Energy Policy Group

🌱Results from the #RENewLand project at the European Parliament! ⚡Mihai Constantin participated in a roundtable organised by the European Environmental Bureau at the European Parliament. During the event, MEPs and representatives of civil society explored how the new EU legal framework for renewables can create unprecedented opportunities for public participation in energy decision-making. During the roundtable, the EPG Senior Researcher gave a brief overview of the RENewLand project activities, highlighting how the active involvement of all relevant stakeholders (RES developers, NGOs, DSOs and academia) can help build shared positions on the establishment of Renewable Acceleration Areas. Meanwhile, Timea Erdei, HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research, presented the draft results from applying the RENewLand methodology in the pilot areas across the three countries. 🔋The RENewLand project is part of European Climate Initiative (EUKI). Project partners from Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania work to advance the deployment of renewable energy in the three Central and Eastern European countries by implementing an integrated, evidence-based spatial planning framework that optimises the expansion of wind and solar capacities while ensuring biodiversity conservation and fostering multi-stakeholder participation. 🔗Read the latest project policy position on accelerating the energy transition through RAA’s: https://lnkd.in/ejdFYuxb 🔗Read the Expert advice on spatial planning for renewable energy sources and land hierarchy conflict: https://lnkd.in/ejqadHqx 🔗Read the methodology for designation of Renewable Acceleration Areas: https://lnkd.in/dMh3FyuC

🌍EPG and the Romanian Diplomatic Institute (RDI) co-organised, for the second consecutive year, an event focused on advancing climate diplomacy. It was a timely discussion ahead of COP30 this November in Belém, Brazil. 🎤 Opening remarks by Vlad Nistor, Director General of RDI, and Radu Dudau, President of EPG, set the stage for an open dialogue on revitalising global cooperation for climate action. Mr Nistor welcomed participants and underlined the importance of climate diplomacy as a tool for dialogue and collaboration, while Mr. Dudău reflected on the decade since the Paris Agreement, noting that the foundations of international climate cooperation are being increasingly tested and must be strengthened through renewed trust and engagement. 🇧🇷 H.E. Ricardo Guerra de Araújo, Ambassador of Brazil to Romania, presented the vision of the COP30 Presidency, calling for an unprecedented collective response to climate challenges and greater alignment of national commitments (NDCs). His remarks were followed by a screening of Nosso modo de lutar, showcasing the resilience and role of Brazil’s Indigenous communities in climate action. 🤝 The event continued with a panel discussion on Romania’s role in strengthening climate diplomacy, moderated by Elena - Alexandra Miron, Researcher at EPG. The panel brought together perspectives from government, diplomacy, academia, and civil society: - Mihaela Frăsineanu, State Counsellor, Prime Minister’s Chancellery - Tatiana Iosiper, Head of Unit, National Energy Regulatory Authority; former Special Representative for Energy and Climate Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Felix Zaharia, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests - Bogdan Antonescu, Lecturer, University of Bucharest The discussion highlighted the importance of a clear national position, stronger interinstitutional coordination, and closer collaboration between policymakers, experts, and civil society to strengthen Romania’s contribution to international climate diplomacy. Watch the event on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/dZ9WcTsb 

Tomorrow, at the Climate Change Summit, Radu Dudau will speak at the launch of the State of the Climate Report. Find out more ⬇️

✅EPG a dat startul unei serii de workshop-uri dedicate planificării strategice pentru renovarea clădirilor publice! Prima oprire: Râmnicu Vâlcea Evenimentul a reunit reprezentanți ai administrației publice, experți și companii din domeniul eficienței energetice. Scopul: promovarea unor instrumente care să sprijine autoritățile locale în planificarea strategică a investițiilor pentru creșterea performanței energetice. Deschiderea workshopului a fost realizată de Eusebiu Vețeleanu, Viceprimarul Municipiului Râmnicu Vâlcea, care a subliniat importanța consolidării capacității administrative și tehnice a autorităților locale pentru atingerea obiectivelor de eficiență energetică. Din partea EPG, Aura Oancea a prezentat foaia de parcurs elaborată în colaborare cu Primăria Municipiului Râmnicu Vâlcea, dedicată Colegiului Național „Matei Basarab”. 💬 Discuțiile au evidențiat provocările legate de planificarea și finanțarea renovărilor aprofundate, dar și potențialul foilor de parcurs de a sprijini o abordare mai coerentă și predictibilă a investițiilor publice în eficiență energetică. Proiectul #OURCEE este finanțat prin European Climate Initiative (EUKI).   📘 Citiți foaia de parcurs aici: https://lnkd.in/dYzBc2a2 

📢Apply by 20 October to join EPG as a Communications Intern! Join our team and help make our policy research accessible, engaging, and impactful. This is a paid, hands-on internship (3–6 months) where you’ll contribute directly to our communications work, including: ✅Drafting press releases and social media posts ✅Creating content for newsletters, media, or website ✅Supporting event organisation ✅Helping in maintaining our website You’ll gain valuable mentorship, insight into how a think tank operates, and the chance to shape how policy research is communicated in the energy and climate landscape. Plus, we offer a flexible and supportive work culture, including a cat manager. ⏳The selected candidate will be expected to start as soon as possible. Interested? To find out more details and apply, go to: https://lnkd.in/dehxZFCn

⚙️Representatives from DG CLIMA, CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, industry, and civil society gathered at the European Parliament to discuss the future policy needs for deploying Industrial Carbon Management #ICM solutions in the EU. 🇪🇺Hosted by MEP Radan Kanev, part of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, and EPG, the event opened with a concrete case study: the ConsenCUS project. Its policy research findings were presented by Dirk Koppert from the New Energy Coalition. ✅Roundtable discussions moderated by Mihnea Catuti highlighted key priorities for overcoming barriers to ICM development across Europe. Participants agreed that success will rely on reducing bureaucratic complexity, improving institutional coordination, scaling up innovation, and building public trust. ✅Another central takeaway was the need for governments to create market demand and accelerate permitting processes. Meanwhile, industry must ensure transparency and fast-track the deployment of proven technologies. Together, these efforts will strengthen Europe’s position as a global leader in low-carbon industrial innovation.

Tune in to an engaging event that brings together policymakers, diplomats, and experts to explore the role of Romania and the Central and Eastern European region in advancing global climate action ahead of #COP30. 🎥 Watch the livestream starting tomorrow at 09:00 EEST: https://lnkd.in/dGQqqetU The event organised by EPG and the Romanian Diplomatic Institute will feature: 🔹Welcome remarks by Vlad Nistor, Director General, Romanian Diplomatic Institute, and Radu Dudau, President, EPG 🔹 Keynote speech by Diana Anda Buzoianu, Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests 🔹Perspectives from the COP30 Presidency with H.E. Ricardo Guerra de Araújo, Ambassador of Brazil to Romania, and screening of “Nosso modo de lutar” by Instituto Socioambiental 🔹Panel discussion: Romania’s Role in the European Climate Diplomacy Network – featuring representatives from government, academia, and civil society

🧪 Europe’s chemical industry is undergoing structural changes driven by high energy prices, increasing international competition, and decarbonisation pressures. Against this backdrop, Romania’s experience in the methanol sector, its potential access to renewable energy resources, and transport infrastructure could offer opportunities to develop low-carbon methanol production. EPG’s new Policy Paper assesses potential production pathways, cost structures, and policy enablers. 🔍 Key findings: - Fossil-based methanol production in Romania is unlikely to be viable under current market conditions. - Green methanol, produced from clean hydrogen and captured CO₂ (e-methanol) or from sustainable biomass (biomethanol), offers a long-term low-carbon alternative. - An e-methanol plant sufficient to meet domestic chemical demand would require around 44 MW of capacity and 11,500 tonnes of hydrogen per year. - The feasibility and competitiveness of green methanol production rely on access to affordable clean energy, as well as the development of CO₂ and hydrogen infrastructure, alongside a clear biomass strategy. - Policy and investment measures, including demand stimulation and a comprehensive industrial strategy, are necessary to enable large-scale production and support decarbonisation objectives. 📄 Read the policy paper by Mara Balasa, Sabina Strîmbovschi, and Mihnea Catuti: https://lnkd.in/gEQTHC9p

🎤At this year’s Bellona Climate Action Conference, Sabina Strîmbovschi took part in the session Lead Markets: Untapped Potential to Drive Decarbonised Growth. She spoke about the main challenges faced by heavy industry in the decarbonisation process, especially in #CEE region, and how green public procurement #GPP can unlock new opportunities in Romania and other CEE countries. 🏭EPG’s Senior Researcher noted that heavy industry in the region is under pressure from rising energy costs, global competition and limited financing. It is also more emissions-intensive and economically significant than in Western Europe. ⚙️Additionally, she highlighted that the lack of reliable demand for low-carbon industrial products slows progress. Public procurement, representing about 14% of the EU’s GDP, can play a vital role in stimulating demand for green materials such as steel, cement and concrete. ➡️Developing lead markets through clear labelling, robust carbon accounting and green procurement tools is key to de-risking investments, limiting long-term reliance on subsidies, and accelerating the shift towards a competitive, low-carbon industrial economy. #BellonaClimateActionConference

🚀 Through REDESIGN project, REA North, Energy Policy Group and Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect have developed the General Guiding Framework for MEPS, a roadmap to support CEE countries 🇧🇬 🇷🇴 🇭🇷 and beyond in designing and implementing Minimum Energy Performance Standards for public buildings. 📊 By providing clear pathways – from readiness assessments to monitoring & evaluation – the framework empowers national decision-makers to shape tailored MEPS, paving the way for stronger renovation outcomes and advancing the EU’s decarbonisation goals. REDESIGN project is funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI). 🔗 The full document is available on the official REDESIGN project website. https://lnkd.in/dD7KWYYD