2018 International Forum of Energy Transition in Suzhou

On 18.-19. October 2018, senior government officials, business leaders and key players in the global energy sector met at the Third International Forum on Energy Transitions (IFET) in Suzhou, China. The international gathering, co-organized by the National Energy Administration of China (NEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government of China, is an important platform for dialogue and collaborative action on how to transform energy systems towards a sustainable, low-carbon and resilient energy future in China and globally. As a longstanding Sino-German bilateral cooperation platform and mechanism for NEA, the Sino-German Energy Partnership supported the multi-day forum. German representatives from the following institutions participated, among others: The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), the German think tank Agora Energiewende, the Germans Energy Agency (dena), GIZ and Luminion GmbH. A highlight of the event was the participation of a delegation from Germany, represented by the BMWi. Head of this delegation, Mr Thorsten Herdan (Director General of Energy Policy - Heat and Energy Efficiency, BMWi) spoke at the opening ceremony about Germany’s experiences as a pioneerof the energy transition, but also highlighted the challenges ahead, in particular with regard to exit coal strategies and the transitions in heating and transport. Also with the contributions of Patrick Graichen, director of Agora Energiewende and Andreas Kuhlmann, director of the dena, the German contribution was prominent in this year's forum.

On the second day of the conference, which was subdivided into four subforums, the Sino-German Energy Partnership supported the exchange between Germany and China through participating several panel discussions. In the subforum "Energy Transition in Urban and Regional Areas", Sebastian Ibold from GIZ demonstrated with the example of the German municipality of Wildpoldsried and the city of Frankfurt that energy efficiency and climate protection - even over a long-term developing period- could well be coordinated and combined with the economic growth, urban / regional expansion and the increase in office space. Mr. Andreas Kuhlmann, director of dena, stressed the approaches and potential for urban areas through the application of integrated energy concept during the panel discussion on topic “Urban Application of Low Carbon Energy Technology”. Mr. Patraick Graichen, director of Agora Energiewende, brought his insight  for panel discussion on “Policies and Technologies of Electricity Replacement” during the sub forum “the Transition of the Power System”. Mr. Alexander Voigt from Lumenion GmbH and Mr. Mike Enskat head of GIZ Infrastructure - Energy, Water, Transport Sectoral and Global Projects also provided concrete insights into the recent progress and development scenarios of the German energy transition in the sub-forum "International Cooperation in the Renewable Energy Industry".

For further information about the Suzhou International Forum of Energy Transition, please contact Ms. Ma Qiongying (qiongying.ma(at)giz.de).

 

Thorsten Herdan, Director General of BMWi, ©NEA

Thorsten Herdan, Director General of BMWi, ©NEA

Thorsten Herdan, Director General of BMWi, ©NEA

Patraick Graichen, Director of Agora Energiewende, ©NEA

Patraick Graichen, Director of Agora Energiewende, ©NEA

Patraick Graichen, Director of Agora Energiewende, ©NEA

Andreas Kuhlman, Director of dena, ©NEA

Andreas Kuhlman, Director of dena, ©NEA

Andreas Kuhlman, Director of dena, ©NEA

Thorsten Herdan, Director General of BMWi in Exchange with Chinese Participants, ©NEA

Thorsten Herdan, Director General of BMWi in Exchange with Chinese Participants, ©NEA

Thorsten Herdan, Director General of BMWi in Exchange with Chinese Participants, ©NEA

Mike Enskat, head of GIZ Infrastructure - Energy, Water, Transport Sectoral and Global Projects in Panel Discussion, ©NEASebastian Ibold Project Manager of GIZ Presenting at Subfoum

Mike Enskat, head of GIZ Infrastructure - Energy, Water, Transport Sectoral and Global Projects in Panel Discussion, ©NEASebastian Ibold Project Manager of GIZ Presenting at Subfoum

Mike Enskat, head of GIZ Infrastructure - Energy, Water, Transport Sectoral and Global Projects in Panel Discussion, ©NEA

Sebastian Ibold, Project Manager of GIZ, ©NEA

Sebastian Ibold, Project Manager of GIZ, ©NEA

Sebastian Ibold, Project Manager of GIZ, ©NEA