On 9 December 2024, the Thai-German Energy Dialogue (TGED) hosted a webinar entitled ‘An Introduction to Germany’s Energy Efficiency Network Initiative’. This virtual dialogue was part of TGED’s bilateral mission to promote energy efficiency and transition through exchange with political partners, the public and private sectors and other stakeholders between Thailand and Germany.

Dr Apiradee Thammanomai, Director of the Strategy and Planning Division at the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), Thailand’s Ministry of Energy, and Martin Stoessel, Policy Officer from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany (BMWK), provided the opening remarks for this event. The webinar featured Dr Akamitl Quezada, Team Leader Energy Efficiency at Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena), and Philipp Poferl, International Project Leader at Arqum GmbH as speakers, who shared their insights on EEN initiatives in the context of Germany and Asia.

An ‘Energy Efficiency Network (EEN)’ serves as a voluntary and goal-oriented collaborative platform for participating companies and/or municipalities to exchange experiences, ideas and good practices for energy efficiency. Essentially, it enables companies to effectively implement energy efficiency measures with solid data and support from experts.

Participants in the TGED webinar ‘Introduction to Germany’s Energy Efficiency Network Initiative’

Germany is among the countries that have been highly active in promoting and expanding EEN initiatives. From the beginning of the national initiative to 2020, there were 433 EENs working across different regions in Germany. In this regard, over 3,000 companies in the country are currently participating or have taken part in at least one EEN.

On an operational level, EENs work with partners from various sectors and regions to ensure strategic implementation and monitoring of measures and activities to promote energy efficiency. For example, under Germany’s ‘Initiative Energy Climate Protection Networks’ of which the central office is managed by dena, the initiative maintains its network operations through coordination with various entities in Germany, ranging from regional energy agencies, regional chambers of commerce and industry, a monitoring institute and other partners.

Dr Akamitl Quezada shared his insight and facts relevant to EEN initiatives in Germany

Breakdown of EEN facts and activities in Germany by dena (Sources: Networks’ Initiative, dena, Monitoring Report of the Initiative (2022))

Comparing EEN cases in different countries and regions, it is important to underline that an EEN’s structure and activities are generally adaptable to cater to local demands, interest, strategy and policy frameworks. In China, for example, the ‘Sino-German Energy Efficiency and Climate Network’ in Taicang mainly conducts activities related to bilateral dialogue exchange, knowledge sharing and policy framework recommendations. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the Energy Efficiency Club in Thái Nguyên and Ho Chi Minh City focuses on capacity building and communication support for participating enterprises.

Philipp Poferl presents a case study from the Sino-German Energy Efficiency and Climate Network in Taicang, China, as part of his sharing of EEN success stories in Asia

Global EEN activity overview map by Arqum (as of 9 December 2024)

To learn more, please click here to visit the website about the EEN Initiative in Germany.

The Thai-German Energy Dialogue (TGED), funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and implemented by GIZ, is part of Germany’s efforts to promote the transition towards renewable energy internationally. The partnerships combine governmental dialogues with technical exchange with relevance for concrete steps towards improving energy efficiency in the private sector.