How can energy resilience be strengthened in Central and Eastern European states?

Jak wzmocnić odporność energetyczną w państwach Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej?

Abstract: The energy crisis resulting from Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine in 2022 is seen by the European Union as an opportunity to accelerate the energy transition and strengthen energy resilience. Energy resilience is particularly important for Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, which are highly dependent on imports of energy resources and which possess significant potential for the development of energy based on renewable sources. The article presents an analysis of the energy resilience of CEE countries in the context of the challenges related to the energy crisis, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the EU’s ambitious climate goals. The aim of the analysis is to identify the factors that contribute to strengthening or weakening the energy resilience of these countries. The results of the study confirm the thesis that the process of strengthening the energy resilience of CEE countries is progressing, but too slowly and unevenly. The most serious problems for these countries are the increase in the share of energy from renewable sources, the modernisation and expansion of the old electricity grid, the lack of decentralisation of the energy system, and insufficient cross-border cooperation in the field of energy exchange. The findings can help to understand the political, technological and economic challenges faced by CEE countries in their energy systems.

Bibliography:

1. Baldursson F.M., Banet C., Chyong Ch., Building Resilience in Europe’s Energy System, CERRE, Report, June 2023.
2. CANEurope, Future-Proofing Central Eastern European Grids for Tomorrow’s Energy System, February 2024, https://caneurope.org/central-eastern-europe-grids/.
3. CEE, Energy Outlook. Where do national commitments lead?, Report, Orlen, Warsaw, January 2024, https://future.orlen.pl/content/dam/internet/future-orlen/pl/en/ORLEN_outlook_EN.pdf.
4. Coaffee J., Futureproof: How to Build Resilience in an Uncertain World, Yale University Press, 2019.
5. Cremona E., Rosslowe C., Putting the mission in transmission: Grids for Europe’s energy transition: Some of Europe’s grid development plans could fall short of what’s needed for wind and solar roll out, https://ember-climate.org/insights/research/putting-the-mission-in-transmission-grids-for-europes-energy-transition/#supporting-material.
6. EEA, Share of energy consumption from renewable sources in Europe, https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/share-of-energy-consumption-from.
7. Elżbieciak T., Mamy już 5 mln inteligentnych liczników, https://wysokienapiecie.pl/96908-mamy-juz-5-mln-inteligentnych-licznikow/.
8. EMBER, 2023: A milestone year for renewable energy in Europe – Unveiling Ember’s Electricity Review, https://www.solarpowereurope.org/news/2023-a-milestone-year-for-renewable-energy-in-europe-unveiling-ember-s-electricity-review.
9. EMBER, European Union. The EU accelerates electricity transition in the wake of crisis, https://ember-climate.org/countries-and-regions/regions/european-union/.
10. EMBER, In it together: the road to a cleaner, cheaper CEE power system, https://ember-climate.org/insights/research/in-it-together-cee-power-system/#supporting-material.
11. EU Energy Outlook to 2060: power prices and revenues predicted for wind, solar, gas, hydrogen + more, https://energypost.eu/eu-energy-outlook-to-2060-power-prices-and-revenues-predicted-for-wind-solar-gas-hydrogen-more/.
12. European Commission, Communication: REPowerEU Plan, COM(2022) 230 final, Brussels, 18 May 2022, https://energy.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-05/COM_2022_230_1_EN_ACT_part1_v5.pdf.
13. European Commission, Communication: Securing our future Europe’s 2040 climate target and path to climate neutrality by 2050 building a sustainable, just and prosperous society, COM(2024) 63 final, Strasbourg, 6 February 2024.
14. European Commission, In focus: EU energy security and gas supplies, https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/focus-eu-energy-security-and-gas-supplies-2024-02-15_en.
15. Eurostat, EU trade with Russia – latest developments, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=EU_trade_with_Russia_-_latest_developments#Latest_developments.
16. IEA, Energy system of Europe, https://www.iea.org/regions/europe and https://ember-climate.org/countries-and-regions/regions/european-union/.
17. IEA, Renewables, https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables.
18. IEA, Renewables 2023. Analysis and forecasts to 2028, https://www.iea.org/reports/renewables-2023.
19. Jasiunas J., Lund P., Mikkola J., Energy system resilience – A review, “Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews” 2021, vol. 150.
20. Joshi P., Gokhale-Welch C., Fundamentals of Energy Security and Resilience, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, November 2022, https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy23osti/84499.pdf.
21. Misiągiewicz J., Energy security as an area of international security, “Stosunki Międzynarodowe – International Relations” 2022, vol. 58.
22. Number of operational, shutdown, and planned nuclear reactors in European countries, https://www.statista.com/statistics/792589/operational-nuclear-reactors-european-union-eu-28/.
23. Pająk P., Słaby początek 2024 r. na rynku prosumenckim, https://www.gramwzielone.pl/energia-sloneczna/20191451/slaby-poczatek-2024-r-na-rynku-prosumenckim.
24. PTPIREE, Mikroinstalacje w Polsce, http://www.ptpiree.pl/energetyka-w-polsce/energetyka-w-liczbach/mikroinstalacje-w-polsce.
25. Rinaldi E., How to strengthen energy resilience in an uncertain world, Eurelectric, August 2023, https://www.eurelectric.org/in-detail/energy-resilience.

PDF: Download