Young Energy Europe

As part of the European Green Deal, the transformation of the energy system in conjunction with measures to increase energy efficiency in the EU has come into clear focus in recent years. In May 2022, the REPowerEU plan for more energy savings, the diversification of energy supplies, and the accelerated expansion of renewable energies as a replacement for fossil fuels was launched. In addition, the Energy Efficiency Directive adopted in July 2023 sets the legally binding target of an 11.7% reduction in final energy consumption by 2030 compared to the reference year 2020. Energy efficiency measures and energy savings in companies are particularly worthwhile in countries with high energy costs, while at the same time, many countries in Central and Eastern Europe have historically been characterized by low energy costs. Investments such as switching to LED lighting, optimizing a compressed air system, or installing a PV system on the company roof must therefore be well planned, calculated, and justified.

The project motivates companies to support the achievement of the goals of European climate and energy policy with concrete measures. Energy Scouts strengthen climate protection in companies by focusing on more efficient production processes, the switch to clean energy sources, and the economical and careful use of raw materials and resources. The transfer of know-how by Young Energy Europe is a building block on the way to the long-term goal of a climate-neutral European economy.

Energy Scouts Martin Brezina and Jana Vozárová significantly reduced lighting costs in 164 LIDL stores in Slovakia, saving 6,240 MWh and 1,167 tons of CO2 annually. (©AHK Slovakia/Barkova)

Young Energy Europe is currently training specialists from a wide range of sectors in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia to become Energy Scouts. The core of Young Energy Europe’s work is to use a bottom-up process to identify and exploit energy efficiency potential in European companies. The Energy Scouts will uncover customized energy and resource efficiency potential in their companies and implement it in a practical project. They initiate change processes and use a concrete and monetarily measurable project concept to underline the YEE core message: “Climate protection pays off for companies.” Together with the local bilateral chambers of commerce abroad (AHKs), practical lecturers demonstrate proven energy efficiency approaches and strengthen individual solutions – tailored to the needs and possibilities of the companies. Energy Scouts learn how to analyze energy consumption in their company and develop practical projects as a team to reduce energy and resource consumption. Energy Scouts are skilled at identifying individual project approaches with high savings potential and driving forward the implementation of efficiency projects. Finally, the Energy Scout teams of each year pitch their project to the public, and an expert jury awards prizes to the best energy-saving projects. Subsequently, the majority of the energy-saving projects are implemented independently and promptly in the companies, with participants and companies benefiting equally from the program: companies can use the professional expertise of their employees to become more sustainable and save costs. The young professionals benefit both personally and professionally from the development and introduction of new ideas and solutions for their companies.

From solar panels on factory roofs to energy-efficient LED lighting and the use of waste heat from production processes – the Young Energy Europe project has collected over 70 innovative best-practice approaches from companies in Europe (Best Practice EN – Young Energy Europe).

Young Energy Europe’s milestones

The project, developed within the framework of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), was first adapted by the project subsidiary DIHK Service GmbH for the EUKI of the then Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) from November 2017 to February 2021. In four Eastern European EUKI target countries – Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Greece – the qualification was promoted and implemented in cooperation with the local German Chambers of Commerce and Industry with a contract volume of €2,692,426. 

From April 2021 to March 2024, the qualification was introduced in four additional European countries: Poland, Slovakia, Croatia and Serbia – made possible by the BMU and the EUKI and continued by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK). The contract volume during this period amounted to €2,239,278.27. 

In the current term from April 2024 to March 2027, Energy Scout training courses will be established in six new countries thanks to funding from EUKI.

Since the project began in November 2017, 1,137 young employees from 436 companies have qualified as Energy Scouts. On average, an Energy Scout has so far identified a potential saving of 152 MWh of electricity and 155 tonnes of CO2 per year in his or her company. The experienced project countries Czechia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Greece left the project in April 2024 and now offer Energy Scout training on their own responsibility.