Posted 30 Sep 2025
What are you most proud of in the last nine months?
Philip Hainbach: For the German team, it’s certainly the fact that we’ve managed to build a real pipeline. When I started at Field, we were just entering the German market. I was fortunate to build on the foundations laid by a small & strong development team that had already done grid applications back in 2024. But we had no grid offers yet, no land deals signed. It was all hypothetical potential. Now it has materialized into a real pipeline of projects with positive grid that we will construct and bring to life. It’s no longer just a fantasy we’re chasing, but actual tangible projects.
I think that’s one of the biggest achievements of the first nine months. And makes me confidently say: we’re building a meaningful business here in Germany that will have a positive impact on the system.
Given Germany’s tough environment, what has been the biggest challenge?
Philip Hainbach: The biggest challenge is unquestionably the grid. Germany’s system is massively oversubscribed. By 2030, projections suggest we’ll need around 30 to 40 GW of battery capacity; but grid applications already exceed 500 GW. That’s an order of magnitude higher than what the network can realistically absorb.
This overload creates bottlenecks: application procedures are congested, and feedback loops with grid operators are slow. Many of their teams were designed to process a handful of applications a year - today they face hundreds, and more.
But I see this not just as a roadblock, but as the defining challenge of our industry in 2025: navigating grid queue congestion by focusing on connections where they truly matter. Our strategy is clear: to cut through the complexity by developing high-quality, strategically located projects that the system genuinely needs.
This is where Field’s full-stack model is a real advantage: we’re not here to flip projects, but to develop, build, own, and operate critical grid-scale assets in the most relevant locations. Our goal is to be a no. 1 trusted partner for TSOs and DSOs, helping to shape the future energy system where it matters most.
What has surprised you, good or bad, about Field since joining?
Philip Hainbach: Definitely good. It’s a company full of specialists. What struck me most is the sheer depth of expertise across the organisation. Field brings together people from various backgrounds such as grid, development, trading, engineering, safety or strategy & analytics. And in each of these areas you find individuals who are genuine experts in their field.
It’s rare to see that level of specialism concentrated in one place, especially in a company that’s still scaling so quickly. It means we can tackle the complex challenges we’re facing with real confidence and move faster as a team.
That’s been a very positive surprise and it gives me huge confidence, because building a high-performing team is ultimately about surrounding yourself with people whose skills you deeply respect. Field has that culture at its core.
Looking ahead, what are your top priorities for the next six months?
Philip Hainbach: Number one: bringing our first German asset live. Our first project in Germany is currently in construction and the energization will be a real milestone for the team.
Number two: moving more projects to RTB (i.e ready-to-build stage). That means for us systematically de-risking them so they’re truly ready to deliver.
Number three: continuing to shape the team. With eight to ten people now, everyone has individual strengths and needs. My role is to bring them together, set clear expectations, define ownership, and ensure accountability, so that we deliver at a consistently high level.
Where do you see the biggest opportunities coming up?
Philip Hainbach: The biggest opportunities are in build. Stand-alone assets connected at the transmission level, especially at 380 kV substations , offer the most attractive scale and returns. Even in late 2025, there are still chances to secure positive grid offers if you know where to look and how to design projects for the grid.
At the same time, I see real potential on the M&A side. The regulatory reforms and shifts at the grid operator level are opening a window for targeted acquisitions that could strengthen our pipeline and accelerate our growth. The key will be to stay selective and bold: building where it matters, and acquiring where it adds real strategic value.
What inspires you most about leading the team in Germany?
Philip Hainbach: The commitment of the team. It’s a small team, but everyone works to deliver projects at the highest standard. The way the different functions collaborate — all with the single goal of delivering the best project — that’s phenomenal.
What motivates me personally is actively shaping the energy transition. It won’t happen unless people and companies push for it. It won’t fall from the sky or be delivered through regulation. It’s people like us, and businesses like Field, that must implement it. Having an active role in shaping this transition is highly rewarding. It’s not just a job. The purpose behind it is incredibly strong. I’m proud to be doing this and bringing these projects to Germany.