Germany and Korea sign energy partnership

Germany and Korea want to transform their energy systems and work together on the future of energy policy. In order to strengthen exchange and work better together, the two countries have agreed to establish an energy partnership – adelphi supports the implementation of this decision.

The German-Korean Energy Partnership aims to strengthen collaboration on energy policy between the two countries and enable them to face the future opportunities and challenges of the energy transition together. To this end, the two countries want to intensify the exchange of experience and information, in particular with regard to the expansion and system integration of renewable energies, increasing energy efficiency, energy systems of the future, green hydrogen and the exit from nuclear energy. Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, and Yunmo Sung, Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea, signed a declaration to this effect in Berlin on 10 December 2019.

A win for both countries

The energy partnership is based on the conviction that both of these industrialized countries can benefit from the cooperation and transfer of knowledge. In this way, they can advance their respective energy transition and help each other achieve their climate goals. The two future energy partners complement each other well: Korea's share of renewable energies in the electricity mix is still low at just under eight percent, but the country has set the goal of achieving a share of 30 to 35 percent by 2040. Germany, which already covers more than 40 percent of its gross electricity consumption from renewable sources, can help with its practical experience. In addition to the bilateral exchange on the expansion of renewable energies and their system integration, Korea is also interested in an exit from nuclear power and in German energy efficiency policy. Germany in turn can benefit from Korea's experience with intelligent power grids and storage technologies as well as hydrogen mobility.

Strengthening the dialogue

Since 2016, adelphi has supported the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) in the organisation and implementation of the energy policy dialogue with the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). The now official partnership strengthens this dialogue and makes it a permanent institution in both countries. The second Korean-German Energy Day took place in Seoul in October 2019 as part of the energy dialogue at the 8th International Renewable Energy Conference (KIREC). Some 100 experts from politics, business, science and civil society discussed solutions for the system integration of renewable energies and the potential of intelligent networks. In December 2019, adelphi also organized a study trip to Berlin for a South Korean delegation. Participants learned about energy efficiency initiatives in German industry and the building sector.