About the Sino-German Energy Partnership

Since its initiation in 2006 at the Sino-German Forum for Economic and Technological Cooperation, the bilateral cooperation between China and Germany in the energy sector developed into a strategic partnership in 2016. The Sino-German Energy Partnership links three levels of action: high-level policy dialogue, business-to-government exchange and an exchange of experiences on technical and regulatory solutions that promote the energy transition. The main aim of the partnership is to foster and advance the far-reaching and profound energy transitions ongoing in both countries by exchanging views, best practices and knowledge on the development of a sustainable energy system, primarily centered on improving energy efficiency and expanding the use of renewable energy.

Sino-German Energy Partnership: NDRC Vice Minister Hu Zucai meets former BMWi State Secretary Rainer Baake.
Sino-German Energy Partnership: NDRC Vice Minister Hu Zucai meets former BMWi State Secretary Rainer Baake; Source: BMWi/Andreas Mertens

Objective

The main objective of the partnership is to foster and advance the far-reaching and profound energy transitions ongoing in both countries by exchanging views, best practices and knowledge on the development of a sustainable energy system, primarily centered on improving energy efficiency and expanding the use of renewable energy.

Approach

Regular working group meetings and high-level bilateral meetings facilitate in-depth political and technical dialogue between German and Chinese decision-makers on the energy transition. 

For China, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) oversee the partnership, while the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) takes the lead on behalf of Germany.

Two thematic working groups have been established under bilateral agreements to facilitate cooperation as well as intensify the exchange of information, experiences, and best practices. On the Chinese side, the working group on “energy” is led by NEA, while the working group on “energy efficiency” is headed by NDRC. 

WORKING GROUP ON ENERGY:

  • Promotion and system integration of renewable energy
  • Electricity market regulation and reform
  • Power sector flexibilisation and energy storage
  • Sustainable heating
  • Green Hydrogen

WORKING GROUP ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

  • Energy efficiency in industry, city quarters and buildings, including the implementation of demonstration projects
  • Energy efficiency networks
  • Innovative business and financing models

Furthermore, the energy partnership aims to encourage think tanks and private sector cooperation and showcase successful technologies, innovative services, and business models to drive the energy transition forward. Both sides have agreed to jointly implement demonstration projects promoting energy conservation to demonstrate exemplary solutions for energy efficiency in industry, as well as integrated district energy planning to serve as reference for China. 

Think Tank Cooperation

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Demonstration Projects

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Private Sector Cooperation

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The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH was commissioned by the BMWK with the implementation of the bilateral energy partnership with China. A secretariat with full-time advisors in Berlin and Beijing serves as a point of contact and coordination for its activities.

Our Experts

Yin Yuxia

Yin Yuxia

Project Director
Sino-German Energy Partnership

yuxia.yin(at)giz.de

Markus Wypior

Project Director
Sino-German Energy Transition Project

markus.wypior@giz.de