STUDY Learning from the»Energiewende« What Developing Countries Expect from Germany THOMAS HIRSCH April 2015 „ „ Is an»energy transition« also possible in developing countries? Although the chal­lenges vary in all countries, five key requirements can nevertheless be generalized: It needs advantageous and reliable political framework conditions for renewable ener­gies, subsidies for fossil fuels have to be reduced, private sector involvement is just as dispensable as social acceptance in the introduction of renewable energies, and finally social innovation and willingness to change are essential. „ „»Energy transformation is the best thing Germany can extend its help to other countries, especially developing countries!« The expectations for Germany are high. Thereby, the desire for knowledge transfer and support for the development of stra­tegic competence rank above the hope for financial support and more direct invest­ment, as well as the desire for technical cooperation and technology transfer. Fund­ing practices until now have only partially met these expectations. „ „ The study formulates ten recommendations how Germany can support energy tran­sition processes in developing countries more effectively. A coherent overall strat­egy and the improved integration of instruments are thereby as important as the increased promotion of processes that lead to capacity building in developing coun­tries. Ultimately, model projects and international partnerships with pioneering coun­tries should be increasingly promoted. This calls for an increase and long-term pro­tection of climate financing. Also essential is the image of the KfW banking group as financier for low carbon projects in developing countries combined with a simulta­neous withdrawal of financing for fossil or nuclear energy projects. The German G7 presidency offers the opportunity to put together a package and initiate a global en­ergy transition and climate partnership between industrial and developing countries.