Eon CEO sees danger to power grids from drone attacks

Eon CEO Leonhard Birnbaum has issued a stark warning about the vulnerability of Germany's energy infrastructure to drone attacks. He described the high-voltage transmission networks and Eon's own 110,000-volt grid as the "most attractive target" for potential assaults.

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The most attractive target is the high-voltage of the transmission system operators and Eon's 110,000-volt grid.

Birnbaum emphasized that achieving complete protection for these critical assets is "illusory." He drew a parallel to Germany's struggles in securing its airports, questioning how the country could possibly secure hundreds of distributed power distribution points. "We are currently not managing to secure the airports, and not even the few large airports. How should I tell you now that we have all our many hundreds of distributed distribution network points under control? That is of course not the case," he stated.

The Eon chief called for enhanced security measures, placing the responsibility firmly on the state. He acknowledged that Eon has been working for years to improve the physical security of its facilities, but the rapid advancement of drone technology makes comprehensive defense challenging. "We can ensure that it is not easy, but we cannot ensure that it is impossible to attack us," Birnbaum said.

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We are currently not managing to secure the airports, and not even the few large airports. How should I tell you now that we have all our many hundreds of distributed distribution network points under control? That is of course not the case.

Beyond prevention, Birnbaum stressed the importance of preparing for rapid restoration of power supply following a successful attack. He advocated for better networking among all relevant actors, including federal and state police, as well as private companies like Eon. "We need simpler solutions that also interlock," he urged, highlighting the need for a "system that can realistically function."

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We can ensure that it is not easy, but we cannot ensure that it is impossible to attack us.

"Germany, Europe must become better across the board," Birnbaum concluded, reiterating that while Eon will contribute, the state must ultimately guarantee security. Eon is Germany's largest electricity supplier and network operator, serving approximately 12 million electricity and 2 million gas customers.

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We need simpler solutions that also interlock.