"Only by working together smartly can we achieve climate targets", says Stefaan De Ganck, TotalEnergies

Stefaan De Ganck is Director Mobility & New Energies at TotalEnergies. De Ganck has worked for the company since 1997, then known as Fina. In a career spanning a quarter of a century, he has held no fewer than ten positions at the company, from controller to marketeer. Once he started out as a temp taking domestic fuel oil orders. Today, he manages the department in Belgium that is spearheading the transition in which TotalEnergies wants to play a leading role.

Why the name change from Total to TotalEnergies?

Stefaan De Ganck: “The days of being an oil company are far behind us. The evolution towards a multi-energy company has been ongoing for some time now. In recent years, this process has accelerated. There are seven colours in our new logo. These represent the seven energy sources we focus on: apart from oil and gas, there is also hydrogen, electricity, biomass, wind and solar energy. We support customers with energy transition; both in mobility and industry.”

How are you going to do this?

“We can mostly continue to build on our traditional activity and expertise. With a 20% market share, the department I’m responsible for is a market leader in the fuel card business. Our B2B customers are increasingly struggling with questions about sustainable mobility. We wanted to provide our business customers even better support with their energy transition. So, two years ago, we decided to set up a separate department for this.”

“First and foremost, we focus on energy efficiency through more economical driving – with products such fuel additives and fuel-saving lubricants, or by raising awareness among drivers about the way they drive. We have a tool for cars that analyses the way you drive, so you learn to drive more economically. The tool optimises your routes. This in itself saves energy.”

“In addition, we help our B2B customers with the transition to alternative fuels. Electromobility is a given, but other energy sources also play their part. Keolis, one of our partners, is an example of this. They operate school buses in Brussels. For them, electric vehicles weren’t a solution. They opted for bio-CNG: Compressed Natural Gas from biowaste. For long-distance transport, (bio-)LNG or Liquified Natural Gas is increasingly turning out the best solution.”

“We are also working on pilot projects around hydrogen stations. That’s not to say that the technology will necessarily be established within five years, but we want to be at the forefront of innovation. We are systematically increasing the bio part in our gas products. A fuel card will become a multi-energy card.”

So, you are helping companies use less energy and choose sustainable alternatives?

“That’s right. There are many options. You can change fuel type, use pool cars or combine fleet cars smartly with public transport or shared cars. With our platform, you can manage the fleet in a smart, sustainable way. We are still in the early days of e-mobility, which has been designed by technicians. Only now are marketeers starting to develop services around this. I, myself, feel that we are innovating every day. Everything is new, we are constantly testing new hardware and software.”

TotalEnergies is also active in public charging infrastructure?

“We won the tenders for the installation of an electric charging network in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. Our charging points are powered by green energy. In Antwerp, for instance, from power generated in the Rentel offshore wind farm off the coast of Zeebrugge, among others. We are installing electric charging infrastructure at our motorway service stations, at businesses and their employees’ homes. Via our sister company Lampiris, we are also active in the private market.”

For the management of the Antwerp charging infrastructure, you are working in partnership with Geosparc?

“Geosparc helps us optimise the Antwerp infrastructure. Through sensor technology (see box), we maximise the charging time per charging point. This was an explicit request of the city. So, we went looking for a partner with this knowhow. A solid long-term partner, because this is a 17-year contract we are talking about. We decided to go with Geosparc. Our collaboration is not limited to Antwerp. We are also already using this technology in the ultra-rapid charging points at our Eke-Nazareth station. For the public concession in Paris, TotalEnergies is looking at our Belgian technology with great interest.”

How do you stand out from other players in the sector?

“Start-ups in electromobility don’t have our scale advantage. We are already a market leader in service stations, energy cards and lubricants, among other things. We have been operating for over 100 years and are active in 130 countries. Big B2B customers such as Deutsche Bank or AXA look for a solid partner. These companies easily need more than 1,000 charging points in the coming years. Start-ups can rarely deliver this. Electromobility is becoming a volume business.”

“You don’t just move your fleet into the future at the push of a button. B2B customers need more than just charging points. They want a partner to carry out their transition. We can assist our customers with the traditional and new part of their fleets. We offer them one platform, with one point of contact.”

“Compared to other major players, we differentiate ourselves through our global offering: from the supply of green electricity to operating and maintaining charging infrastructure in all settings, on the road, in stations and at customer sites. Customer focus is in our DNA.”

The European Energy Agency urges not to drill new oil and gas wells. In the climate debate of De Standaard newspaper Jacques Beuckelaers, CEO of TotalEnergies Antwerp dismisses this. He says prices will soar.

“Let’s say that as of today, only electric cars are allowed to be sold. This means that in 2030, there will still be a lot of cars driving around on traditional fuel. There are no electric or other alternatives for big users like lorries yet. The same goes for shipping and aviation. Every year, about 4% of oil and gas reserves are disappearing while energy demand is rising. If you were to turn off the tap today, the resulting shortages would lead to huge price increases. We have to make a conscious effort to work towards a smart transition.”

What does this entail?

“We have to be technology neutral. We shouldn’t become dogmatically attached to electricity. That is the holy grail these days. It dominates the discussion. I want to see a diversification of the energy mix. We shouldn’t be blind to the potential of hydrogen. And, there is room for biomass too. In the transition period, it makes sense to develop transition fuels, such as CNG and LNG, especially in bio form. We already offer 100% biodiesel in several stations; you don’t have to adapt your car for this. We need a combination of solutions.”

Your company is active in 130 countries. What role does Belgium play in terms of the shift towards sustainable mobility?

“The further north you go in Europe, the more progress has been made. Policy helps set the pace. At the moment, we are really noticing the acceleration as a result of recent policy decisions in our country. These are crucial. In terms of inventiveness, Belgium is frequently at the forefront of new innovations. Our partnership with Geosparc is a splendid example of this.”

“No single country or company has all the answers to solving the environmental issue. Only by working together smartly can we achieve climate targets. Together with the customer or other companies, such as Geosparc. We have to join forces to put the pieces together smartly.”