Solar panels of a solar power plant in Ouarzazate, Morocco

    Climate change and development Energy and climate

    The world will not be able cope with climate change without a global energy transition. The burning of fossil fuels for power generation is the single most important cause of climate change. At the same time, however, energy is the key foundation for economic and social development. A sustainable and needs-based energy supply for all must therefore be climate-neutral.

    The energy sector has a major impact on the climate. It accounts for roughly three quarters of all harmful greenhouse gas emissions. And these emissions must be reduced dramatically, which can only be achieved by phasing out of fossil fuels. At the same time, developing and emerging countries need more and more energy. Primary energy demand worldwide could grow by one third by 2040. The energy sector is facing two challenges that have to be resolved by the middle of this century.

    One in eight people worldwide still has no access to electricity – that is about 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone. Access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all (SDG 7) is the prerequisite for economic growth, employment and poverty reduction and for quality education and health care.

    Industry and mining, agriculture and the food industry all need energy to produce, store and transport goods. Households and public institutions also require reliable and affordable power supplies, for example in order to heat or cool and light buildings, run hospitals and provide clean drinking water.

    In order to limit global warming on a long-term basis, it will be necessary to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix, improve energy efficiency and transform the entire energy sector. Only then will it be possible to supply more people with energy and halt climate change.

    As the share of renewable energy sources rises, ensuring the reliability of energy supplies will be a challenge. Because solar and wind power fluctuate depending on the weather and time of the day. Consequently, comprehensive solutions are needed, such as creating conducive regulatory frameworks, modernising grids and operating them on the basis of digital technology, and integrating power markets across borders. Innovative models and technologies such as green hydrogen/Power-to-X, electric mobility and battery storage can speed up this transformation.

    German activities

    Wind turbines in Rio do Fogo, Brazil

    Wind turbines in Rio do Fogo, Brazil

    In order to secure sustainable development based on renewable energy, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) supports its partner countries in coping with the enormous political, economic and social challenges that come with establishing a modern and climate-neutral energy system. In this context, it is key to promote renewable energies, energy efficiency and access to sustainable energy at the same time. This helps to meet growing energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    Energy supplies must be needs-based, reliable and sustainable – for households, social institutions, and small and medium-sized enterprises. This is the basis for promoting economic development, generating jobs and creating prospects for the future.
    Developing and emerging economies that have large reserves of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal) often not only export these resources, but also use them locally to meet the growing domestic demand for energy. Here, it will be crucial to provide alternatives and support the transformation of the energy sector towards renewable energies.

    The BMZ focuses in addition on green hydrogen as a key resource for a successful energy transition and for achieving the climate targets. By means of electricity produced sustainably from wind and solar power, hydrogen can be generated from water – and this “green” hydrogen can in turn be used to produce climate-neutral fuels and fuel gas. For the BMZ’s partner countries, where the potential for renewable energies is often huge, this is a chance to create more skilled jobs, increase export revenues and improve local energy supply. Together with diverse partner countries, the BMZ is currently developing first industrial plants for “green hydrogen” in Africa. This includes the largest plant currently on the continent, with a capacity of 100 megawatts.

    Facilitating the transition to sustainable energy

    Solar panels in Namibia

    Green people's energy for Africa

    The BMZ’s “Green People’s Energy for Africa” initiative helps set up decentralised energy systems on the basis of renewable sources, working closely with citizens, cooperatives, municipalities and small and medium-sized enterprises.

    Through its bilateral cooperation programmes, the BMZ helps its partners create a sustainable energy supply and open up the market for renewable energy and energy efficiency products.

    Working on behalf of the BMZ, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH provides advice on new legislation, feed-in tariffs or subsidy reforms. It assists with the establishment of energy agencies and trains local experts. It raises awareness through education campaigns and supports the dialogue between government representatives, business and civil society.

    To boost the market for sustainable energy, the BMZ provides loans and grants through the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) – in the areas of generation, transmission and distribution and for energy efficiency measures – for the expansion of power supply. Credit lines for climate-friendly products are established via national development banks, providing a crucial incentive for such further expansion.

    The BMZ also works together with the private sector and makes use of successful global instruments and multilateral channels.

    Working together for a sustainable energy future

    At the multilateral level, too, Germany is working to support sustainable, climate-friendly energy systems.

    Overview of the geothermal power plant Olkaria, Kenya

    Africa Renewable Energy Initiative

    Together with other industrialised countries, Germany supports the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI). Since 2015, Germany has been one of the largest bilateral donors for renewable energy in Africa, with total funding of about 2.7 billion euros.

    A crucial role is played by the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA, the REN21 policy network and the World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, ESMAP. Moreover, Germany is working with the SEforALL Initiative (Sustainable Energy for All). Within the EU Energy Initiative (EUEI), European partners coordinate their energy- and climate-related development cooperation activities.

    Through its support policies, the BMZ contributes to the implementation of the Paris Agreement, which requires international financial flows to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost resilience to climate change.

    In this spirit, the BMZ launched the multi-donor Global Energy Transformation Programme GET.pro to get European players to join forces in helping to create more favourable conditions for investing in a global energy transition. The platform mobilises private investment in decentralised power generation (GET.invest) and advises partner countries and regions on shaping their energy transition (GET.transform).

    Energy is also an important issue in the BMZ's cooperation with multilateral development banks.

    Through the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP), the BMZ provides additional support to encourage close cooperation between European players and Africa, with a view to advancing the transformation of energy systems on the African continent, a continent of opportunity.

    The Azeba health centre in the Ganta Afeshum district in Ethiopia received reliable power supply through a solar system with the help of EnDev. Since electrification, the staff no longer have to rely on paraffin or torches during the evening hours. The number of births attended by medical staff increased from five per year to over two hundred.

    Energising Development: access to energy for millions of people

    The multi-donor partnership Energising Development (EnDev) aims to create access to modern, climate-friendly and affordable energy for a total of 28.5 million people by 2025.

    Unloading of transport boats on the island Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

    1,000 Islands: rural electrification through renewable energy

    Outside the islands of Java and Bali, and particularly in the less developed eastern regions of Indonesia, many people still have no access to electricity. The “1000 Islands” programme utilises small hydropower plants and solar mini-grids to contribute to environmentally sound and climate-friendly energy supply and thus to social and economic development in remote regions of Indonesia.

    With German support, schools in Uganda are being supplied with climate-neutral solar energy.

    Uganda: solar power for schools

    Uganda is a pioneer when it comes to renewables and climate action. Major progress has been achieved with German support: the country now has the first solar power station in East Africa, private investments in renewables amounting to 500 million have been mobilised (GET FiT) and the country is implementing voluntary climate protection measures as part of its Nationally Determined Contribution

    BMZ-Videos

    Still from the BMZ film "Kenya: leading the way on renewable energy"

    Kenya: leading the way on renewable energy

    Kenya has adopted an ambitious target for its energy supply. In order to achieve it, the country is increasingly relying on geothermal power – with support from Germany (video in German).

    develoPPP.de: solar power for Mozambique

    develoPPP.de – solar power for Mozambique

    A public-private development partnership between Phaesun, a German company, and the Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft is bringing off-grid solar systems to Mozambique, thus giving rural people new opportunities. (Video in German)

    As at: 22/09/2020