Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Network (EEN)

The Energy Efficiency and Climate Network (EEN) Initiative has proven a successful instrument of the German energy transition. EENs connect local municipalities, energy service companies (ESCOs), and energy consumers to engage and effectively improve energy efficiency in industry, trade, and commerce. The Energy Partnership is dedicated to replicate this experience in China by supporting Sino-German EEN pilots in industrial parks, providing political advise to guide the implementation of a Chinese EEN framework and support the upscaling through innovative business models.

EENs offer significant energy saving potentials

In Germany, almost 400 energy efficiency networks with over 3000 companies have been founded since the start of “Energy Efficiency Networks Initiative” in 2014. The monitoring of the initiative shows that energy efficiency networks save on average 33,4 GWh final energy per year. In the 212 EENs already finalised, more than 9.000 energy efficiency measures have been implemented. These have led to savings of approx. 6,4 TWh final energy and approx. 2,3 Mio. t CO2-eq. More savings are expected since some EENs have not been evaluated yet and new ones continue to be created.

In China, EENs provide huge untapped potential in key industries, industrial parks, and large enterprises for green development. To address climate change and meet national emission reduction goals, various sectors face challenges in achieving energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets. The Chinese industry sector aims to transition towards innovative energy-saving service models, and expanding collaboration and adopting new management approaches after over two decades of energy efficiency endeavors. During the 6th Sino-German Working Group meeting on energy efficiency in 2016, NDRC and BMWK agreed on strengthening their cooperation in promoting EENs in China.

Our goal

By showcasing the Sino-German EEN pilot results and experiences, enhancing the policy framework, and leveraging the synergies among stakeholders in local government, industry, associations, and German private sector, the Energy Partnership aims to promote EENs as an innovative and replicable energy service business model for achieving energy savings and emission reductions in China.

Our partners

GIZ and China International Engineering Consulting Corporation (CIECC) are commissioned as the German and Chinese implementing agencies to support the Sino-German cooperation on EENs. The German EEN consultancy company Arqum facilitated the Chinese pilot EEN with technical advice in the Taicang Hightech Zone under the commission of the local Taicang government. The German Energy Agency (dena) provided further technical support.

Our activities

Support the implementation of the EEN Pilot in Taicang

From 2021 – 2023, the Energy Partnership supported the implementation of the Sino-German Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Network in Taicang. Leveraging German expertise and technical solutions, the pilot supported the 10 selected companies in reducing energy consumption and emission reductions through:

Facilitating theme-specific network exchange workshops/seminars,
Conducting energy audits for participating companies to analyse their energy data, energy saving and emission reduction potential, and set corresponding targets
Introducing GHG accounting
Accompanying the implementation of the measures and monitor the energy- and emission-saving impact

Facilitate exchanges for EEN dissemination in China

By engaging further German and Chinese actors such as think tanks, industry associations, industrial parks and private companies, the Energy Partnership facilitated the political and technical exchange to disseminate EEN in China. This includes organising a range of expert workshops, summarising German EEN experience, providing policy recommendations for EEN promotion in China, and sharing the results from the pilot in Taicang through dialogues with multiple stakeholders.

What has been achieved

Energy and emission reduction in local industrial parks and German companies - The EEN pilot in Taicang (Phase I 2021-2023) with 10 participating companies achieved annual energy savings of 25,000 MWh leading to a reduction in CO2-emissions of more than 38,000 tonnes. With a 12.3% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the results of the EEN pilot significantly surpassed the initial target of 5%. With over 500 German SMEs located in theTaicang Hightech Zone, most EEN participants are the local manufacturing sites of German companies. The successful EEN pilot and the ongoing dissemination in Taicang Hightech Zone are important steps to improve the industry value chain.

Political recognition - In 2016, the Chinese central government included EEN in the 13th “Five-Year-Plan” as an instrument for increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions. In June 2023, the establishment of a Sino-German dialogue and cooperation mechanism on climate change and green transformation, has prompted calls for the continuation of Sino-German cooperation on EEN. In 2024, NDRC aims to provide political support for EEN by developing a standard to guide the replication of EENs in China.

Catalyst for innovative business models - The success of the Taicang EEN pilot has garnered significant interest from stakeholders. Other industrial parks are keen on replicating the Taicang model, and, in collaboration with interested parties, the Energy Partnership is looking into developing an innovative business model featuring a market-driven EEN upscaling approach for China. This initiative could serve as a global best practice for EEN development.

The impact

The energy saving and emission reduction amount per year of Taicang EEN Pilot during 2021-2023.

25000 MWh

energy saving

38000 tons

CO2 emission reduction