German-Japanese Energy Partnership creates momentum for energy transition

Germany and Japan aim to expand their cooperation in renewable energy research and utilisation. adelphi is providing support for this process and facilitating the energy policy exchange.

Both countries have agreed to increase cooperation on renewable energy in the framework of the German-Japanese Energy Partnership. The aim is to intensify efforts in renewable energy innovation, digitisation and flexibilisation, as well as grid modernisation and hydrogen use. Andreas Feicht, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), and Taizo Takahashi, Commissioner of the Japanese Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, signed a corresponding declaration at the G20 meeting of energy ministers on 15 June 2019.

Energy Partnership benefits both Germany and Japan

Given that the two countries have stressed the central role of sustainable energy in light of the Paris Agreement, the Energy Partnership benefits both parties. Germany has extensive experience in the expansion and system integration of renewables, whereas Japan has been a pioneer in the use of hydrogen as well as in the development of energy storage and so-called smart grids.

adelphi has supported the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy with the preparation of content and the facilitation of energy policy exchange since 2016. ‘The Energy Partnership between Germany and Japan sets an important example in international climate action,’ states Jana Narita, Project Manager at adelphi. ‘Given the major challenges of implementing the Paris Agreement, both countries are relying on bilateral cooperation and the exchange of knowledge – instead of isolationism and unilateralism,’ she added.

"The German-Japanese Energy Partnership is advancing the global energy transition," said Andreas Feicht, State Secretary for Energy Policy at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, on the occasion of a German-Japanese panel discussion on system integration of renewable energies on 17 June in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, energy policy exchange between experts from both countries continues: On 17 June 2019, German and Japanese representatives from politics, business and research met in Tokyo to discuss the challenges of integrating increasing amounts of renewable energy into electrical grids. Both countries will take a close look of the energy system of the future at the 10th Environment and Energy Dialogue Forum (UEDF) in Tokyo on 29 and 30 October 2019. adelphi is providing conceptual and organisational support for both events.

Contact naritaadelphi [dot] de (Jana Narita) for further information.