The Japanese-German Energy Partnership
In June 2019, Japan and Germany agreed to further strengthen their bilateral cooperation for a successful energy transition in the form of an energy partnership. The Japanese-German Energy Partnership is the platform for a fruitful exchange on all relevant topics of the energy transition from the expansion of renewable energies, flexibility and grid modernization, to energy efficiency and the use of hydrogen. In February 2020, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Climate Action (BMWK) adopted a roadmap for their cooperation under the Energy Partnership. The partners agreed to establish the high-level "German-Japanese Steering Committee for the Energy Transition," which will lead the institutional structure of the Energy Partnership. The committee meets once a year to discuss energy policy developments, deliberate on the means of cooperation, evaluate and improve outcomes, and set the respective priorities for the next year.
The Working Groups
The roadmap also decided to set up two working groups to coordinate the substantive work. The "Energy Transition" working group covers the two pillars of renewable energies and energy efficiency. The "Hydrogen" working group deals with all aspects of production, distribution and use. The working groups provide the framework for substantive exchanges on policy developments, lessons-learned and proven measures. Proposals for deeper collaboration are developed in the working groups, e.g., expert workshops, joint studies, research trips, or the initiation of joint demonstration projects.
Stakeholders from politics, business and science are involved in these formats, thus strengthening bridges between different groups.
Communication
Another focus of the energy partnership's work is to improve communication on the energy transition. The energy transition is to be communicated in both countries through the provision of well-founded energy policy background material, comparative studies, trade fair presentations, workshops and information events such as webinars or lectures.