Energy Transition(s) in the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

Since fossil-fuel combustion is the source of about 70% of the world’s emissions of greenhouse gases, there has been a growing consensus on the necessity to limit the usage of energy from coal, oil, and natural gas, and to replace these sources with low-carbon technologies. In the EU, this consensus is vigorously defended both on the supranational and national level; as a consequence, the energy sectors of EU member states are gradually being decarbonized. The process of the dissemination of low-carbon technologies and patterns of consumption is, however, not even across the EU. While western member states tend to embrace robust and long-term decarbonization policies fueled by the significant public support for climate change mitigation, in the eastern part of the EU, development is significantly slower, with political elites (in some cases) ridiculing the potential of low-carbon technologies, and the public less active in the debate. The dissemination of low-carbon technologies in this region is primarily driven by external forces: the EU’s energy and climate policies, and the requirements of international climate regime(s). The academic research reflects this geographical division. The low-carbon energy transition (decarbonization) has been heavily studied and discussed in Germany (see Kuzemko, C.; Mitchell, C.; Lockwood, M.; Hoggett, R.: 2017), the Netherlands (van Leeuwen, R.P.; de Wit, J.B.; Smit, G.J.M.: 2017), the Nordic countries (Sovacool, B.K.: 2017), and in the United Kingdom (Pye, S.; Sabio, N.; Strachan, N.: 2015), but research on energy transitions in the eastern part of the EU is negligible, with some rare exceptions (such as Wagner, A.; Grobelski, T.; Harembski, M.: 2016 or Gawlik, L.: 2017) This panel aims to improve this situation, shedding some light on how low-carbon technologies break through into the conventional energy system in the CEE area, and changing the way the energy here is produced and used. Following contributions are presented in this panel. 1) Case studies rigorously examining decarbonization processes in the CEE area, with “decarbonization” broadly conceptualized as a deliberate process of switching from fossil fuels to low-carbon sources, encompassing the dramatic and permanent changes in the way energy is produced and consumed in the system. Considering the significant impact the EU has on neighboring countries, the CEE region is understand here as consisting of both EU and non-EU countries. 2) Studies utilizing data from the CEE region that enhance the theoretical understanding of the energy transition and decarbonization. 3) Studies using data from the CEE region that contribute to the methodological toolbox used to analyze energy transitions and decarbonization.