6th Korean-German Energy Day “Sustainable Supply Chains for Energy Transition”
(Berlin, March 21, 2024) The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Martin Henkelmann) in cooperation with the Korea Energy Economic Institute (KEEI), Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), German policy consultancy think tank adelphi and Hydrogen Convergence Alliance held the 6th Korean-German Energy Day (KGED) conference on March 21 at Grand Hyatt Berlin, Germany.
The KGED is the flagship event of the Korean-German Energy Partnership, co-hosted by German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). The Energy Partnership was founded in 2019 when a Joint Declaration of Intent was signed by the two countries on extended cooperation in energy transition.
The conference, under the theme of “Sustainable Supply Chains for the Energy Transition,” attracted more than 100 key officials from Korean-German energy sector. Distinguished speakers included Namho Choe, Korean Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Udo Philipp, German State Secretary of German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
In opening remarks, Dr. Martin Henkelmann, President and CEO of KGCCI, emphasized, “Germany and Korea have set targets for achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 and 2050, respectively. As highly industrialized nations, we face similar challenges.” He further stated, “Through collaborative efforts and dialogue, we are paving the way towards a sustainable future powered by renewable energy and clean hydrogen.”
Namho Choe, Vice Minister from MOTIE, emphasized the significance of the event in his video message, saying, “Today's meeting provides an excellent opportunity for government officials, industries, and experts to engage in constructive discussions on Sustainable Supply Chains for the Energy Transition.” He further expressed optimism, noting, “We hope this discussion will lead to innovative solutions that will enhance energy security and promote clean energy transition, and we look forward to strengthening the Korean-German Energy Partnership.”
In a video address, Udo Philipp, German State Secretary at the BMWK, underscored the pivotal role of the energy transition, asserting, “The energy transition is one of our key building blocks for climate action. At the same time, we are convinced, that this is the way forward to achieving energy security and strengthening the resilience of our economy.”
The conference was conducted into two sessions: △Supply Chains for Renewable Energies △Sustainable Supply Chains for Hydrogen. Panel discussions with experts covered topics such as photovoltaic, wind power, electricity storage systems, import strategies, government policies and industry perspectives on transporting, storing, and redistributing hydrogen.
Various companies and policy institutions from both countries, including International Energy Agency (IEA), Climate Neutrality Foundation, Fraunhofer ISE, Samsung Engineering, Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), Korea Energy Agency, KEPCO KDN, Korea Western Power (KWP) and Human Composites delivered presentations and engaged in panel discussions to share opinions and experiences related to energy supply chain.
Jihee Jeong, Chair of the Secretariat of Korean-German Energy Partnership in Korea stated, “With the active engagement and support of both governments, the Korean-German Energy Partnership stands as a testament to successful bilateral energy collaboration. As the Secretariat of Korean-German Energy Partnership, KGCCI is committed to enhancing cooperation in the energy sector between our two nations by offering diverse avenues for discussion on various energy topics.”
Designated as the official secretariat of the Korean-German Energy Partnership in 2021, KGCCI with adelphi together underpins cooperation between the two countries in various areas, facilitating interactions between policy makers and energy experts in close cooperation with stakeholders from both countries. In specific, KGCCI co-organizes and executes Korean-German Energy Partnership Working Group Meetings, energy workshops, expert meetings, delegation trips, and is also the co-organizer of the Korean-German Energy Day.