What We Do

Energy efficiency implementation at a global level is an essential ingredient in response to climate change, and is fundamental to achieving cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. An overwhelming majority of the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Climate Agreement recognise energy efficiency as a primary delivery strategy. Apart from climate change mitigation, multiple social and environmental benefits arise from energy efficiency actions across improved health and well-being, cleaner air, improved economic productivity and employment creation.

The Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency works to engage national and subnational governments towards the outcome of accelerated energy efficiency implementation, in line with these global clean energy objectives. While many developing world governments are motivated to act on energy efficiency, they generally have low capacity to determine the actions required to realise their energy efficiency ambitions, and to develop projects that would be able to attract investments and generate actual energy savings.

The Centre provides assistance mainly to sub-national and city level governments, that are not well serviced by national organisations but which have jurisdiction over large potential energy savings. The Centre assists with project and technology procurement and investment models; best-practice knowledge and research; and a focus on the most rollout-ready energy end-use sectors (e.g. buildings, district heating and cooling, and lighting). Activities mainly occur in selected priority jurisdictions where political will is strong and which support the objectives of our partners. The Centre’s unique offer to governments is in its deployment of specialised advanced-degree technical and engineering staff that can engage beyond governments and policy officials on an operational level with practitioners, towards concrete energy saving impacts.

With a strong focus on the capacity needed for in-country implementation, including engaging with the private sector and building the skills required locally to develop and execute technically and financially sound projects, the Centre presents a strong complement to other agencies active in political dialogue, policy development, training and data analysis for global energy efficiency.