New round of Energy-Scouts successfully completed

Following project stops at InfraLeuna and Innospec Leuna at the Leuna chemical site: IHK-Energy-Scouts celebrate the conclusion of the program in Schkopau

The latest round of the “Energy-Scouts” program has come to a successful conclusion. This initiative by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce enables trainees to engage in-depth with energy efficiency, sustainability, and potential cost savings within their companies. This year, too, companies from a wide range of industries – from chemicals and food to technology – participated, united by the goal of using energy more consciously and initiating sustainable improvements in their own operations.

At the start of the project, the trainees attended several days of training at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), during which they also learned about various participating companies and their energy management systems, as well as the associated challenges and opportunities. In the process, they acquired basic knowledge of the energy sector and gained insights into measurement techniques and economic feasibility analyses. This knowledge formed the foundation for the subsequent practical phase at their training companies.

A key project day took the aspiring Energy-Scouts to the Leuna chemical site. There, as part of a site tour and company visits, they gained insights into industrial production processes and the energy supply of Germany’s largest chemical site. In addition to Innospec Leuna GmbH, a globally active company that primarily produces PE waxes and flow improvers for diesel fuel and heating oil, as well as EVA copolymers in Leuna, the focus was also on the combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant operated by InfraLeuna GmbH, which supplies local companies with electricity and steam.

The Energy-Scouts had the opportunity to see in practice the individual stages of energy conversion in a thermal power plant, transforming chemical energy into electricity. The power plant generates electricity using gas and steam turbines. Additionally, heat (steam) from the waste heat steam boilers can be supplied to process plants at the Leuna chemical site.

During the subsequent scouting phase, the trainees identified specific energy-saving opportunities at their companies and implemented them as projects. For example, the trainees at InfraLeuna analyzed the lighting in the tank cleaning area and developed a plan for a complete conversion to LED technology. This translates to an estimated annual electricity savings of nearly 15,500 kWh, with a potential monetary savings of approximately €4,000 per year.

The project’s closing ceremony took place on April 21, 2026, in Schkopau. Nine project groups presented their results there, which were subsequently evaluated by an energy consultant.
An eventful project came to a close with the official presentation of certificates to the new IHK Energy Scouts and a concluding tour of a facility at Synthos Schkopau GmbH.

“The Energy-Scouts impressively demonstrate the commitment and technical expertise already present in our training programs. The fact that our trainees are actively taking responsibility for energy efficiency and sustainability is a major benefit — both for the company and for their personal development,” emphasizes Raphael Gründel, Head of Human Resources at InfraLeuna GmbH. “As the HR department, we are very actively supporting the project because it combines technical qualifications, entrepreneurial thinking, and teamwork in an exemplary way.”