Sustainable energy: How far has South East Europe come in the last five years?
November 8, 2016
Countries of south-east Europe have outdated, polluting and wasteful energy systems. Change to this situation has been slow in coming. But are there signs of hope? This scorecard report seeks to answer this question by giving a glimpse into changes in the energy sector between 2010 and now.
Too good to be true? Assessing one year of the Investment Plan for Europe
September 28, 2016
Europe is hemorrhaging cash in deeply unsustainable projects like motorways, airports and gas infrastructure.
Guest post: Renewables kept in thrall in the Czech Republic
September 13, 2016
How to overcome the stagnation in the Czech renewable energy sector? Ending the government’s crusade against renewable support schemes would be a good starting point, writes Karel Polanecky from Bankwatch’s member group Hnuti Duha, Friends of the Earth Czech Republic.
Guest post: Realities in the Czech renewable sector defy the ideas of the Paris Agreement
August 10, 2016
If fossil fuels’ grip on the Czech Republic’s energy sector remains, as current plans and policies confirm, the country’s support for the Paris Agreement will be nothing but a sham, writes Karel Polanecky from Bankwatch’s Czech member group Hnuti Duha.
Guest post: Municipalities are crucial for citizen-owned renewable energy in the Czech Republic
June 21, 2016
Czech environmental and law groups have proposed a law amendment to revive the disadvantaged renewable energy sector in their country. Karel Polanecky from Bankwatch member group Hnuti Duha explains their initiative.
The EU house bank is holding back Europe’s shift to sustainable energy
June 14, 2016
On the occasion of the EU Sustainable Energy Week, a new Bankwatch analysis shows that the European Investment Bank (EIB) has been effectively hindering Europe’s energy transition.
Bankwatch and Counter Balance statement on the mid-term review of the Investment Plan for Europe
June 1, 2016
Brussels, Prague – European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen presented today the mid-term result of the Investment Plan for Europe. The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the financial arm of this investment strategy, was established by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) in 2015 with the aim of mobilising private investments to stimulate the European economy.
Slovakia’s EU presidency: a chance to improve European biomass regulations
May 30, 2016
In its EU funds spending plans, Slovakia has shown commendable dedication to making bioenergy more sustainable. Taking over the EU presidency in June, it will have a unique chance to apply its expertise to improve European regulations on biomass.
Western Balkan countries invest more than twice as much in coal as in wind power: new Bankwatch analysis
May 26, 2016
Western Balkan countries are planning investments in wind power, but these are being heavily outweighed by their investments in coal plants, according to a CEE Bankwatch Network analysis launched today. The region’s governments are actively planning 2800 MW of new coal plants but allowing only around 1166 MW of wind power plants to be built.
Western Balkans countries invest at least 2.4 times as much in coal as in wind power
May 26, 2016
All the Western Balkans countries have committed to increase their share of renewable energy by 2020 to reach between 25 and 40 percent of their energy mix, as part of their obligations under the Energy Community Treaty. Yet this is far from obvious when examining their investment plans for new power generation capacity. Governments are actively planning to build 2800 MW of new coal plants with construction cost of at least EUR 4.5 billion. In contrast, these countries are only planning to build around 1166 MW of wind power plants, at an estimated cost of EUR 1.89 billion.
