Learning from Germany to Advance Decarbonisation of Buildings and Industry in Indonesia

Jakarta, 22 October 2026 – The GIZ Indonesia & ASEAN’s Energy Programme facilitated a learning excursion to Germany from 10 to 19 October 2026. The excursion focused on three key themes: industrial decarbonisation, the built environment, and sustainable cooling. It brought together representatives from ministries, municipal governments, academia, industry, and related organisations to visit companies and institutions in several German cities, including Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Freiburg, Stuttgart, and Nuremberg. Through these visits, participants explored the application of low-carbon technologies, energy policies, and energy management practices that could serve as references for the Indonesian delegation. 

Policy and Data as the Foundation for Industrial Decarbonisation

One of the key takeaways from the excursion was the importance of strong commitment from company management and boards of directors, consistent policy implementation, and systematic monitoring of energy consumption and emissions. 

Irvan from PT Denso Indonesia emphasised that successful decarbonisation requires a commitment from both regulators and industry players to consistently implement policies.

“Policies may not be perfect and can be reviewed later. However, if they are not properly implemented, the process of making further improvements towards something better, or even achieving perfection, will never happen,” said Irvan.

From an energy management perspective, Dewi Puspita Sari from the Ministry of Industry highlighted the importance of using data as a basis for decision-making. 

“An important lesson for me is that energy savings start with good data and planning. Companies need to know how much energy they consume, which areas are the most energy-intensive, and what needs to be improved,” Dewi explained.

During the visit, participants in the industry track explored decarbonisation practices across various sectors, from chemical and pharmaceutical companies such as BASF, Merck, and Boehringer Ingelheim to automotive manufacturing at Mercedes-Benz and industrial technology at TRUMPF. The lessons included recovering waste heat for use in other industrial processes, using digital technologies to support energy management systems, utilising renewable energy for electricity and heat, and applying biomass-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) systems to support more efficient and environmentally friendly energy production.

Exploring Sustainable Cooling Systems

As part of the cooling track, the delegation visited  one of the world’s largest refrigeration and HVAC trade fair, Chillventa, in Nuremberg. Leading German OEMS for cooling system components such as Bitzer, Ziehl-Abegg, EBM-Papst and Guentner presented their energy-efficient products and showcased the market opportunities in Indonesia for sustainable cooling systems contributing to a competitive industry as well as to climate protection. 

Through additional site visits to cooling-intensive end-users, Green IT Cube computing centre, and the METRO facility in Mainz-Kastel, participants explored innovations in energy-efficient cooling systems, the use of natural refrigerants, and opportunities to integrate renewable energy. These lessons provide valuable references for Indonesia to expand the adoption of low-emission cooling technologies, supported by appropriate policies, skills development, and access to financing.

Firsthand Experiences to Drive Innovation

The lessons from Germany also offered city governments new perspectives on how resource constraints can drive innovation in energy management.

Tri Wahyu Rubianto, a representative of the Batam City Government who participated in the built environment track, noted, “Constraints often become a driver of innovation. In Europe, limited energy resources have encouraged governments to develop various innovative solutions to meet growing energy demand.” The two innovations showcased were a modular apartment complex integrating Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) with environmentally friendly materials, and a residential housing complex equipped with balcony-mounted solar panels (plug-in PV).

Participants also learned about the role of the Karlsruhe Energy Agency, an organisation funded by the city government and private sector, in providing energy consultations for residents and supporting city energy planning. This experience could serve as a reference for local governments in Indonesia to strengthen energy planning and consultation services according to local needs.

Johannes Anhorn, Coordinator for Industrial and Building Decarbonisation at the GIZ Indonesia & ASEAN Energy Programme, emphasised that the capacity development approach focused not only on training but also on firsthand experience.

“This capacity development programme was not designed merely as training; it also provides firsthand experience. This allows participants to gain a deeper understanding of real-world implementation and share their learnings with others,” he said.

Through these study visits, lessons from Germany can be translated into concrete actions to strengthen energy efficiency, renewable energy utilisation, and emissions reduction in Indonesia’s building and industrial sectors.

About SETI and RE2COOL 

As part of its Energy Programme, GIZ Indonesia & ASEAN is implementing several projects that contribute to Indonesia’s sustainable energy transition, including the Sustainable Energy Transition in Indonesia (SETI) project, funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), and the RE2COOL component under the Green Energy project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Implemented by a consortium comprising GIZ, Yayasan Indonesia CERAH, the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), and the World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia. SETI aims to support an effective institutional, regulatory, and financial ecosystem for Indonesia’s transition towards a sustainable energy system, while RE2COOL promotes efficient and low emission cooling solutions in the industry and commercial sector.