from other market players?
While some individual services may look similar to those offered by competitors, our true differentiator lies in our deep understanding of the energy industry. In addition to 30+ years of personal experience, we also have comprehensive knowledge of the full range of processes energy providers require.
Most competitors have niche expertise. We certainly do, too — but we’ve gone further. Together with partners, we founded our own utility company to execute every process of the energy value chain ourselves. From procurement and sales to balancing group management, metering, and billing — we know it all inside and out.
On September 30 last year, Uniper sold its remaining shares in the Schkopau lignite power plant to Saale Energie GmbH. What was C4 Energy’s role in this transformation?
C4 Energy led the IT workstream for the sale. Our specific task was to ensure all IT systems required for operations, billing, and regulatory compliance could run seamlessly in a new environment defined by the buyer.
This included ensuring access to critical maintenance data — which was tightly integrated into Uniper’s core systems and not easily extracted. Not all assets were transferred to the buyer, so we also had to set up entirely new infrastructure: networks, phone systems, and more. On September 30, we successfully migrated everything — and the uninterrupted operation of the smokestack and cooling tower speaks for itself.
Since 2015, Uniper has decommissioned coal plants in Scholven, Datteln, Veltheim, Shamrock, and Knepper. What sustainable results have emerged in energy supply since then?
Schkopau, too, is on the way out — this is a politically driven decision. To our knowledge, Uniper — now operating as a standalone generation unit — has committed to a zero-emissions strategy. Aside from Datteln 4, new investments are being made in renewable energy: onshore and offshore wind farms, photovoltaic parks, and LNG infrastructure.
That said, I don’t believe the retired capacity has been adequately replaced — either to balance the grid or meet growing electricity demand. We’re still lacking large-scale storage or equivalent stabilizing infrastructure.
This sale marked a major milestone in the plant’s 25-year history. What was the mood among employees?
Interestingly, the sentiment was more optimistic than not. EPH — the new owner — is not exactly known for a zero-emissions strategy, which gave many employees hope for continued operations. Of more than 100 employees, only two declined the transition. Today, due to high electricity prices, the plant is running at full capacity — quite a change from a year ago.
Are there areas within renewable energy where you’ve been less involved so far?
This is a topic I’m passionate about — it’s our future. But the challenges are complex: we need more smart generation, better transmission networks, and massive storage solutions to avoid blackouts. We’ll still need some conventional energy sources alongside renewables.
We need new ideas: consumer behavior aligned with grid demands, tariffs that incentivize off-peak usage. Electricity is the oil of the 21st century — and with 60+ million vehicles eventually relying on it, being part of that transition is one of my most meaningful missions. It’s about the future of my children.
What excites you most about this?
To expand on that: I already live this transformation in my personal life. Every vehicle in our household is fully electric. We generate as much of our electricity as possible from solar, store it for off-peak use, and our next step is geothermal heating. If that’s not commitment to the cause, I don’t know what is!
There’s a growing public awareness around the energy transition. What aspect moves you most?
I’m happy to see many people — especially younger and older generations — rethinking their approach to mobility. What concerns me are wasteful subsidies, like using food crops for bioenergy. Surprisingly, it’s often those between 35 and 50 who seem the most resistant to change. Whether or not we believe in climate change, oil is finite — and burning coal still releases nearly three tons of CO₂ per ton combusted.
Got more questions? Reach out to us at contact-us@c4-group.com — we’d love to hear from you or get your feedback!
