South East Europe Energy Transition Dialogue

Energy Policy Energy Poverty Energy Transition Energy Transition and Climate-Neutral Buildings

Project info

Countries:

Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania

Project duration:

01/18 - 06/21

Target groups:

National governments, Regional governments, EU institutions

Funding:

1,039,368.36 €

Contact info

Contact:

Sonja Risteska

Implementing organisation

Agora Energiewende, Smart Energy for Europe Platform (SEFEP) gGmbH

Email:

Partner:

Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD Bulgaria)
Energy Policy Group (EPG)
National Observatory of Athens (NOA)
University of Zagreb - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (UNIZAG FSB)

Background

Countries throughout Southeast Europe (SEE) have high shares of electricity generated by an aging fleet of coal-fired generators (lignite and hard coal). Decisions for modernizing or replacing a significant share of these capacities will be taken within the next decade. At the same time, the region has a vast potential for developing renewable energy as well as significant opportunities for enhancing energy efficiency. The political commitment of governments in SEE to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change, the EU’s push for an integrative, economy-wide approach to climate and energy policy-making, and the close geographical and political ties between countries in SEE offer a unique opportunity to advance decarbonisation and energy transition in the region over the next decade.

Project

The project seeks to advance progressive thinking and action about decarbonisation and national/regional energy transition strategies in SEE. Furthermore, it will develop evidence-based strategies for ensuring a successful energy transition. In particular, the project will i) build a SEE think tank network working on decarbonisation and strengthen its capacity, ii) develop science-based, cost-effective, politically feasible solutions to power system transition maximizing opportunities from regional cooperation & EU-level support, iii) engage with SEE climate & energy policy stakeholders (government, industry, society, academia) to advance Renewable Energy Sources (RES) when developing integrated national energy & climate plans, and iv) feed SEE insights to EU-discussions on the Clean Energy for All Europeans package and the forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework, incl. options to reduce RES financing cost.

Last update: April 2024

Success Stories

Unlocking Low Cost Renewables

The study “Unlocking Low Cost Renewables in South East Europe” by EUKI financed project “South East Europe Energy Transition Dialogue” demonstrated how a few political and financial measures can help to strongly “de-risk” investment in renewables. Its cost could be lowered by stunning 20%. For example, the cost for onshore wind could fall to 46 EUR/MWh in Greece, well below the cost of fossil power plant projects. The de-risking measures with the highest impact include the EU budget guarantee mechanism, reliable, long-term renewables remuneration regimes and long-term renewables targets. The recommendations were discussed with decision makers both bilaterally as well as during a final project workshop in June 2021.