Surname, first name: Zipfel, Bernadette
Nationality: German
City, country: Hamburg
Degree program/degree: Shipbuilding and Marine Technology/Dr.-Ing.
Year of graduation: 2009 Dipl.-Ing./2014 Dr.-Ing.
Employer and position: Reventus Power GmbH & Senior Director Investments & Technical

"Big tasks are best accomplished as a team"

Dr. Zipfel, what motivated you to study shipbuilding at the Technical University of Hamburg and later even to pursue a doctorate? 
I have been a passionate sailor since I was a child. During my high school years, I spent almost all my time on the water, as I was involved in competitive sailing, which is where my fascination with water, wind, and ships came from, even though the degree program has very little to do with recreational boats.

Was there a formative or unforgettable experience during your time at the TUHH?
I was chair of the shipbuilding student council for a year (and the second woman ever to hold the position since the student council was founded/H.F. Latte). That was very formative, especially the period before the election, when I encountered considerable resistance, in my view because of my gender. The year itself was great, with everyone's support. We were also able to organize the first excursion to China and South Korea for shipbuilding students.

After completing your doctorate, you have had an impressive career in the field of renewable energies and offshore wind power. What was your specific path from academia to industry? 
It took me a year to find my way into the offshore industry after completing my doctorate. I started out in a small engineering firm, but due to a lack of work, I returned to university as a postdoc and then found a job at RWE Offshore (through a sailing friend). There, I was able to develop from a specialist engineer to a team and project manager over several years.

Today, you are Senior Director at Reventus Power. Previously, you worked as Team Lead Engineering Management Future Technologies at RWE Renewables. What fascinates you most about working in the field of offshore wind and sustainable energy generation? 
Making a difference for the future in a very challenging environmental setting (wind, water, waves, and salt) with constantly evolving technologies and being able to actively shape the energy transition.

You lead a team, are responsible for strategic decisions, and develop offshore wind projects in various markets. What challenges and opportunities do you currently see in this industry? 
The industry is (once again) in the doldrums. Politically, the energy transition has taken a back seat and old business models such as oil and gas are back in vogue. Geopolitical developments have dramatically increased the cost of building wind farms, while at the same time the price of electricity without subsidies is too low. For example, in the last auction at the beginning of August, no bids were submitted for a large area in the North Sea with a grid connection for 2.5 GW. The true costs of fossil fuels are still not being paid, which makes the business model for renewable energies difficult.

You are not only a manager, but also a mother of several children. How do you manage to balance family and a demanding career?
Mainly through a true 50/50 split with my husband. Not only has he taken half of all parental leave, but he is also truly responsible for half of the tasks related to our four children. It's a bit like at work: big tasks are better accomplished as a team. We agreed on this before starting a family. The key was always to make arrangements in advance and to communicate transparently and early on. That way, no one at work ever doubted that I would come back quickly and with the same motivation.

What message would you like to convey to young women who aspire to a career in technology or in leadership positions? 
Unfortunately, women still need to have thick skin, but don't fight alone. Network with other women (and mothers) and support each other. Stand up for your rights, but also delegate responsibility (especially to your partner).

What would you ask an all-knowing researcher from the future? 
How to motivate people to use their knowledge for a good future and not always see only the inevitable losses of the present. I am firmly convinced that it is not knowledge that is lacking, but the will to implement it, in order to secure a good future without sacrifice for the next 100 years.