Context

Cooperation on energy policy between Germany and China began in 2007. Since then, the two countries have intensified their cooperation and, in 2016, expanded it into a strategic partnership. The Energy Partnership is the main platform for dialogue on energy policy between Germany and China.

Objective

The Sino-German Energy Partnership drives the energy transition in both countries through continuous political, economic, regulatory and technical exchange.

Approach

The project provides the secretariat in Beijing, which implements the Sino-German Energy Partnership. The secretariat serves as a point of contact for all participants and interested parties and organises the dialogue formats and working groups.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Chinese National Energy Administration (NEA) determine the priorities of the Energy Partnership together on a regular basis.

Through two working groups, the partnership brings together high-level government representatives and experts from business, academia and civil society to promote exchange and provide advice.

• The Energy Working Group focuses primarily on decentralised renewable energy, flexibility in the electricity system to improve the integration of renewable energy, the electricity market, sustainable heat and hydrogen.
• The Energy Efficiency Working Group focuses on energy efficiency in industry and cities, energy efficiency standards, and innovative energy efficiency networks. Here, companies work together to identify potential energy savings and implement measures to improve energy efficiency.

Last updated: August 2026