Conference on sustainable energy held in Sofia, Bulgaria

Under the Horizon 2020 project PANEL2050, the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies presented the Central and Eastern Europe Sustainable Energy Network (CEESEN) during the conference “Financing Energy Efficiency in Central and South-Eastern Europe.” The event was hosted by the European Commission in Sofia, Bulgaria in partnership with the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy and the UN Environment Finance Initiative. Project managers at the University of Tartu are involved in building CEESEN and leading the energy stakeholder related actions in ten Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

The conference focused on financing the transition to a low-carbon economy in the CEE region. The event brought together around 100 participants from governments, international organisations, NGOs, universities, local and regional administrations and businesses from throughout Europe.

The conference aimed to share the best practices from the CEE region as well as other countries on how energy efficiency investments can be financed. This includes the use of private funds and innovative financing instruments, notably in the building and industry sectors. The speakers focused on practical experiences in developing and structuring investment programmes and involving relevant actors in the process to strive for maximum efficiency.

Andreas Karner (CPU, Austria) and Hector C. Pagan (University of Tartu, Estonia) explained the innovative approach that has been developed in the PANEL2050 project to build the capacity of local energy advocates to engage stakeholders and carry out inclusive and effective roadmapping to improve communities. The need for efficient dialogue between different stakeholders and the importance of well-thought-out involvement practices was also stressed in other sessions.

One idea that resonated in the conference is that some groups working in the CEE region do not fully utilise the diverse funding mechanisms that are available for sustainable energy initiatives. Those working in the field must learn to adapt them to the local situation to maximise the potential benefits. In addition, to realise the full potential of energy efficiency, public funds are not enough and private financing will have to be unlocked at the regional and local levels. In that context, energy policy should create more favourable investment conditions, encourage demand for energy efficiency and help consumers to undertake energy efficiency investments more easily.

The conference demonstrated that transnational projects play a key role in improving the situation in the wider CEE region. Furthermore, it is crucial to engage different stakeholders who can spur the transition to a low-carbon society.

For more information on the conference, please contact Elis Vollmer, head of the Centre of Renewable Energy, elis.vollmer@emu.ee

Forwarded by:
Heidi Mõttus
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
University of Tartu 
heidi.mottus@ut.ee