After four years of successful cooperation, the second phase of the German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC) came to an end in March 2021: The GJETC developed extensive joint recommendations for the implementation and further development of the energy transition, and a large number of publications and outreach events as well as nine council meetings contributed to increased German-Japanese cooperation.
In order to continue to develop independent impulses for a long-term, sustainable overall energy supply strategy, the GJETC is now continuing its work in a third project phase in 2021 with new study topics and cooperation concepts. The relationship of trust that has been created between the council members enables a dialogical and (self-)critical approach to controversial topics.
While scientific exchange on energy-related issues and mutual learning remain the focus of the Council's work, the third phase of the GJETC aims to significantly develop the concept of the Council and to pave the way for future cooperation in German-Japanese projects on the energy transition with the "Innovation Partnerships".
Studies in 2021 are planned to focus on "Decarbonizing energy intensive industries", "Long-term scenario analyses up to 2050", and "Distributed energy systems (e.g. the role of batteries)". In addition to the two Council meetings, the Council is also planning further events for the interested public. The results will subsequently be prepared for policymakers and the public.
On the German side, the Wuppertal Institute supports the Council's work as scientific secretariat, on the Japanese side, the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) takes over this task, while Prof. Dr. Peter Hennicke and his Japanese colleague Prof. Masakazu Toyoda act as co-chairs of the GJETC. ECOS Consult will provide organisational support for the project on the German side.
