This publication sets out to provide a quick snapshot of renewable energy projects in south-east Europe. With a host of fossil fuel and nuclear projects currently being proposed across the region, sustainable energy initiatives have it difficult to reach the general public. While international financial flows generally follow the bigger, “easier-to-handle” projects, unfortunately only small drops are adding up to create a renewable energy and energy efficiency future.

It is beyond argument that renewable energy has much lower environmental and social impacts than other energy sources. The only issue remaining is how much it costs. Technologies have evolved to compete with fossil fuel and nuclear energy if life cycle analyses and the externalities of energy production and consumption are considered. The case studies presented here show that renewable energy can have a significant role in lowering budgets for electricity, heating and hot water. Technologies have evolved both in terms of efficiency and control/monitoring, requiring little intervention from the owner. Commercial loans for renewable energy projects developed by municipalities have contributed to the sector’s growth, but the experience so far with such loans is irrelevant (in some countries it may take years to obtain a loan). 

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The paper presents a series of case studies regarding the use of renewable energy sources in Romania.
Biomass for district heating – Gheorgheni, Intorsura Buzaului
Solar energy – Saturn, Giurgiu, Mangalia, Bucuresti
Hydro – Anies, Barsa Mare
Wind energy – Pasul Tihuta, Bucuresti
Geothermal energy – Oradea
Energy independent households – Mereni, the Casian Monastery  [more]

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Romania has seen a large decrease in energy consumption after the 1989 Revolution and the closure of large inefficient enterprises. The country has a large electricity over-capacity, and the energy mix includes a significant share of (large) hydropower, while the remainder is constituted by fossil fuels and nuclear power. The potential for renewable energy sources is very high and some successful projects are in place, but the investment rate in the renewables sector is quite low. Romania has seen improvements in energy effi ciency and energy intensity, yet it has a long way to go from this perspective when compared to the EU Member States.  [more]

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While inefficiency in energy generation and consumption in Balkan countries is currently very high, with very little power generation from renewable energy sources, the share of investments for promoting energy efficiency and renewables in the region remains surprisingly minimal. These are the findings of “ Arrested Development - Energy Efficiency and Renewables in the Balkans”, a study prepared by the Stability Pact Watch (a coalition of NGOs from South East Europe and the CEE Bankwatch Network) which primarily addresses such key international lenders in the region as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and invites them to commit to a more pro-active role in the promotion of sustainable energy solutions in the Balkan states.  [more]

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This publication aims to present national overviews of the transport sector in three Balkan countries - Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania - and a discussion of the regional incentives of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and the European Union (EU) within the Stability Pact for South and Eastern Europe (SEE). On the basis of this presentation, conclusions are drawn and recommendations proposed of how the IFIs should improve their activities in the Balkan region. The study juxtaposes the regional plans for transport infrastructure development of the international community to the realities in the different countries, e.g. existing transport infrastructure, traffic levels, national transport policies, failures to manage the transport systems, environmental impact, etc.  [more]

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The document aims at constituting an useful instrument for the Romanian Government in establishing a climate-related strategy, as well as in the implementation of the new acquis communautaire in the field of climate change mitigation, given Romania's forthcoming EU accession. It also aims at disseminating information on the current status of the policies and measures for greenhouse gases emissions mitigation in the energy sector, in the European Union, Romania and Poland. It was designed to mirror the situations in the two countries and the EU, in order to draw up conclusions and recommendations for Romania on how to surpass potential obstacles in the implementation of the climate-related acquis and complying with the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol requirements.  [more]

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Includes evaluations of NGOs in 5 Central and Eastern European countries of the National Communications submitted by each country's Ministry of Environment to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  [more]

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The manual is destined to young climate change activists in Central and Eastern Europe and contains: basic information on the climate change phenomenon and its environmental impact, international endeavours and conventions for the mitigation of green house gas emissions.  [more]

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