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​Workshop on sustainable energy systems for CEE countries held in Budapest

Leading energy specialists, professors and researchers as well as international bodies examined possible alternative energy visions and roadmaps within the workshop for alternative energy planners and modelling experts in Budapest on 3 November. The event aimed at supporting Central- and Eastern European countries (CEE) to develop sustainable energy systems and hence to initiate a research project about a common alternative energy scenario for the entire region of CEE and South Eastern Europe (SEE).

Participants from 13 countries, 10 of which were CEI Member States, gathered and exchanged their experiences on energy modelling and regional cooperation as well as the use of innovative planning tools in order to tackle energy-related challenges.

The first part of the workshop was dedicated to European examples, where experts from Hungary, Denmark and Germany presented alternative energy strategies. In particular, the Danish energy transition from oil to wind power production and the German Energiewende, promoting greenhouse gas emission-free power production, were examined as possible models for CEE countries. During the second part of the gathering, speakers from Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Poland illustrated different  approaches, challenges and success stories from the region.One of the main statements referred to baseload power production as outdated and suggested that the region’s richness in biomass could ease the energy transition.

Major challenges in the development of sustainable energy systems in CEE countries were highlighted in the panel session. Lack of proper engineers, state capture and corruption were listed as the main reasons keeping the region in the era of lignite. These issues require political solutions as well as more regional cooperation, in order to boost energy transition. In a closed roundtable session for distinguished regional experts, opportunities for cooperation in energy modelling as well as details  regarding a regional alternative energy planning project were discussed.

The event was co-financed by the CEI Cooperation Fund.
 
  • Programme available here
  • Press Release available here
 

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