Policy & Projects

Policy & Projects

FURTHER, FASTER, TOGETHER

Energy efficiency policy, programs, and technology are an important area for bilateral cooperation between Australia and Germany.

In September 2019, cooperation between Australia and Germany on these matters was formalised with the establishment of an industry-led Sub Working Group on energy efficiency, currently co-chaired by Luke Menzel, CEO of the Australian Energy Efficiency Council, and Susann Bollman, Member of the Executive Board, Head of Projects and Financial Forum, Energy Efficiency, at the German Business Initiative for Energy Efficiency (DENEFF).

With the expansion of the Energy Partnership to an Energy and Climate Partnership in September 2024, the Sub Working Group on energy efficiency changed its name to the Working Group for Energy Efficiency and Net Zero Transition. 

The Working Group recognises that both the German and Australian Governments are acting to harness energy efficiency to lower carbon emissions and support the broader energy transition. The aim of the Working Group is to accelerate efforts in both nations through enhanced cooperation. 

This ongoing collaboration has already resulted in:

  • Workstream One – Buildings
    • The publication of the first Further, faster, together report in 2021 which included a recommendation that a dialogue should be facilitated on NABER’s Energy’s role in Australia and lessons for Germany.
    • An Australian delegation of energy efficiency experts visiting Germany in July 2022 to meet with the German government, financial institutions and visit key sites.
    • This work has led to an Energy Benchmark initiative being piloted in Germany, taking learnings from NABERS.
  • Workstream Two – Industrial Decarbonisation
    • A German delegation visiting Australia to visit key industrial precincts, present at the EEC’s conference in May 2023 and attend a workshop hosted by the Australian government on collaboration activities.
    • This visit informed the content for the second report in the Further, faster, together series.  

For further information, contact Amelia Jarrett, EEC Policy Advisor at amelia.jarrett@eec.org.au.

REPORTS

Further, faster, together: Opportunities for collaboration between Germany and Australia on energy efficiency in buildings

In June 2021 the Energy Efficiency Council, in partnership with the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and adelphi, released a report identifying priority areas for collaboration between Germany and Australia on energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings. Read the report here. 

Further, faster, together: Opportunities for collaboration between Germany and Australia on industrial energy management and decarbonisation

In August 2024 the Energy Efficiency Council, with support from adelphi and funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, released the second report in the series, focussing on industrial energy management and decarbonisation. Read the report here.