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Energy transition connects Africa and Hamburg

Energy transition connects Africa and Hamburg
Cape Town (Katharina Wieland Müller/pixelio)

Compared with other continents, Africa has huge renewable energy resource potential that remains largely unexploited. Hamburg is positioning itself as an important model region for the networked energy transition. Bilateral cooperation between Hamburg and regions in Africa can support the development of infrastructure and value chains for renewable energies in Africa, while contributing to the market ramp-up of the hydrogen economy and the decarbonisation of industry in Hamburg and Germany.

German energy partnerships with African countries

There are energy partnerships between Germany and more than 20 countries, including five from Africa: Algeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia. These energy partnerships are intended to promote political exchange at government level and provide momentum for economic and entrepreneurial cooperation and innovation. Although each African partner country has different interests and needs due to its individual energy policy framework, supply situation and geographic location, the key themes of this bilateral cooperation include energy efficiency in buildings and industry, green hydrogen, Power-to-X and storage solutions.

When it comes to hydrogen, Hamburg is a major partner for African countries. Hamburg provides the essential conditions for achieving the market ramp-up of the international hydrogen economy: a complete hydrogen value chain and a port that acts as a hub for imports.

15th German African Energy Forum in Hamburg

On 1 and 2 June 2022, Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft e.V. organised the 15th German-African Energy Forum in Hamburg, under the slogan ‘Turning Tables and Breaking Habits: Energy Transition through Africa’s Lens’. Representatives from 35 African countries, including 13 government delegations, discussed the framework conditions and opportunities for cooperation on a wide range of energy issues with decision-makers from German politics and business.

Hamburg and Cape Town cooperate as part of the EU International City Partnerships (ICP) Programme

During a research trip from 13 to 17 June 2022, representatives of the City of Cape Town visited water/sewage, energy transition and waste economy projects in Hamburg. The Renewable Energy Cluster Agency was jointly responsible for designing the content, together with the Senate Office and the Department of Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture. The agenda included meetings at Stromnetz Hamburg, a tour of the energy bunker and a visit to the Energy Campus Technology Centre at HAW Hamburg.

This research trip was part of the EU International City Partnerships Project: Acting for Green and Inclusive Recovery (IPC-AGIR), which is taking place from October 2021 to March 2023 with the aim of helping to improve quality of life in participating cities by promoting sustainable, integrated urban development and identifying innovative policies and programmes. A total of 28 cities from Asia, Europe, Canada and South Africa are taking part in the EU programme. Hamburg and Cape Town (South Africa) are collaborating in the Circular Economy Cluster.

More information about the EU ICP-AGIR Project: http://icp-agir.eu/

About Jingkai Shi

Profilbild zu: Jingkai Shi

Hamburg is the model region for the energy transition and the Germany’s wind capital with connections all over the world. The local renewable energy sector is thus a key partner for the international energy industry. In my role as a contact person for international cooperation in renewables, I’m responsible for REH’s relations with international industry networks, support REH’s members in their international activities, and help Hamburg gain a stronger visibility and perception on the world stage by using social media.

by Jingkai Shi