Advancing climate-friendly energy solutions

Context

Industries around the world – from flower growers to textile suppliers – need energy for their manufacturing operations. As energy prices rise and the supply of predominantly fossil-fuel based energy sources becomes less reliable, the attractiveness of alternative – efficient and climate-friendly – forms of energy supply increases.

However, opportunities for a transition are not fully exploited as in-depth knowledge of technologies, concrete decision-making support and sound assessments of commercial risk are required from decision-makers in companies.

In addition to commerce and industry, operators of refugee camps are a further target group for the transition to renewable energies as many still use diesel generators to supply energy or water.

Objective

Climate-friendly energy solutions are widespread and market access is facilitated for German and European small and mid-sized businesses in selected cooperation countries. This improves economic development as well as global economic relations and contributes to climate change mitigation.

Approach

The Project Development Programme (PDP) combines development cooperation with entrepreneurial engagement from the private sector. The markets in developing countries and emerging economies are promising, but also pose challenges for international business partners. The PDP team thus develops financially viable projects focussing on renewable energies and energy efficiency with local companies. It also offers business initiation opportunities with German or European small and mid-sized companies. The project therefore collects data from energy consumers and analyses it from a technical and economic perspective.

It provides free and neutral advice primarily to local companies and puts them in contact with German or European business partners.

At the same time, the project provides training courses, analyses and studies on the risks and potential of renewable energies to help support market development. Visiting reference facilities in cooperation countries also promotes the creation of private-sector business partnerships.

Last update: March 2024