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Benjamin Sauer

PartnerFrankfurt

Provides expert support to clients navigating the energy transition and tackling challenges in power generation, distribution, and transmission

Benjamin, a partner in McKinsey’s Frankfurt office. He advises clients on topics including the energy transition, wind, thermal, and nuclear-power generation; power trading, distribution, and transmission; and the full range of energy technologies.

Benjamin helps energy companies around the globe improve front-line productivity, digitize their assets and processes, take advantage of shifts in energy technologies, and design strategies to address rapidly changing markets—especially with the shift to decarbonization.

Some of his recent client projects include the following:

  • helping a Japanese utility develop a new portfolio strategy and identify the capabilities needed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
  • supporting a Japanese original-equipment manufacturer in designing and launching a new carbon capture, utilization, and storage business
  • optimizing the capital-expenditures projects of a large-scale nuclear clean-up project in Japan
  • advising a Swedish utility on a value-preserving approach for the restoration of a nuclear power plant
  • working with a leading offshore wind company on the implementation strategy for its new operating model
  • counseling a European utility on the design and implementation of an industrial-solutions business, including hydrogen production

Before joining McKinsey, Benjamin worked at a leading German utility and as a ship engineer for Hapag-Lloyd. He holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Darmstadt, and a master’s in mechanical engineering from Leibniz University Hannover.

PUBLISHED WORK

How Japan could reach carbon neutrality by 2050,” McKinsey & Company, August 4, 2021

The digital power plant of the future,” McKinsey & Company, March 11, 2021

Decommissioning and dismantling Japan’s nuclear power plants,” McKinsey & Company, September 8, 2020

Japan offshore wind: The ideal moment to build a vibrant industry,” McKinsey & Company, August 12, 2020

Past Experience

EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg
Business manager

Hapag-Lloyd
Ship engineer

EDUCATION

Technical University of Darmstadt
PhD, mechanical engineering

Leibniz University Hannover
MS, mechanical engineering