Leading a green business transformation, with Filip Engel, Ørsted

In this UN Global Compact Academy Change Maker Series episode, hosted by Sara Krüger Falk from Copenhagen, Filip Engel, Vice President of Sustainability at Ørsted, discusses the company’s transformation from a fossil fuel-heavy energy firm to a global leader in renewables. 

Engel shares how his childhood awareness of the greenhouse effect shaped his commitment to sustainability. Joining Ørsted (formerly DONG Energy) in 2008, when it was one of Europe’s most carbon-intensive companies, he sensed an opportunity to drive change. Ørsted shifted from 85% fossil fuel-based power and heat generation to 90% renewables, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2025. This transformation, driven by top management and external pressures like EU climate targets and public protests, focused on scaling offshore wind, a then-immature technology.

Challenges included internal resistance from employees tied to coal and outdated models assuming renewables’ high costs. Ørsted overcame these through bold leadership, external communication to build stakeholder expectations, and collaboration with policymakers in Denmark, Germany, and the UK to create a supportive market for offshore wind.Engel emphasizes the need for leadership to challenge assumptions, take risks, and communicate a clear vision, while urging young professionals to push for change and listen to marginal voices for future insights.