Supporting German businesses to engage in China’s energy transition through standards development
On 22 October 2024, the Sino-German Energy Partnership hosted the 9th meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council at the German Embassy in Beijing. The meeting provided 16 German companies with insights into the complex energy standardisation process in China and internationally and explored how German business can engage in advancing China’s energy transition through jointly shaping the energy standards.
Standards play an important role in China's energy transition as the country moves towards a greener and more sustainable energy system. German companies, known for their engineering expertise, are well-positioned to contribute to the development of these energy standards. By doing so, they not only accelerate China's energy transition but also gain improved market access and unlock new business opportunities. This involvement further strengthens their competitive edge within the Chinese market, fostering long-term partnerships and growth potential in the evolving landscape of clean energy.
To address this topic and support German business, the Sino-German Energy Partnership, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), organised the 9th meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council on 22nd October at the German Embassy in Beijing. The meeting brought together 16 German companies, representatives from the BMWK, the German Embassy, the German Institute for Standardisation, and the German Chamber of Commerce.
The event not only provided the participating German companies and organisations with insights on the complex standard system and development procedure in China’s energy sector, but also an overview on international and European standards. Through the discussions, which centered on the interaction between international standardisation with local developments in China, the participants jointly explored the role that German companies can and should play in this dynamic. The event also sought to identify the challenges and opportunities faced by the German private sector and explore how public initiatives from the German government, such as the Sino-German Energy Partnership, the Sino-German Commission for Standardisation, as well as DIN and DKE, can provide support. The Sino-German Energy Partnership will integrate the discussion outcomes into its upcoming activities.
About the Local Business Advisory Council
First held in May 2018, the Local Business Advisory Council meetings are a key instrument for the B2G exchange between German companies and the German Federal Government within the framework of the Sino-German Energy Partnership. The annual meetings enable German companies to communicate challenges and barriers in the Chinese energy sector directly to German government representatives. The results are integrated into the activities of the Energy Partnership on all levels, including the political dialogue, business roundtables, and expert workshops.
Topics vary depending on the focus of the political bilateral cooperation and developments in the Chinese market. Over the last six years, the topics discussed included access to green electricity, green supply chains, life cycle cost assessment, planning of integrated energy concepts, and implementation of decentralised electricity generation in urban districts and industrial parks.