CE Oltenia plans to slash CO2 emissions by 38%, but keep investing in coal
Romania’s ailing state-run electricity producer Complexul Energetic Oltenia (CE Oltenia) has drawn up a 2021-2026 restructuring and decarbonization plan that entails gradually reducing coal power production and developing renewable energy sources, with a target to cut CO2 emissions by around 38%. The plan includes EUR 1.5 billion in investments. CE Oltenia, the second-biggest electricity producer […]
Bulgaria: all companies set to enter the free electricity market from 1 October 2020
Authors: Dimitar Zwiatkov, partner and Maria Harizanova, associate at CMS Bulgaria On 1 October 2020, all non-residential electricity customers in Bulgaria, which are connected to the low-voltage electricity distribution network must start buying electricity from the free market on freely negotiated rates. How would the supply of electricity change for them after 1 October 2020? Background Currently, Bulgaria is […]
Urban mobility will be in the spotlight in Europe this fall
Urban Mobility Days 2020, the European Commission’s first large-scale urban mobility conference, will take place from September 29 to October 2, kicking off a week after the end of European Mobility Week. The registration for Urban Mobility Days 2020 is open, according to Eltis, Europe’s main observatory on urban mobility, financed by the European Commission’s […]
EU expects Montenegro to investigate Možura wind farm allegations
The European Commission expects a “credible, independent, and efficient” investigation into allegations of corruption surrounding the construction of the Možura wind farm, according to the commission’s spokesperson, Ana Pisonero. The corruption allegations had also been the subject of an investigation conducted by the murdered Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Assistant director of the Montenegrin Police […]
EU mulls higher 2030 targets to ensure achieving climate neutrality by 2050
The European Commission has launched a process to assess setting more ambitious 2030 targets on renewable energy and stepping up energy efficiency action, with the aim of ensuring the EU delivers on its pledge to become climate neutral by 2050. The process is beginning with a review of the Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001/EU) and the […]
EU to introduce plastic waste tax
The European Union is introducing a tax on non-recycled plastic packaging from 1 January 2021. The tax will be paid by member states into the EU’s general budget. The levy is one of the measures to finance the COVID-19 recovery package of EUR 750 billion. “As a first step, a new own resource will be […]
Will the EU’s hydrogen strategy undermine the 2050 climate neutrality goal?
The European Commission has unveiled a strategy to scale up hydrogen production as part of efforts to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors, but environmental organizations have warned the hydrogen strategy could be a “double-edged sword” that will extend the use of fossil fuels in the European Union (EU) and undermine its 2050 climate neutrality target. The hydrogen […]
EU launches Just Transition Platform for coal regions
The European Commission has launched the Just Transition Platform to help member states draw up their territorial just transition plans and access funding from the Just Transition Mechanism, worth more than EUR 150 billion. According to the European Union’s executive body, the online tool will provide technical and advisory support for public and private stakeholders […]