Franco-German Energy Platform (DFEP)

Together with the French Agency for the Ecological Transition (ADEME), dena launched the Franco-German Energy Platform (DFEP) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. The aim of the platform was to contribute to the strengthening of bilateral cooperations in the energy sector. The partners identified joint solutions on the path towards climate neutrality. To this end, dena and ADEME pooled their expertise and networks to bring together the relevant players from politics, business and civil society. This enabled them to exchange experiences on topics of common interest and promote cross-border projects.

The Franco-German Energy Platform built bridges between Germany and France through events, projects, publications and an extensive network.

At the interface between practice and politics, it helped to identify and exchange best practice solutions. It paved the way for future energy transition issues that require bilateral coordination or European solutions. For example, the platform organised the high-level Genshagen Energy Dialogue with the Genshagen Foundation and the French Embassy in Berlin. 

2022 to 2024: Funding approval of approx. 20 million euros from German, French and European funding programmes for the implementation of the Calorie Kehl-Strasbourg project

2022: Foundation of the cross-border heating company Calorie by German and French municipal and regional public players and a French state financial institution

2018: Smart Border Initiative project added to the list of projects of common interest (PCI) and funded

Since 2016: The platform has advised the Calorie Kehl-Strasbourg flagship project, including in the areas of funding acquisition, legal issues, public and political communication and project management. The project enables the cross-border utilisation of local (waste) heat sources.