energy

Energy communities are an effective means to decentralize and renew our energy systems with sustainable solutions as they are usually based on renewable energy. They have already started emerging in 1970´s, yet there has been a significant increase in their development only in recent years, also in terms of their introduction into the EU legislation. Especially in Western and Northern European countries the concept already enjoys vast popularity. On the other hand, in Central and Eastern European countries (further referred to as CEE) energy communities are only beginning to emerge. The policy brief (based on literature and interviews with various stakeholders ) examines the benefits energy communities may bring, and more importantly, the main obstacles remaining in their way for greater evolution in the CEE region – and especially Visegrad countries (V4). As these initiatives progress, sharing the best practices will ensure the success of the community energy in the energy transition. Writes Alžbeta Gavalcová.

Establishing a new European fund to support coal regions may be perceived as a positive political step towards affected areas. However, the management of this fund poses challenges, not only in terms of finances but also in terms of personnel and time constraints, which could jeopardize its effective utilization. This conclusion arises from consultations with representatives of public administration and relevant regions and from their analysis conducted by Klára Votavová, member of research team at EUROPEUM.

Enhanced solidarity, faster deployment of renewable energy and protection of EU citizens from excessive energy prices. EU energy ministers in Brussels today reached agreement on an extension of three measures adopted last year in response to Russia's war against Ukraine. Their aim is to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis. Our senior researcher Kateřina Davidová commented on the topic for ČRo Plus.

We would like to invite you to another debate within the Café Evropa series, this time on the topic "The future of energy in the Czech Republic - how to further reduce dependence on fossil fuels?". The debate will take place on Monday 24 April at 17:30 online on our Facebook page.

Vít Havelka, Rebeka Hengalová, and Katarína Svitková prepared a background paper for the National Convention on the EU Round Table on the Review of the European Energy Market. How can the EC proposal for the revision of the European electricity market be assessed from the Czech Republic's perspective? How can the revision of the internal gas market rules be assessed in the context of the energy crisis? How should the EU prepare for the coming winter?

Helena Truchlá, Director of Czech Interests in the EU, and Michal Hrubý, our Research Fellow, wrote the EU monitor "Saturday Energy Talks of the Czech EU Council Presidency: what's next?", in which she discusses the current energy crisis during the Czech Presidency.

Vít Havelka wrote a policy paper in which he discusses the energy crisis that hit the EU right after the COVID-19 pandemic.On 24 February, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine and subsequently triggered a series of events that resulted in an energy crisis in the EU.

In her EU Monitor, Zsanett Gréta Papp discusses the current energy situation in the EU Member States. Where to look for a replacement for gas from Russia? And how will this decision affect the EU's green policy agenda?

Our senior researcher Kateřina Davidová participated in the conference "How did the Czech Republic turn green during the European Presidency?". She commented on what she believes is the success of the Czech Presidency.

On the occasion of the conference "How did the Czech Republic turn green during the European Presidency?" our Senior Research Fellow Kateřina Davidová commented on the progress of the EU's climate policy and energy transformation, as well as emission-free transport.

On the occasion of the conference on the topic "How did the Czech Republic turn green during the European Presidency?" spoke our senior researcher Kateřina Davidová. She mentioned that the Czech Republic has promoted a unified approach of the EU countries in the energy sector during the Presidency, for example by having a higher than the standard number of ministerial councils for this issue. She also commented on the ban on selling cars with internal combustion engines after 2035. She says that it will be essential that at least part of the supply chain for electric cars is in the Czech Republic.

Michal Hrubý, our research fellow, commented in the evening news of TV Nova on the current energy crisis and what measures Switzerland is preparing.