Expanding RES cooperation with West Balkans: from importing electricity to exporting RES
International Journal of Energy Sector Management
ISSN: 1750-6220
Article publication date: 5 September 2016
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the current energy status in the West Balkan countries and the related perspectives for renewable energy sources (RES) cooperation mechanisms, within the framework of RES Directive 2009/28/European Commission (EC), through the elaboration of a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. Particular emphasis is laid on the case of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. The SWOT analysis provides a clearer view of expanding RES in the West Balkans, as well as the level of utilization and potential of cooperation mechanisms and renewable energy in each country.
Design/methodology/approach
The adopted approach is mainly based on the context of a project co-financed by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme, titled “Bringing Europe and Third countries closer together through renewable Energies (BETTER)” (project number: IEE/11/845/SI2.616378). The adopted approach incorporates the steps of desktop analysis, stakeholders’ mapping and engagement, key factors’ identification and analysis of results.
Findings
The barriers to expand RES in the region are significant. Currently, the region is electricity importer and by far not in the position to efficiently exploit the large RES potentials. It remains to be seen whether and to what extent cooperation mechanisms may be used in the Western Balkans and the EU by 2020. The unification of the fragmented electricity system and market-oriented reforms aim to join regional power markets and then to integrate with the European Union power market. There is a multitude of market barriers for RES, resulting in a high risk perception n by investors. Cooperation mechanisms could strengthen the regions’ policy frameworks and be a starting point to integrate the region’s energy systems and to overcome the fragmentation of the past two decades.
Originality/value
The potential of West Balkan countries to make use of the cooperation mechanisms provides opportunities for RES exporting between West Balkan and other European countries. An analysis of these opportunities for cooperation will allow drawing clearer conclusions on cooperation potentials and business cases for the region.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The current paper was primarily based on the research conducted within the framework of the project “Bringing Europe and Third countries closer together through renewable Energies (BETTER)” (project number: IEE/11/845/SI2.616378), supported by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme. The authors wish to thank the valuable suggestions and comments made by Dr Natalia Caldés Gómez (Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology, CIEMAT) and Aikaterini Papapostolou (National Technical University of Athens, NTUA) whose contribution, helpful remarks and fruitful observations were invaluable for the development of this work. The content of the paper is the sole responsibility of its authors and does not necessary reflect the views of the EC.
Citation
Karakosta, C., Marinakis, V., Flamos, A., Tuerk, A. and Frieden, D. (2016), "Expanding RES cooperation with West Balkans: from importing electricity to exporting RES", International Journal of Energy Sector Management, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 363-380. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-12-2014-0009
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited