Braunschweig's Mayor Kornblum to Lead Germany's Municipal Energy Transition as New VKU President
Dr. Thorsten Kornblum, Lord Mayor of Braunschweig, has been unanimously elected as the new president of the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU). He will take up the role on 1 April 2026, succeeding Dr. Ulf Kämpfer, who has led the organisation since 2022. The VKU plays a key part in shaping Germany's municipal energy policies, particularly in accelerating the transition to renewable energy and climate neutrality. Dr. Kornblum has held public office since November 2021, serving as Braunschweig's Lord Mayor. Before this, he worked in Lower Saxony's government, including roles in the Ministry of the Interior and Sports and the state's financial administration. Currently, he also chairs the Supervisory Board of BS Energy and sits on the Executive Committee of the German Association of Cities.
The VKU presidency carries significant influence over Germany's energy policies. Under recent leadership, the association has pushed for faster implementation of the *Energiewende*, with a focus on heat transition, network expansion, and storage solutions. Its advocacy helped shape laws like the 2024 Heat Planning Act and Building Energy Act, enabling major investments—such as Munich's Stadtwerke allocating €9.5 billion to heat networks, geothermal energy, and heat pumps. The VKU has also supported research into digitalisation and sustainability for municipal utilities, as well as funding for renewables and hydrogen infrastructure. For example, by November 2025, North Rhine-Westphalia had approved 150 projects worth €14.4 million under VKU-backed schemes. As president, Kornblum will now represent these priorities at the federal level. He has emphasised that public services form the foundation of livable cities and communities. His term begins as municipal enterprises face growing challenges, from heat planning to expanding climate-neutral energy generation.
Dr. Kornblum's election comes at a critical time for Germany's municipal utilities. His leadership will help guide policies on energy transition, infrastructure funding, and climate goals. The VKU's work will continue to shape how cities and towns implement sustainable energy solutions in the coming years.
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