DB Energie
DB Energie GmbH is Deutsche Bahn AG's energy management subsidiary and Germany's fifth-largest electricity supplier, providing 16.7-Hz railway traction power, stationary energy, tank services, and alternative drive infrastructure to rail operators and DB Group facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersFrankfurt, Germany
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
DB Energie firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DB Energie
- Legal name
- DB Energie GmbH
- Website
- https://dbenergie.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- DB Energie GmbH is Deutsche Bahn AG's energy management subsidiary and Germany's fifth-largest electricity supplier, providing 16.7-Hz railway traction power, stationary energy, tank services, and alternative drive infrastructure to rail operators and DB Group facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DB Energie industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Railway Energy Supply
- NAICS
- Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (48821), Electric Power Distribution (221122)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Railroad Equipment (3743)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rail Electrification & Traction Power Infrastructure (OHL/Third Rail, Substations) (TLAJADAC)
Keywords
Where DB Energie is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Frankfurt
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices12 records
Markets served
DB Energie business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 16.7-Hz Railway Power Supply: Reliable, economical and sustainable energy supply for railway operations including 16.7-Hz traction current for electric trains across Germany's rail network.
- Energy Delivery (Stationary): Supply of electricity, gas, and heat for commercial, industrial and trade customers as well as DB Konzern facilities including stations, maintenance facilities and office buildings.
- Tank Services: Supply of diesel, AdBlue, and HVO 100 sustainable biofuel at approximately 180 service stations across Germany for non-electrified routes, with 24-hour service and vehicle-specific billing.
- Alternative Drives Infrastructure: Charging infrastructure for battery trains (BEMU) and hydrogen refueling stations for fuel cell trains on non-electrified routes.
- Technical Services: Planning, construction, maintenance and repair of energy facilities including customer service, technical diagnostics, testing and consulting for machinery, plant engineering and e-mobility.
- Grid Operator Services: Operation of 16.7-Hz railway power network, closed 50-Hz distribution networks and DC supply for S-Bahn Berlin and Hamburg, including network connections and meter operation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
DB Energie product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DB Energie supplies railway traction power (16.7-Hz Bahnstrom) for electric rail operations across Germany via a 7,900 km rail power network, 1,800+ transformer stations and 50+ converter plants. It builds and operates alternative-drive refueling infrastructure for non-electrified routes (hydrogen refueling for fuel cell trains, charging for battery trains, HVO 100 biofuel supply), provides diesel and AdBlue at ~180 rail fuel stations, and delivers stationary electricity, gas and heat to commercial/industrial customers and Deutsche Bahn facilities. Complementary offerings include grid operation (16.7-Hz and closed 50-Hz networks, DC S-Bahn supply) and technical services covering engineering, construction, maintenance and BIM-based planning.
Product overview
DB Energie operates as a multi-product energy company serving the Deutsche Bahn Group and external customers. Its portfolio is organized into six main product/service lines: (1) 16,7-Hz-Bahnstrom — core traction power supply via a 7,900 km rail power network and 50+ converter plants; (2) Alternative Antriebe — charging and refuelling infrastructure for battery-electric (BEMU), hydrogen fuel cell, and HVO 100 trains on non-electrified routes; (3) Tankdienste — nationwide diesel, AdBlue, and HVO 100 refuelling at ~180 rail fuel stations; (4) Energielieferung — stationary electricity, gas, and heat supply for commercial and industrial customers; (5) Stationäre Energielösungen — integrated energy management for DB sites including PV and efficiency services; (6) Technische Dienstleistungen — engineering, construction, maintenance, and BIM-based planning for energy installations. These are supported by innovation platforms (RealLabor Energie living lab in Berlin, Innovations-Hub Tübingen for hydrogen), the digital customer portal Mein DB Energie Manager, the VR-based DB Energie VR-Welt for alternative drive education, and the PEAK_S flywheel storage pilot for Berlin S-Bahn braking energy recovery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 16,7-Hz-Bahnstrom (Railway Traction Power) Supply of 16.7-Hz railway traction power for reliable electric rail operations across Germany, delivered via a 7,900 km rail power network, transformer stations and converter plants, supplying approximately 20,000 trains daily.
- Alternative Antriebe (Alternative-Drive Infrastructure) End-to-end solutions for charging and refuelling infrastructure for alternative rail drives on non-electrified routes, including charging infrastructure for battery trains (BEMU), hydrogen supply for fuel cell trains via the DB Refueler, and HVO 100 sustainable biofuel provision.
- Tankdienste (Tank Services - Diesel, AdBlue, HVO 100) Nationwide refuelling services at approximately 180 rail fuel stations, supplying diesel, AdBlue and sustainable HVO 100 biofuel for non-electrified routes, with 24/7 service and vehicle-specific invoicing.
- Energielieferung (Stationary Energy Supply) Reliable energy supply (electricity, gas and heat) for commercial, industrial and retail customers as well as the DB Group, covering trade, construction and industrial sectors.
- Stationäre Energielösungen (Integrated Stationary Energy Solutions) Integrated energy solutions for DB sites and properties covering energy supply, photovoltaic installation, lighting optimization and energy-efficiency management for approximately 5,400 German railway stations.
- Technische Dienstleistungen (Technical Services) Full-service technical offerings including engineering, planning, construction, maintenance and repair of energy installations, as well as technical diagnostics, customer service and inspection, ranging from low voltage up to 380 kV level.
- Netzbetreiber (Grid Operator Services) Operation of the 16.7-Hz rail power grid (~7,900 km), closed 50-Hz distribution networks, and DC supply for S-Bahn Berlin and Hamburg, including grid connections, metering and system-stability management.
- Mein DB Energie Manager (Customer Portal) Customer portal for monitoring and managing energy consumption, identifying efficiency potentials, and supporting energy management system implementation and audit processes.
Quantifiable outcome
- 71.5% renewable energy in DB railway power mix (preliminary 2025)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use DB Energie
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
DB Energie technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature6 records
DB Energie partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered innovation pilot, core and supporting.
- Adaptive Balancing Power (ABP)innovation pilotDB Energie partnered with Adaptive Balancing Power (ABP) for the PEAK_S pilot project to test flywheel energy storage in the S-Bahn Berlin network. The flywheel storage system captures braking energy from trains and feeds it back during acceleration, reducing grid load and CO2 emissions. Contract signed December 30, 2025, with testing phase starting 2027.
- Blue Elephant EnergycoreDB Energie signed long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Blue Elephant Energy for solar park projects. The partnership includes Solarpark Schafhöfen, Germany's second largest solar park with 268 MWp capacity, providing green electricity for approximately 11.6 million ICE kilometers annually.
- DB Bahnbau GruppecoreDB Bahnbau Gruppe is the co-initiator of RealLabor Energie, a cooperation within the DB Konzern for testing energy technologies and concepts for sustainable energy supply at station facilities under real conditions.
- DB SystelsupportingDB Systel supports the RealLabor Energie cooperation with technical expertise for the development and testing of energy technologies and intelligent solutions.
- encore | DBcoreencore | DB supplies Second Life Batteriespeicher (second-life battery storage) made from repurposed electric vehicle batteries for use in the RealLabor Energie project and at the Innovations-Hub Tübingen. The 549 kWh storage system provides grid services and emergency power supply.
- RWEcoreSince 2024, DB Energie sources railway power from RWE's offshore wind farms Nordsee Ost and Amrumbank-West to increase the share of renewable energies in its green electricity portfolio.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DB Energie competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- RWE: Major German energy utility and renewable power generator, already an offtake partner to DB Energie for offshore wind. Comparable as a large-scale German electricity supplier and renewables developer with overlapping green-power ambitions in the rail market.
- Alstom: Global rail equipment and infrastructure provider with strong traction systems and rail electrification offerings. Comparable to DB Energie on the rail electrification and energy systems side, though Alstom is also a major rolling stock manufacturer.
- Hitachi Rail: Major rail infrastructure and signaling/electrification supplier operating across Europe. Comparable to DB Energie through its rail electrification, traction power and digital rail offerings, though as part of a global rail portfolio rather than energy-focused.
- Siemens Mobility: A global rail technology incumbent that supplies electrification, traction power and rail automation systems. Highly comparable to DB Energie as a provider of rail-specific electrical infrastructure and adjacent technologies, though its scope is much broader than energy supply.
Direct peers
- Vossloh: Supplier of rail infrastructure components and services, including electrification and rail technology. Directly comparable to DB Energie on the rail infrastructure operations and maintenance side, though focused on track and overhead contact line products.
- Network Rail: Owns and operates Britain's rail infrastructure including traction power systems. Closely comparable to DB Energie as a national rail infrastructure operator managing electrical power for trains, though Network Rail is a public-sector body with a broader infrastructure remit.
- ABB (Rail / Traction): Supplies traction transformers, converters and power electronics for rail networks worldwide, closely overlapping with DB Energie's role in 16.7-Hz/50-Hz conversion, transformer stations and grid-side rail power equipment.
Regional players
- Balfour Beatty Rail: Rail electrification and infrastructure services provider in the UK and select international markets. Comparable to DB Energie on rail electrification EPC and O&M, though geographically focused on UK and a few adjacent markets.
- EnBW: One of Germany's largest integrated energy utilities with significant renewable generation and grid operations. Comparable as a peer German utility that could compete for rail and mobility electrification opportunities, though it is regionally concentrated in Baden-Württemberg.
- Strukton: Dutch rail infrastructure and energy solutions provider active in electrification and rail systems. Comparable to DB Energie on rail power infrastructure and energy services, though operating primarily in the Netherlands and Northern Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DB Energie social profiles
Digital presenceDB Energie compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
DB Energie financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DB Energie leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
DB Energie funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DB Energie M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DB Energie
What does DB Energie do?
DB Energie supplies railway traction power (16.7-Hz Bahnstrom) for electric rail operations across Germany via a 7,900 km rail power network, 1,800+ transformer stations and 50+ converter plants. It builds and operates alternative-drive refueling infrastructure for non-electrified routes (hydrogen refueling for fuel cell trains, charging for battery trains, HVO 100 biofuel supply), provides diesel and AdBlue at ~180 rail fuel stations, and delivers stationary electricity, gas and heat to commercial/industrial customers and Deutsche Bahn facilities. Complementary offerings include grid operation (16.7-Hz and closed 50-Hz networks, DC S-Bahn supply) and technical services covering engineering, construction, maintenance and BIM-based planning.
Is DB Energie a public or private company?
DB Energie is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DB Energie founded?
DB Energie was founded in 1997. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is DB Energie based?
DB Energie is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does DB Energie make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. 16.7-Hz Railway Power Supply is the primary driver. The others are energy Delivery (Stationary), tank Services, alternative Drives Infrastructure, technical Services and grid Operator Services.
Who are DB Energie's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are RWE, Alstom, Hitachi Rail and Siemens Mobility. Direct peers are Vossloh, Network Rail and ABB (Rail / Traction). Regional players are Balfour Beatty Rail, EnBW and Strukton.
Does DB Energie have an API?
No public API is recorded for DB Energie.
What industry is DB Energie in?
DB Energie's product category is Railway Energy Supply. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAJADAC, Rail Electrification & Traction Power Infrastructure (OHL/Third Rail, Substations). Its NAICS code is 22112 and its SIC code is 4911.