Office of the Initiative Energieeffizienz- und Klimaschutz-Netzwerke (Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection Networks Campaign)

The Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection Networks initiative helps companies from all industries, without regard to the company size, to systematically and professionally exchange information on topics relating to energy efficiency and climate protection in multi-year networks and implement specific measures. The initiative was launched in 2014 as the Energy Efficiency Networks initiative. Currently, it is supported by 21 business associations and organisations together with the German government and numerous other project partners. Together, the networks that were initiated between 2021 and the end of 2025 want to save 9 to 11 TWh of final energy and 5 to 6 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Companies can tap into greater energy efficiency potential, pool their expertise and learn from each other when they are in a network together. This enables them to create transparency in their energy consumption while expanding their knowledge of the energy transition and climate protection. Joining together in a network, which consists of at least five companies, is voluntary. However, it does provide a clear framework for achieving energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. 

The participating companies exchange ideas in moderated network meetings in order to 

• define savings targets,
• integrate external expertise and
• implement measures.

The network initiative has already conducted hundreds of specialist events, ranging from workshops to annual events with 300 participants and the involvement of ministries. New ones are added every month. Numerous publications – from flyers to guidelines – accompany the work carried out by each network, from its foundation to the specialised topics in the respective network’s work, right through to the monitoring of its impact. After the end of the term of the network, which is generally two to three years, the impact of its work is summarised and published in annual scientific reports. 

• 2024: the initiative already has over 430 networks with more than 3,000 companies.
• 2024: the independent monitoring of the initiative attributes annual savings of around 7,500 GWh of final energy and 2.7 million metric tons of CO_2e to the 240 or so networks already audited.
• Since 2023: network participants receive a higher funding rate in Module 5 – Transformation plans of the ‘Federal funding for energy and resource efficiency in the economy’ funding package.  
• Since 2021: the Carbon Leakage Regulation for Germany’s national emissions trading scheme (ETS) allows aid for industrial companies to compensate for disadvantages in global competition caused by the scheme, which was introduced in 2021. Network participation is a possible criterion for companies to receive compensation.
• 2021: The Energy Efficiency Networks initiative will be continued with the addition of the topics of climate protection and sustainability as the Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection Networks initiative.

Informational flyer [in German]

Practical guide for network stakeholders  [in German]

Fact sheets on short-term measures for energy efficiency [in German]

Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection Networks Initiative

The Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection Networks initiative at bmwk.de (website of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action)