Interview – trend.EDITION 5 | 19. 12. 2025
“We Need a Complete Overhaul of Energy Infrastructure”
In an interview, Karl Schäcke, CEO of the ASTA Group, discusses the rapidly growing global demand for electricity, the need for a fundamental transformation of energy infrastructure, and the crucial role copper components play in ensuring supply security and stabilising transmission and distribution grids.
Interview: Tamara Schögl, www.trend.at
TREND: How will global electricity demand change in the coming years?
KARL SCHÄCKE: Global demand for electricity generation and transmission is rising sharply due to the use of artificial intelligence, energy-intensive data centres, electromobility, decarbonisation, the electrification of industry, as well as heat pumps and air-conditioning systems. By the middle of the 21st century, global electricity demand will increase significantly – but even more important is this: by 2050, electricity will account for more than 50 percent of the energy mix. That represents a tripling compared to 2010. Achieving this requires a complete overhaul of energy infrastructure.
TREND: What is the scale of this transformation, and which components are decisive?
KARL SCHÄCKE: By 2030, investments of more than EUR 580 billion will be required in electricity grids across Europe. Globally, around EUR 3.1 trillion must be invested during this period in the expansion and modernisation of power infrastructure, and approximately 18 million kilometres of grid lines will need to be built. Overall, we are talking about a doubling of global grid infrastructure by 2050. This is not a short-term effect, but rather a so-called “supercycle” for our industry.
The availability of transformers – to which ASTA contributes significantly as a component supplier – is one of the key enablers of this grid expansion. Generators are also essential for ensuring security of supply and stabilising transmission and distribution networks.
TREND: How can grid stability be ensured, especially given the growing share of renewable energy?
KARL SCHÄCKE: High-voltage transformers play a decisive role in grid stability. They compensate for rapid load fluctuations, keep voltage levels stable and prevent outages. The higher the voltage, the lower the transmission losses – which is why high-voltage transformers in Europe are designed for up to 400,000 volts, and for even higher voltage levels globally.
TREND: What is the current condition of electricity grids?
KARL SCHÄCKE: Parts of the power infrastructure in the United States date back to the 1960s or even earlier. More than 40 percent of Europe’s electricity grids are over 40 years old, and nearly half of this infrastructure will reach the end of its technical lifetime by 2030. More than one million installed transformers are over 25 years old. Replacing them would significantly increase energy efficiency in power transmission and distribution – particularly by reducing transmission losses.
TREND: Speaking of transformers – what challenges does their renewal present?
KARL SCHÄCKE: Since millions of kilometres of grid lines must be built, thousands of transformers are also required. This poses major challenges for the industry. Transformer manufacturers now face lead times of several years, new production facilities are being built as quickly as possible, and major manufacturers rely on ASTA as a dependable partner for high-quality copper components – the core of these machines.
TREND: How does ASTA ensure this reliability?
KARL SCHÄCKE: To ensure reliability, we are developing an integrated circular-economy model for copper recycling. Today, around 40 percent of the copper processed by ASTA worldwide already comes from recycled material. This share will be gradually increased. This approach is not only sustainable, but also strengthens ASTA’s raw-material supply and thus secures our global reputation as a reliable supplier of copper components for the energy industry.
TREND: What opportunities does grid renewal create for ASTA?
KARL SCHÄCKE: The ASTA Group benefits from rising global energy demand and supplies the “heart” of the energy transition with its copper components. Our customers include the world’s leading manufacturers of high-voltage transformers such as Siemens Energy, GE Vernova and Hitachi Energy, as well as generator manufacturers like Andritz. With these long-standing partners, we are currently growing together – and we intend to seize this opportunity.
TREND: What risks must be addressed?
KARL SCHÄCKE: One risk in the energy transition is the time factor. Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydropower are essential for decarbonisation and the move away from fossil fuels. However, their output fluctuates depending on weather conditions, which leads to changing load patterns in the grid. This poses a major challenge for grid infrastructure. The blackouts in Spain and Portugal in April 2025 and in the Czech Republic in July 2025 show that we urgently need much more stable grids.
TREND: New concepts, technologies and products are constantly being developed to meet growing requirements for security of supply, efficiency and decarbonisation. What role does ASTA play?
KARL SCHÄCKE: ASTA is one of the world’s leading market and technology players in winding copper materials, with a 210-year history of innovation and numerous patents. Our roots are in Oed in Lower Austria, near Wiener Neustadt. Today, with more than 1,400 employees, we operate six production sites in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil (two sites), China and India, producing copper components for transformers, generators and e-mobility applications (automotive and locomotives).
Through our expertise and uncompromising quality standards, we help customers – manufacturers and grid operators alike – minimise energy losses. Our success factors include ultra-thin insulation technologies, extremely precise mechanics and the ability to wind more densely and compactly than other manufacturers. This allows transformers and generators to be built more powerful, energy-efficient and compact.
TREND: ASTA components are used worldwide. Which projects do you currently find particularly exciting?
KARL SCHÄCKE: Our copper components are installed in HVDC converter transformers used for low-loss direct-current transmission in several so-called “2-GW projects.” These involve enormous transformers installed on offshore platforms at sea, from which up to 2,000 MW of wind energy is transmitted via subsea cables to shore and fed into the grid. Such projects are currently being implemented in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea and contribute to achieving the EU’s energy-transition targets.
In addition, the generators of the Glen Canyon hydropower plant in Arizona, USA, operate with a copper core from ASTA and supply electricity to five U.S. states. Another major European flagship project using ASTA components is “SuedLink,” which will transmit up to four gigawatts of wind power from northern Germany over 700 kilometres to southern Germany.
About the Person
Dr. Karl Schäcke, born in 1969, is CEO of ASTA Energy Solutions AG. After studying business administration at WU Vienna and completing a doctorate at JKU Linz, he held management positions including Managing Director at Palfinger AG, COO and CFO of Verbund International France, Managing Director of the Rudolfinerhaus Private Hospital, and advisory roles for various clients in the energy sector.
The ASTA Group
Headquartered in Oed, Lower Austria, the ASTA Group is a global leading supplier of high-quality copper components used in power generation, power transmission and electromobility.