Since 2014, IKEM has collaborated with Brandenburg-based energy provider ENERTRAG on a range of topics – from the expansion of renewable energies to the development of new concepts for community and citizen participation. Even after eight years of close cooperation on energy transition projects, the organisations have ambitious plans for future collaboration. The partnership began when IKEM and ENERTRAG recognised a problem with the existing policies regulating the power sector. ‘We realised that the current energy market regulations, which were designed to establish a perfectly integrated European internal market, didn't accommodate regional approaches or offer solutions that would introduce renewable energies into all economic sectors through sector coupling,’ said Dr Simon Schäfer-Stradowsky, IKEM’s managing director. ‘And because IKEM focuses on practice-oriented solutions and believes that good ideas can have a positive impact, we thought: why don’t we change something about this situation? ENERTRAG was immediately on board with that idea.’ The result of this shared insight was the launch of innovative new initiatives, including the Lokale Energie platform. Using the platform, IKEM, ENERTRAG, and numerous other partners can determine how to scale up regional value chains for the energy transition and develop ideas for green electricity use that will benefit the region. (Graphic: Designed by rawpixel.com / Freepik) |
