BUNDESAMT FUR WIRTSCHAFT UND AUSFUHRKONTROLLE

Their core work

BAFA is Germany's Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control — the national authority responsible for administering energy efficiency programs, audits, and incentive schemes across the country. In H2020, they participate in EU-wide Concerted Actions that help Member States coordinate implementation of EU energy directives (EED and EPBD). Their role is bringing real regulatory enforcement experience to the table: they oversee energy audits for companies, manage heating/cooling subsidy programs, and enforce building energy performance standards in Germany.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early participation (2017) focused broadly on general EED implementation — helping Member States interpret and apply EU energy efficiency rules. By 2018-2022, they expanded into building-specific regulation (EPBD, NZEB standards, renovation strategies, smart buildings). Their most recent project (2022-2026) shows a clear shift toward decarbonisation, heating/cooling transformation, and financing mechanisms — reflecting the EU's tightening climate targets and the push for deep renovation.

Moving from general energy efficiency compliance toward decarbonisation financing and deep building renovation — expect them to be active in heating/cooling transformation and renovation wave policy.

How they like to work

Always a participant, never a coordinator — consistent with their role as a national implementing authority contributing Member State experience rather than leading research agendas. They work in very large consortia (49 partners across 29 countries), which is typical for Concerted Actions that bring together all EU/EEA national authorities. Working with them means accessing Germany's regulatory perspective and implementation data.

Connected to 49 partners across 29 countries through Concerted Action networks — essentially the full set of EU/EEA national energy authorities. This gives them direct peer relationships with every Member State's energy efficiency implementing body.

What sets them apart

BAFA is not a research organization — they are the German government body that actually enforces energy efficiency rules, runs the national audit scheme, and distributes subsidies. This makes them uniquely valuable for projects needing real implementation data, regulatory insight, or a path to German policy uptake. If your project needs to demonstrate how research translates into national-level policy action, BAFA is the partner that can make that credible.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CAV_EPBD
  Largest funding (EUR 386,911) and broadest scope — covering building codes, NZEB, smart buildings, renovation strategies, and energy performance certificates across all Member States.
• CA EED3
  Most recent project (2022-2026) showing their evolution toward decarbonisation, heating/cooling, and financing — signals their current strategic direction.