Extending feed-in tariffs risks turning public opinion against renewable energy
Author: Pippa Gallop, Research Coordinator, CEE Bankwatch Network One of the main factors driving the controversial small hydropower boom in the Western Balkans is the availability of feed-in tariffs, providing investors with a near-certain income for several years. The aim of this policy has been to incentivise the development of renewable energy, however most of […]
Guide to scaling-up rooftop solar in SEE region
Author: Toby D. Couture, Director of E3 Analytics As the costs of solar power continue to decline around the world, solar power is now securing its place as not only the most abundant energy source in the world, but increasingly, as the least expensive. While many decision-makers around the world continue to think that solar is costly […]
Low-carbon development in Bosnia and Herzegovina – an opportunity for economic development
Author: Nejra Spahić, mechanical engineer, Expert Associate, Energy Projects, the Regional Education and Information Centre for Sustainable Development in South-East Europe (REIC) Changes in the energy sector brought about by the start of market liberalization in the 1990s and the setting of the European Commission’s ambitious targets for cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in […]
New EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: an opportunity for highly efficient, healthy and comfortable buildings
The main author: Frances Bean, Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE). Co-author: Mariangiola Fabbri (BPIE) On 9th July 2018, the new revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) entered into force. This revision strengthened action to propel the EU towards a highly efficient and decarbonized building stock. It will enable citizens, owners and tenants to live in better […]
Buy, drink, return to the shop – deposit systems for single use beverage containers
Author: Anna Larsson, Director, Circular Economy Project Development, Reloop Deposit refund systems are a proven waste collection method that guarantees high material recycling rates, which is why they are recommended in strategic documents of many international organizations. A deposit refund system is mentioned in the Marine Litter Action Plan, adopted by Helcom in 2015 and […]
Evaluation of energy performance of buildings in Albania from the perspective of energy poverty
Author: Lira Hakani, EDEN Center, Tirana, Albania In an op-ed for Balkan Green Energy News, Lira Hakani of the Environmental Center for Development, Education and Networking (EDEN Center) presents the key findings of the Evaluation of Energy Performance of Buildings from the Perspective of Energy Poverty. This evaluation report, the first of its kind in […]
Renewable energy cooperatives herald region’s true energy transition
Author: Melani Furlan, head of regional activities, Green Energy Cooperative, Croatia In May 2018, Green Energy Cooperative or ZEZ (Zelena energetska zadruga) launched the first crowdinvesting initiative for renewables in Croatia, with support of the City of Križevci. In just 10 days the local renewable energy project (RES) project was successfully funded by citizen-investors. At […]
Piloting Global Biodiversity Information Facility – GIZ collaboration on biodiversity data mobilization: Case of Open Regional Fund – Biodiversity in South-East Europe
Author: Tim Hirsch, Deputy Director, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) In September 2017, a chance connection made Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) aware of the “Regional Network for Biodiversity Information Management and Reporting” (BIMR) sub-project managed by GIZ under the Open Regional Fund for South-East Europe – Biodiversity (ORF-BD). Learning of the details of this […]