NGOs ask China to shift investment focus to green energy
Electric power projects with lignite in Southeastern Europe pose a significant threat to European Union’s climate and energy goals that countries of the region should be fulfilling on their path to accession, an association of environmentalist groups said. China, along with 177 other countries of the world, has signed the Paris Agreement last month, but […]
Region sees dozens of green energy law firms listed in Chambers guide
Out of 11 law firms from Central and Eastern Europe that were included in the segment of energy in the guide published by Chambers and Partners, eight were listed at least partly due to results and experience in renewables.
Iberdrola orders Gamesa’s wind power software upgrade
After developing the Energy Thrust software, which boosts turbine efficiency, Spanish-based Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica reached an agreement with public utility Iberdrola to install it in 54 wind farms in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Greece and Cyprus with aggregate capacity of 1.6 GW. “This contract reinforces our work as technology experts and value-added operations and […]
Health costs of coal plants prompt policy rethink
A study quantified public health costs of polluted air from coal-fired power plants in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo* at up to EUR 8.56 billion per year. The calculation is made up of costs including from premature deaths, respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions, new cases of chronic bronchitis and lower respiratory problems, […]
Strengthening capacities of SEE ministries responsible for energy efficiency
The GIZ Open Regional Fund for South-East Europe – Energy Efficiency, under the auspices of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has initiated another important project supporting South-East European (SEE) countries in the process of transposition of EU acquis and fulfillment of relevant responsibilities in the energy efficiency sector. The project […]
Convening on best practices in energy efficiency in SEE countries
The Task Force on Energy Efficiency of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) and representatives of the GIZ ORF-EE Energy Efficiency in Municipal Associations (EeMA) project, held a joint meeting in Vienna on March 8 and 9. The meeting focused on implemented energy efficiency measures (EEM) and encountered challenges in […]
Action Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change With Vulnerability Assessment for the City of Belgrade
Project: Climate Change Adaptation in the Western Balkans (CCAWB) Component 5: Integration of adaptation to climate change into urban planning and development Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Countries: Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo*, Macedonia (FYR), Serbia Duration: 2012–2015 IMPLEMENTER Secretariat for Environmental Protection is the implementer and organiser of project activities […]
Understanding energy efficiency investments – a global perspective
By Qendresa Rugova, Burg Capital GmBH, Vienna esa.rugova@burgcapital.com This article is part of a series of two articles on energy efficiency investments covering (1) investment characteristics from a global perspective and (2) existing and emerging financing models for energy efficiency investments and their applicability in the Balkan region. Energy efficiency is an integral part of […]