Start Your Expedition
Steer the energy transition with the 4C GROUP
The need for transformation
The energy and utilities industry is undergoing profound change. Companies are faced with the task of actively shaping the energy transition. They are expected to reduce CO₂ emissions while ensuring a secure supply for millions of people. Fluctuating markets and political decisions are increasing the pressure. New technologies such as smart grids, battery storage, and hydrogen are opening up opportunities. To be successful in this industry, you need the courage to innovate and, at the same time, stability in your operations.
Deep Dive: Smart Grid
Challenges
Business objectives
Challenges
- Energy transition & decarbonization → Switch to renewable energies.
- Grid stability & security of supply with a growing share of volatile energy sources.
- Regulatory pressure (CO₂ limits, subsidies, climate targets).
- Cost pressure due to fluctuating energy prices.
- Technological transformation (smart grids, storage solutions, hydrogen).
Business objectives
- Develop sustainable, climate-neutral business models.
- Modernize investments in infrastructure (grids, storage, digitalization).
- Increase resilience to market and price volatility.
- Customer focus: new tariffs, decentralized models, energy services.
- Scale innovations (e.g., smart grids, e-mobility).
Our advisory products
Strategic Excellence
Strategic Excellence
- Business Model Innovation: Identification and further development of sustainable business models
- Business Capabilities & Sourcing Strategy: Evaluation of core business capabilities & optimization of vertical integration
- Utility Architecture: Strategic development plan for technical communication services
- Organization of the future: Structural and cultural changes to promote innovation & transformation readiness
- Corporate Social Responsibility: Extending corporate strategy to include the CSR concept
- Post-merger integration: Sustainable harmonization and merger-followed integration
Future Transformation
Future Transformation:
- Project portfolio management: Identification and prioritization of business-critical initiatives
- New Technologies Enablement: Initiation & management of innovation projects (e.g. 450 MHz) incl. orchestration of all internal and external stakeholders
- Maturity analysis of technical resources: Evaluation of technical components according to future viability and sustainability
- Process optimization: Increased efficiency through streamlining and digitization
- Transformation success management: Structured and targeted management of strategically relevant projects
Critical infrastructure
Critical infrastructure:
- Enterprise resilience map: Analysis of cyber-resilience of critical business areas and processes
- Strategic network topology: Visibility of the network infrastructure at the perimeter interface from IT to OT
- Data threat evaluation: Assessing the individual risk of distributed data in critical business processes
- Intelligent automation: Exploiting potential for optimizing process depth in the infrastructure area
- Cybersecurity localization: Determining the maturity level of the cybersecurity organization
Strategic Excellence
Strategic Excellence
- Business Model Innovation: Identification and further development of sustainable business models
- Business Capabilities & Sourcing Strategy: Evaluation of core business capabilities & optimization of vertical integration
- Utility Architecture: Strategic development plan for technical communication services
- Organization of the future: Structural and cultural changes to promote innovation & transformation readiness
- Corporate Social Responsibility: Extending corporate strategy to include the CSR concept
- Post-merger integration: Sustainable harmonization and merger-followed integration
Future Transformation
Future Transformation:
- Project portfolio management: Identification and prioritization of business-critical initiatives
- New Technologies Enablement: Initiation & management of innovation projects (e.g. 450 MHz) incl. orchestration of all internal and external stakeholders
- Maturity analysis of technical resources: Evaluation of technical components according to future viability and sustainability
- Process optimization: Increased efficiency through streamlining and digitization
- Transformation success management: Structured and targeted management of strategically relevant projects
Critical infrastructure
Critical infrastructure:
- Enterprise resilience map: Analysis of cyber-resilience of critical business areas and processes
- Strategic network topology: Visibility of the network infrastructure at the perimeter interface from IT to OT
- Data threat evaluation: Assessing the individual risk of distributed data in critical business processes
- Intelligent automation: Exploiting potential for optimizing process depth in the infrastructure area
- Cybersecurity localization: Determining the maturity level of the cybersecurity organization
Is Your Organization Ready for the Roadmap System Stability?
The energy transition presents grid operators with unprecedented challenges-and opportunities. The "Roadmap System Stability," developed under the guidance of the Federal Network Agency, is the first comprehensive blueprint for a stable power supply system based on 100% renewable energy. With 51 clearly defined processes, precise timelines, and clear responsibilities, it sets the pace for transformation.
We support you in assessing your process readiness and deriving targeted actions-for sustainable stability and future-proof decisions.
Let's strengthen your key role in the energy transition together.
Readiness Assessment
“
"The introduction of the new network control system is a complex change process. Thanks to 4C GROUP's strategic support, we are creating acceptance, minimising resistance and laying the foundations for a successful transformation."
Marcel Meunier, Head of Planning Systems Engineering at Syna GmbH
“
Deep Dive: Smart Grid
1. The key to the energy transition
The smart grid connects generation, transmission, storage, and consumption via modern communications technology. It responds to the volatile feed-in of renewable energies, flexibly balances supply and demand, and thus increases efficiency and sustainability. For energy suppliers, grid operators, industry, and consumers, it is the backbone of a secure and climate-friendly electricity supply.
2. Relevance for supply and stability
Smart grids enable decentralized energy supply and make nationwide integration of renewable sources possible. They give grid operators the ability to coordinate generation, grid load, and consumption automatically and in real time. In this way, they ensure grid stability, reduce supply outages, and create the basis for a sustainable, resilient energy infrastructure.
3. Opportunities through digitalization and automation
The smart grid forms the basis for the digitalization of energy flows. It supports the integration of decentralized generation, for example through photovoltaics, and allows consumers to actively participate in the energy market themselves. Automation, intelligent control, and data-based decisions open up new business models—from smart homes to flexible industrial applications—and are driving the energy transition forward in a decisive manner.
“
The future of the smart grid is not shaped by technology alone, but by the wisdom with which we interconnect strategy, technology, and humanity.
Christopher Kaetz | 4C GROUP
“
Success factors for implementation
- Integrative strategy and technology selection: An intelligent power grid requires a clear strategy and the right mix of technologies. The key is to combine IT and OT and reliably integrate all stakeholders.
- Strengthening expert knowledge and internal competencies: Grid operators must build up and continuously expand their digital expertise. This is the only way to efficiently digitize and standardize processes in order to ensure long-term stability.
- Targeted transformation and project management: A future-proof smart grid requires a binding target vision. Professional project management ensures that technological and organizational changes are consistently implemented and anchored.
4C Insights
4C Study: Roadmap for System Stability
In December 2023, the German Bundestag adopted the Roadmap for System Stability. The BMWK emphasizes that the Roadmap for System Stability is a central component for transforming the power system as part of the energy transition. Given the more than 50 defined projects, some of which run in parallel and are interdependent, this presents challenges for all parties involved.
To identify current approaches and recommendations for action in implementing the Roadmap, 4C GROUP AG conducted the study "Roadmap for System Stability - Strategic Approaches and Success Factors" among distribution network operators.
Study
Why 4C?
The 4C Group thinks strategically, acts practically, and consistently guides you into the future.
We don't deliver off-the-shelf solutions, but tailor-made concepts that work.
We provide consulting services with high standards and results.
Contact us to learn more
Your Experts
Please contact us directly to learn more about how we can support you on your journey.
Martin Stephany
Senior Partner
Industrial Engineer
Martin Stephany sees the successful transformation as the focus of his consultancy work in order to achieve sustainable customer benefit, with qualitative and quantitative analysis being the basis for consultation and complex content. He specializes in the areas of IT strategy, IT innovation & transformation and operational excellence and has extensive experience in numerous industries including IT services, financial services, energy, telco and manufacturing.
Christopher Kaetz
Senior Manager
Master of Science in International Management
Competent, Creative, Change Driven, and Customer Focused - These are the four values that guide every 4C person in their daily work. For Christopher Kaetz, the foundation of the 4C values, the competence, is the central element in creating lasting added value for every customer. His personal competence is based not only on his business know-how, but also on many years of consulting experience from a wide variety of organizations, companies and industries.
His focus in CIO Advisory is on IT strategy and control, Target Operating Model, and Cloudification.
Martin Stephany
Senior Partner
Industrial Engineer
Martin Stephany sees the successful transformation as the focus of his consultancy work in order to achieve sustainable customer benefit, with qualitative and quantitative analysis being the basis for consultation and complex content. He specializes in the areas of IT strategy, IT innovation & transformation and operational excellence and has extensive experience in numerous industries including IT services, financial services, energy, telco and manufacturing.
Christopher Kaetz
Senior Manager
Master of Science in International Management
Competent, Creative, Change Driven, and Customer Focused - These are the four values that guide every 4C person in their daily work. For Christopher Kaetz, the foundation of the 4C values, the competence, is the central element in creating lasting added value for every customer. His personal competence is based not only on his business know-how, but also on many years of consulting experience from a wide variety of organizations, companies and industries.
His focus in CIO Advisory is on IT strategy and control, Target Operating Model, and Cloudification.
Paula Winter
Expertin
Paula Winter drives transformations to success by engaging stakeholders—fostering motivation and empowerment to create lasting commitment. Her strength lies in blending hard and soft skills: she combines analytical methods and data-driven approaches with a deep understanding of change processes.
With a focus on business transformation, project management, and change management, she brings cross-industry experience—from IT and financial services to energy, telecommunications, and the public sector. Her goal: solid strategies that make change successful and sustainable.
Paula Winter
Expertin
Paula Winter drives transformations to success by engaging stakeholders—fostering motivation and empowerment to create lasting commitment. Her strength lies in blending hard and soft skills: she combines analytical methods and data-driven approaches with a deep understanding of change processes.
With a focus on business transformation, project management, and change management, she brings cross-industry experience—from IT and financial services to energy, telecommunications, and the public sector. Her goal: solid strategies that make change successful and sustainable.
We support your Transformation.
Contact us
Please note that this website only provides a limited insight into our services. Our expertise and range of services cannot be fully represented on this platform. For individual advice and to address your specific concerns in the best possible way, we cordially invite you to contact us directly so that we can offer you tailor-made solutions.
Thank you for your trust. We look forward to hearing from you.
Claudia Bauer
Head of Marketing & Business Development
To profile
Claudia Bauer
Head of Marketing & Business Development
Claudia Bauer is Head of Marketing and Business Development at 4C GROUP. As a business administration graduate specialising in online marketing, she has more than 15 years of experience in B2B marketing, brand development and brand management. She combines strategic brand development with psychological and neurological insights in order to communicate complex content in a precise, effective and differentiating way.
Together with her team, she develops future-orientated marketing and business development strategies that strengthen the positioning of the 4C GROUP, open up new business areas and support sustainable growth.
Maike Ring
Senior Expert Marketing & Business Development
To profile
Maike Ring
Senior Expert Marketing & Business Development
M.Sc. International Management
Maike Ring is an expert in Marketing and Communications at 4C. She holds an M.Sc. in International Management and has experience in Online Marketing, Communications, and Branding.
Claudia Bauer
Head of Marketing & Business Development
Claudia Bauer is Head of Marketing and Business Development at 4C GROUP. As a business administration graduate specialising in online marketing, she has more than 15 years of experience in B2B marketing, brand development and brand management. She combines strategic brand development with psychological and neurological insights in order to communicate complex content in a precise, effective and differentiating way.
Together with her team, she develops future-orientated marketing and business development strategies that strengthen the positioning of the 4C GROUP, open up new business areas and support sustainable growth.
Maike Ring
Senior Expert Marketing & Business Development
M.Sc. International Management
Maike Ring is an expert in Marketing and Communications at 4C. She holds an M.Sc. in International Management and has experience in Online Marketing, Communications, and Branding.
