China Southern Power Grid visited Germany, deepening think tank cooperation between the two countries on Energy Transition

From 18-21 September 2023, the China Southern Power Grid (CSG) visited Germany and exchanged with multiple stakeholders on German’s recent development in energy transition. As one of the Chinese implementation partners of the Sino-German Energy Transition project (EnTrans), the think tank cooperation component of the Sino-German Energy Partnership, CSG is one of the two major state-owned grid company in China after State Grid and supports the power transmission, distribution in 5 southern provinces in China.

Led by Mr. Wei Junjie, Deputy General manager of Policy Research Department, CSG, under support of GIZ, visited Germany’s Global Energy Partnerships secretary in GIZ Berlin office, Germany’s power company EnBW and grid operator the TenneT TSO GmbH to exchange and discuss the recent developments of the German Energiewende. The delegation also attended a half day workshop organised by energy&meteo, a German service provider for grid operators and power traders,  on digital solutions for grid and market such as virtual power plants, solar and wind power forecast as well as grid load forecasts. Together with the other EnTrans partners from the German side, Agora Energiewende and dena, the delegation joined discussions on system integration of distributed generation, contributions of renewables to ancillary services and the implications of the German energy transition for Sino-German energy & climate cooperation.

Furthermore, the delegation was invited by NetzeBW to Stuttgart where they were received by CEO Dr. Christoph Müller and discussed with their peers on various topics such as special features of the German power supply, hydrogen island Öhringen and road transport electrification.

As immediate feedback the delegation members said that the study tour “was very useful to understand what is really happening in Germany”. NetzeBW has also been invited by CSG to visit them in China next year to continue the fruitful exchange.

About the Sino-German Energy Transition project

Exchanging know how and working together to advance a future without greenhouse gas emissions is essential to limiting global warming. Germany has set up Energy Partnerships to foster exchanges with countries striving to transform their energy systems. Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the Sino-German Energy Transition Project is part of the Sino-German Energy Partnership and focusses on sharing German experiences with the energy transition and providing advice to the Chinese government and associated energy policy think tanks. The project aims to promote a low-carbon-oriented energy policy and help to build a more effective, low-carbon energy system in China through international cooperation and mutual benefit policy research and modelling. In addition, valuable input from the Chinese partners will refine German practices and offer a different perspective on current and future approaches. Commissioned by BMWK, GIZ, dena and Agora Energiewende jointly support the implementation of the project from the German side.