NEWS & ARTICLES

More Energy Efficiency through Joint Effort: Sino-German Energy Efficiency and Climate Network Kicked off in Taicang

On June 25, the Signing Ceremony for Sino-German Green Development and German Projects in Taicang High-Tech Zone took place. 20 German-funded projects were officially signed and initiated. Representatives from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), Jiangsu Provincial Development and Reform Commission and Taicang Municipal government delivered opening speeches for the event. As one of the event highlights, the Sino-German Energy Partnership and the administrative committee of the Taicang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone officially kicked off the Sino-German Energy Efficiency and Climate Network.

The network aims to promote the exchange on energy saving and carbon reduction among enterprises by introducing the management and organization model of German Energy Efficiency Network (EEN), and to support the establishment and operation of EEN in Taicang High-tech Industrial Development Zone and summarize the results and experiences as replicable references to showcase that EEN can be an innovative energy service instrument for energy saving in China. This shall effectively contribute to the national climate goal of CO2 peaking and CO2 neutrality in China.

The Sino-German Energy Efficiency and Climate Network in Taicang High-Tech Development Zone will integrate German experience and technical solutions to help the selected companies to save energy and reduce energy consumption through various exchange workshops/seminars, trainings, energy efficiency diagnosis. Cooperation topics include energy efficiency planning, self-generation and use of photovoltaics, air conditioning and refrigeration.

The participating companies expect to achieve the following piloting outcomes:

  • Establish a CO2 emissions monitoring system for enterprises in Taicang High-tech Industrial Development Zone;
  • The participating enterprises gain knowledge on data-based energy efficiency solutions;
  • Reduce CO2 emissions of energy-intensive enterprises by 5% to 15%.
  • Increase the share of renewable energies in the energy-intensive enterprises to a total of 20% of total energy consumption.
  • Raise awareness on climate and improve corporate energy management, as well as define a standardised model for energy consumption management;
  • Identify the approach for THIDZ to achieve CO2 peak as well as CO2 neutrality.
  • Provide experience from the pilot EEN for replication in other industrial parks.

About the Sino-German Cooperation on Energy Efficiency Networks

“Energy Efficiency Network” (EEN) as a proven instrument of German energy efficiency policy is making an important contribution towards improving energy efficiency in industry, trade and commerce. ENNs connect energy service companies (ESCOs), local municipalities and energy consumers such as producing companies and real estate firms. The network of experts in EEN can identify potentials for energy saving and implement energy efficiency projects effectively.

In Germany, more than 300 energy efficiency networks with over 2700 companies have been newly founded since the start of “Energy Efficiency Initiative” in 2014. Until 2020, energy efficiency networks have collectively reduced CO2 emissions by almost 5 million tons. The monitoring shows that energy efficiency networks save on average 11,700 tons CO2 per year and exceed their self-imposed targets by 111%.

An Energy Efficiency Network is usually composed of 8-15 member companies, one moderator and one external consultant. With the joint exchanges and efforts, the energy managers of each company are enabled to implement energy-saving and low-carbon measures according to diagnosis on energy saving potential and support of external technical consultants. As agreed by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) during the 6th Sino-German Working Group meeting on energy efficiency,  China and Germany will enhance their cooperation on promoting energy efficiency network in China by introducing German best practices. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and China International Engineering Consulting Corporation (CIECC) are commissioned to support the implementation of EEN pilot as the German and Chinese implementing agencies respectively. The German EEN consultancy company Arqum will moderate the Sino-German Energy Efficiency and Climate Network in Taicang and provide technical advices while the German Energy Agency (dena) will provide further technical support.

For more information on the Sino-German Energy Efficiency and Climate Network, please contact Ms. Yin Yuxia (yuxia.yin(at)giz.de ), Project Director of the Sino-German Energy Partnership.

Dr. Nicole Glanemann, Deputy Division Director, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) giving remarks at the event and introducing the achievements of energy efficiency networks in Germany, source: Taicang High Tech Zone
Yin Yuxia, project director of the Sion-German Energy Partnership, signing the Letter of Internet for cooperation on Energy Efficiency Networks on behalf of GIZ with the administrative committee of the Taicang High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Jiangsu Province, source: Taicang High Tech Zone

Sino-German Energy Partnership

The Sino-German Energy Partnership links three levels of action: high-level policy dialogue, business-to-government exchange and an exchange of experiences on technical and regulatory solutions that promote the energy transition. The main aim of the partnership is to foster and advance the far-reaching and profound energy transitions ongoing in both China and Germany by exchanging views, best practices and knowledge on the development of a sustainable energy system, primarily centered on improving energy efficiency and expanding the use of renewable energy.