South East Europe Regional Consultation Meeting

Ministry of Energy of Romania

As part of IRENA’s engagement in South East Europe, a Regional Consultation meeting was held in Bucharest, Romania, 6-7 October 2016. The meeting gathered more than 40 representatives from 11 countries of the region, including governments (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia); regulators (Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR of Macedonia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania); Transmission System Operators (Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia); International Organizations (Energy Charter, Energy Regulators Regional Association, Council of European Energy Regulators); Development Partners  (EBRD, GIZ, KfW, French government); and Industry (Romanian Renewable Energy Association, ENEL Romania).

IRENA recently initiated a region-wide exercise to formulate a strategic regional approach. As an initial step, the Agency is conducting a regional gap analysis study to identify and analyse the major obstacles hindering more accelerated renewable energy deployment in the region and map out the current and planned programmes implemented by development partners to support uptake of renewables in South East Europe. The outcomes of this study will help IRENA, in close collaboration with the governments and key stakeholders, elaborate an Action Plan customized to the specific needs and priorities of the region, which will be built upon and complement the existing and planned work on the ground to maximize its added value in supporting renewable energy development in SEE.

This process is being synchronized with the Agency’s ongoing analytical study on the assessment of the technical potential for cost-effective renewable energy generation. The preliminary findings of this exercise have been already discussed at the joint IRENA/Energy Community workshop on cost-effective renewable energy in SEE

The aim of this Regional Consultation meeting was to discuss the main findings of the regional gap analysis study, receive feedback from participants on the needs and priorities of the region in further development of the renewable energy sector, and exchange views on IRENA’s potential role in supporting uptake of renewables in the region.  The workshop also allowed for an improved understanding on the key aspects of renewable energy, its socio-economic benefits, target setting and support schemes with presentations on best practices from the region and across the globe.

The participants of the regional consultation meeting welcomed IRENA’s aim to scale up its presence in South East Europe and provided valuable feedback on the needs and priorities of the region in further deployment of the renewable energy sector. IRENA also validated the findings of the regional analysis study which will constitute a basis for elaboration of the regional engagement Action Plan.

View the Meeting Agenda

The Summary Report of the South East Europe Regional Consultation

Session I: Welcoming Session:

Session II: Opportunities and Challenges in Renewables Deployment in the Region

Session III: Mapping the RE Support in the Region

Session IV: Identifying Priority Actions

Session V: Renewable Energy Target Setting and Support Schemes (Auctions)

Session VI: Socio-Economic Benefits of Renewable Energy