Towards Climate Neutral and Energy Efficient Cities in China

Sino-German Demonstration Project on Energy Efficiency in Cities launches workshop series on “Climate Neutral Cities 2050”

Cities contribute to about 70% of global final energy consumption and green-house gas emissions. Hence, climate protection, energy efficiency and resource conservation are increasingly important for cities, urban quarters and industry parks in Germany and China. Against this background, the Sino-German Energy Partnership launched the workshop series “Climate Neutral Cities 2050” with a kick-off on March 4, 2021. More than 20 German company representatives participated and discussed framework conditions and solutions for climate neutral cities, and expectations for the demonstration project. The workshop series is part of the Sino-German Demonstration Project on Energy Efficiency in Cities commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) in cooperation with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The workshop series “Climate Neutral Cities 2050” brings together German stakeholders and companies to discuss innovative, decentralized energy efficiency and energy supply solutions, framework conditions and business models, as well as green financing for low carbon and energy efficient development of cities and industry parks. This helps to develop recommendations for climate neutral cities in China, and identify potentials for and coordinate the contribution of German companies to the subsequent implementation of energy efficiency measures in the pilot city or industry park.

The kick-off event marks the start for six upcoming workshops covering a wide range of topics, including:

  • Urban development: climate neutrality in urban planning and industry parks,
  • Buildings: insulation, energy management systems,
  • Energy system: distributed generation (electricity/heating/cooling), sector coupling, energy storage and conversion, digital control systems,
  • Green finance: mechanisms, taxonomy, risk assessment, best practices,
  • Accounting methodology for climate neutrality at city quarter level

The Sino-German Demonstration Project on Energy Efficiency in Cities aims at contributing to climate protection by developing an integrated concept for the efficient and sustainable energy system of an urban district or an industrial park and corresponding measures for its implementation (district energy concept) in China. Furthermore, the project aims at improving the framework conditions for the dissemination of energy efficiency solutions and services in China, promoting private sector cooperation, and involving German expertise and companies in the implementation of energy efficiency measures.

The demonstration project is part of the Sino-German Energy Partnership between the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and the National Development and Reform Commission of the PR China (NDRC). The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implements the project jointly with the German Energy Agency (dena) and the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group (CECEP Consulting).

The next workshop is scheduled to take place on March 16, 2021 (virtually). For more information please contact Mr. Maximilian Ryssel (maximilian.ryssel(at)giz.de).