Advancing an international Energiewende policy. Lessons from North Africa

Event Type
Workshop

Location / Date
Potsdam, 29.06.2015

German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS)

Over the past two decades, Germany has emerged as a frontrunner in the development of renewable energy. Its ambitious policies to support the deployment of renewable energy not only initiated the German Energiewende, they also helped stimulate a global process of innovation and diffusion of renewable energy technologies. While these represent important achievements, observers have pointed out that the German Energiewende holds important potential for stimulating further momentum for a global energy transition as well as strengthening Germany’s role in international policy-making.
 
Against this background, this workshop seeked to promote an informed debate on Germany’s international engagement on issues related to renewable energy development and a transition to sustainable energy supply. Taking the region of North Africa as a first example, it took stock of existing activities and explored lessons learned. Participants discussed and compared different approaches to cooperation - from the grand vision of DESERTEC to small-scale renewable energy development in Tunisia. The workshop concluded with a discussion of possible options for further enhancing Germany’s international Energiewende policy - both in North Africa and globally


Programme

9:30 – 11:00
Session 1
Advancing an international Energiewende policy: Where do we stand?

• Why does Germany need an international Energiewende policy?
• What is the status quo of Germany’s international policy approach?
• Central instruments and actors
• Important success stories
• Key challenges

Welcome and moderation

• Rainer Quitzow, Research Associate, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS)
• Sybille Röhrkasten, Research Associate, IASS
• Kerstin Faehrmann, Head of Division Energy, Infrastructure, Raw Materials, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
• Wolfdieter Böhler, Head of Unit Energy Cooperation in the IEA, Bilateral Cooperation on Energy Policy with Non-OECD Countries, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
• Christoph Bals, Policy Director, Germanwatch (tbc)

11:00 – 11:30
Coffee break

11:30 – 13:00
Session 2
Promoting an Energiewende in North Africa: status quo and lessons learned

• What have been the German priorities and approaches for promoting the Energiewende in North Africa?
• What are key lessons learned? What has (not) worked?
• How does German engagement relate to domestic policy priorities in the region?
• What are the policy strategies of “competitors” (e.g France, USA, China) in the region?

Moderation

• Kirsten Westphal, Senior Researcher, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
• Georgeta Vidican, Senior Researcher, DIE
• Florian Zickfeld, Manager International Business Development, Abengoa Solar
• Nurzat Myrsalieva, Policy Analysis Project Manager, Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE)
• Mohamed Salah Elsobki, Chairman, New and Renewable Energy Authority, Egypt (tbc)

13:00 – 14:00
Lunch

14:00 – 15:30
Session 3
Supporting renewable energy deployment and local value creation: the experience of Morocco and Tunisia.

• What is driving renewable energy development in Morocco and Tunisia?
• How are these developments being supported by German actors?
• Which German actor are involved and how?
• How do Moroccans and Tunisians view German engagement?
• How does German engagement compare to that of other international partners?

Moderation

• Manfred Fischedick, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy
• Mustapha El Haddad, Energy Expert, Tunisia
• Karoline Steinbacher, Researcher, Environmental Policy Research Centre, Freie Universität Berlin
• Katharina Hay, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
• Driss Zejli, National School of Applied Sciences (Kenitra) / Chair of the Moroccan Society of Renewable Energy Development (SMADER)

15:30 – 15:45
Coffee break

15:45 – 17:00
Wrap up
Lessons for an international Energiewende policy

• What are the lessons learned and implications for future engagement in North Africa?
• What are the broader implications and lessons learned for enhancing Germany’s international Energiewende policy?
• Where are important knowledge gaps and what are questions for further research?

Moderation and concluding remarks

• Rainer Quitzow, Research Associate, IASS
• Kirsten Westphal, Senior Researcher, SWP
• Hans Koeppel, Head of Unit Foreign Policy Issues of Energy Transition, Federal Foreign Office
• Mike Enskat, Senior Programme Manager, Energy for Sustainable Development

Hinweis

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