OUR APPROACH
In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany found itself grappling with an unprecedented energy crisis. The country’s dependence on Russian gas was exposed, threatening not only its economy but also its social stability. Amid soaring energy prices and the looming risk of shortages, the government responded with measures like the gas price cap, but the uncertainty remained high.
To document this crisis visually, we turned to thermal imaging photography—an unfamiliar technology that proved perfect for capturing the invisible aspects of energy consumption. Developed in the early 20th century, thermal imaging allows us to see the heat emitted by objects, revealing energy inefficiencies that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Energy-Intensive Industry: Thermal image of a cement plant near Hanover, Lower Saxony. Cement production is one of the most energy-intensive industries worldwide.
This project was shot both from the air and the ground, focusing on industrial sites with high energy consumption, such as cement factories, steel mills, chemical parks, and sewage treatment plants. We also photographed places that, while not major energy consumers, were still at risk due to the ongoing shortages, including private homes, public buildings, and leisure facilities.
Our aim was to capture the immense energy demand of German industries and highlight the urgent need for energy transformation—especially as the country faces one of the most critical moments in its energy history. Through thermal images, we bring to light the hidden costs of our energy use and the looming challenges of transitioning to a more sustainable future.
Largest Consumer: A man walks under a district heating pipeline at steel producer Thyssenkrupp in Duisburg. This steel mill alone, has a annual energy consumption of 46 terawatt-hours, which is around 4,5 times the energy that consumes the city of Hamburg annually.
New solutions: View of wind turbines in Hesse, Germany. Wind energy has become a symbol for Germanys energy transition, but on the other hand sparks discussions due to its volatile nature of energy-production.
The Queen Victoria cruise ship is moored in the port of Hamburg.
Thermal image of a highway interchange.
View of a DHL logistics center.
Hungry Cities: Aerial view of the Altona district in Hamburg. Cities are obviously hotspots for high energy consumption.
Lost Energy: Slides heated by the water glow at a leisure pool in Oberhausen / North Rhine-Westphalia. Clearly visible are the curved slides, which are filled with warm water.
Transition In Sight: Power lines in the Rhineland, Germany's largest lignite mining region. Germany will phase out coal-fired power generation by 2038 at the latest, preferably already by 2035.
High Technology: A compressor station for natural gas in Rehden, Lower Saxony. Germany’s largest underground gas storage facility is located nearby.
Cold Winters: Villas in the upscale Blankenese district of Hamburg. 70 percent of domestic energy-use is used for heating.
Insulation Is Key: Different types of residential buildings at the Osdorfer Born district in Hamburg. Clearly visible are the different levels of insulation.