About the Energy Partnerships
The Bilateral Energy Partnerships and Dialogues
Built on enduring trust and successful collaboration, the partnerships enhance climate cooperation, accelerate the expansion of renewable energy and energy efficiency and support partners in reaching their climate targets.
Three goals to forward the energy transition
Energy Security
Energy security is global teamwork
The Energy Partnerships aim to enhance energy security by reducing dependence and increasing diversification. They foster international cooperation to build resilient supply chains and decarbonise energy systems and economies. This helps to secure future supplies of decarbonised energy carriers and strategic products. By driving the global adoption of renewable energy, hydrogen and energy efficiency technologies, the EPs help to shape a more stable and sustainable energy future.
Decarbonisation
Clean energy is the foundation of our shared future
The Energy Partnerships contribute to global climate action by supporting the implementation of mitigation measures in the partner countries. Crucial to this is the expansion of renewable energy and energy efficiency. The EPs offer policy advice, encourage dialogue between businesses and governments and promote industrial cooperation. By fostering trade in decarbonised energy resources and products between Germany and the partner countries, they are helping to achieve Germany’s goal of climate neutrality by 2045.
Foreign Trade Promotion
Climate friendly innovation drives sustainable growth
Private investment is crucial for transforming energy systems and decarbonising industries. The Energy Partnerships act as an intermediary between private sector actors and governments to reduce investment barriers and promote trade. This happens through bilateral exchange at the government level, aimed at supporting private investment in energy projects politically, among other things. In addition, concerns about investment obstacles faced by German and local companies are collected, for example through local business councils, and addressed at the political level.
The Energy Partnerships include different forms of cooperation
The declared aim of the Energy Partnerships (EPs) is to shape a successful global energy transition that combines security of supply, decarbonisation of industry and foreign trade promotion with effective climate protection. The opportunities, challenges and strategies are discussed via many channels and platforms, for example, regular steering group meetings, workshops, bilateral talks, delegation trips and virtual formats.
Energy Dialogues
Countries that aim to promote private sector activities and seek to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sector are most likely to engage in cooperation in the form of an energy dialogue. An energy dialogue is the preliminary stage of a EP. As in a partnership, specific dialogue topics and a work plan are defined in an energy dialogue. A central feature is the organisation of an Energy Day, which promotes exchanges on the agreed topics and strengthens cooperation between government and private sector stakeholders.
Energy Partnerships
EPs are institutionalised cooperation arrangements based on a JDoI between Germany and one of its partner countries. Most EPs are supported by a secretariat, a dedicated team based in the partner country that facilitates the implementation of the partnership. To set the strategic direction of the partnership, a high-level steering committee meets once a year. Parallel to this, technical working groups and task forces ensure a continuous and trusting dialogue between the partners from the beginning of the partnership. They are usually chaired by department heads and serve as a platform for discussing and implementing concrete measures. With an annual Energy Day in the partner country and high-level participation in important conferences, particularly the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD), these working groups foster exchanges between the stakeholders. In addition, regular forums are organised for exchanges with the private sector, including local business councils and dialogues with relevant stakeholders, such as German Embassies and German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK). These activities strengthen cooperation between the public and private sector and contribute to the successful implementation of EPs.
Hydrogen Partnerships
Germany is working with a growing number of countries to accelerate the expansion of green hydrogen. While hydrogen is also a core topic within the scope of existing EPs, special hydrogen partnerships have been established with strategically important export and import countries to ramp up the development of green hydrogen.
All forms of cooperation are formally agreed in a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDoI).