The new CEEP Policy Paper on the prospects for offshore wind development in Central Europe: how to boost offshore energy in the Baltic, Black and Adriatic seas examines the current state of affairs and future prospects of the offshore wind development in Central Europe. The scope of this paper is limited to the three sea basins (i.e. Baltic, Black and Adriatic) and their costal states: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia. The paper consists of two main sections, together with the conclusions and recommendations for the future. The 1st section of the report analyzes the current state of affairs of offshore wind in Central Europe, including aspects of offshore wind development potential, ongoing projects and plans, existing political and legal frameworks, and existing challenges. The 2nd section analyzes national energy and climate plans of the previously mentioned coastal states, including national targets, policies and measures, costs of necessary investments as well as national strategies in mobilizing capital, such as EU instruments and the potential for cross-border links.. The paper shows a way in which three sea basins and its coastal states differ, in terms of developmental stage, perception of opportunities and threats as well as national approach in pushing for the climate-neutrality and shaping national economies towards renewable energy sources. For more, please read the full version of our latest Policy Paper on the prospects for offshore wind development in Central [...]
Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP) welcomes the possibility to provide feedback on the technical screening criteria (Annex I and II) of EU Taxonomy for climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. We are fully committed to meeting the ambitious energy and climate targets and building a carbon neutral economy by 2050. We strongly believe that climate change remains one of the most urgent challenges and in order to accelerate our actions to reach the 1.5 degree ambition, we need to put our efforts on developing sustainable financing, in particular, cost-effective electrification, low carbon electricity and zero emission vehicles. The Delegated Act is an important step to establish an EU classification system for sustainable activities and to help investors and companies access green financing. However, the initial proposal by the European Commission introduces several uncertainties, especially in the calculating methodology, which needs to be addressed if the Delegated Act is to be effective. Our general remarks on the approach are supplemented by a proposal of drafting remarks included at the end of the CEEP’s position paper. CEEP calls on the EU to introduce, along the 100 gCO2e/kWh, an additional threshold of maximum 400 gCO2e/kWh of direct emission, which would be used to indicate installations which may still contribute to tackling climate change, during the interim period of up to 2030. To mitigating the climate risks, CEEP calls to introduce provisions which will allow categorising the investments in: stable gas fired power generation; transmission infrastructure required for their connection to the grid; transmission infrastructure required for operating these systems. These provisions should be based on the consideration that where new gas fired power [...]
Central Europe Energy Partners welcomes the possibility to provide feedback to the Commission’s Inception Impact Assessment on the revision of the ETS. CEEP believes that the following adjustments to the ETS system could benefit all countries in Central Europe: Increased size of the Modernisation Fund as the current system will not ensure the modernization of the sector needed and will question the feasibility of many investments; or/and an alternative, complementary option of creating a new fund based on energy poverty indicators which aims at subsidizing people affected by the rise in ETS permit prices; change to the allowance allocation key to ensure a more balanced distribution; an update of the reference period to 2016-2018; the use of 2005 or 2005-2007 periods have become outdated, especially within the context of two global economic crises. This does not illustrate reality and lack credibility with regards to current and future emission reduction efforts. This does not illustrate reality and lack credibility with regards to current and future emission reduction efforts. These instruments and adjustments could allow for a more balanced ETS system, limit the risks for most vulnerable energy consumers, and enable a smoother transition for the Central European economies. Read the full response to the European Commission’s consultation [...]
Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP) welcomes the possibility to provide feedback to the Commission’s Inception Impact Assessment on the revision on the CO2 emission standards for cars and vans. This current Regulation has a strong mechanism to incentivise an uptake of zero and low emission vehicles. We support changes regarding a faster fleet turnover, which we see as a necessity to lower CO2 emissions in particular in Eastern European countries. However, we acknowledge concerns that a rapid change of the car fleet in particular in Eastern European countries will emits additional emissions from manufacturing and recycling or disposal. Therefore, we believe, that setting limits on vehicle emissions should be ensured through the entire life cycle of the vehicles. It will not only protect a consumer but also will aim for evaluating associated emissions at manufacturers and with vehicle dismantling and recycling. Adequate financing and a specific mechanism are required to incentivise zero- and low-emission vehicles. A system that combines both emission taxes and subsidies for new low emission vehicles should be introduced. The hybrid system may have a significant impact on the development of the market share for the new low-emission vehicles and as well the associated reduction of CO2 emissions. However, so far three countries do not apply CO2-based taxation which are Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. Read the full response to the European Commission [...]
The third and fourth edition of the CEEP reports touches on an important topic: prospects for offshore wind development in Central Europe. Wind energy has become a major driver for RES deployment in Europe and seems fundamental to reaching Europe’s climate and energy targets in an effective way. In the 2050 Long Term Strategy, the Commission has identified wind energy as the dominant power generation technology by 2050, with projections of up to 450 GW of installed offshore wind capacity in Europe. In the opening message, Mrs Sikow-Magny, Director of Internal Energy Market at the European Commission underlines the importance of the recently published European Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy, which aims at fostering a rapid, massive, cost-effective and sustainable scale up of offshore renewable energies throughout the EU. Mrs Sikow-Magny lists out benefits coming from the Strategy in developing offshore wind energy and building a stronger Europe fit for the future challenges and opportunities. She also underlines the importance of the regional cooperation in achieving clime goals and in maintaining and strengthening the European leadership in this sector. Giles Dickson, CEO of WindEurope, gives an interview, in which he points out three key issues, that can contribute in achieving a goal of up to 450 GW of offshore wind installed capacity in the whole of Europe. He also gives his views on regulatory changes that should be introduced in Central European countries to speed up the deployment of offshore RES and on technological/innovation developments in offshore and onshore wind to be expected beyond 2030. Rolandas Zukas, CEO of EPSO-G focuses on Lithuania’s architectures offshore wind farm debut auction as of 2023. Mr [...]
Following up to the event on the EU ETS funding mechanisms, Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP) in cooperation with European Roundtable of Climate Change and Sustainable Transition (ERCST) presents an updated paper on size and functioning of the funding mechanisms which are part of the EU ETS, i.e. the Solidarity Provision, Article 10c Derogation, the Modernisation Fund, and the Innovation Fund. This paper further discusses how Member States (MSs) have made use of this flexibility mechanism and explains reasons regarding the use of the Article 10c Derogation by MSs. It also seeks to provide an overview of current developments and regulatory decisions made in 2020, with a focus on: the state of play of the Modernisation Fund, and the Innovation Fund, the national frameworks which are being put in place by MSs to select investments from the Modernisation Fund, detailed information for the 10 Central and Eastern European (CEE) Member States, who are eligible for the Modernisation Fund and Article 10c Derogation. In addition, this paper addresses the issue of the size of the EU ETS funding mechanisms under different scenarios. It shows how developments like a recalculation of the cap following Brexit, or an increase in the 2030 target, would affect the amount of allowances available under the EU ETS in phase 4, and under the individual funding mechanisms. Download our policy [...]
We represent the widely understood Central Europe energy sector (electricity generation, distribution and transmission, renewables, gas, oil, heat generation and distribution, chemical industries, etc.), universities and scientific institutions.
