IENE actively participated in the 2nd Conference, organized by the Hellenic Association for Energy Economics (HAEE) part of the IAEE, which was held in Athens between 18 and 20 May 2017. The aim of the Conference was to provide an international forum for the exchange of ideas, research results, and experiences among experts and professionals working in academic, business, government, national and international organizations, engaged in all areas related to energy, environment and economyIENE actively participated in the 2nd Conference, organized by the Hellenic Association for Energy Economics (HAEE) part of the IAEE, which was held in Athens between 18 and 20 May 2017. The aim of the Conference was to provide an international forum for the exchange of ideas, research results, and experiences among experts and professionals working in academic, business, government, national and international organizations, engaged in all areas related to energy, environment and economy.
More specifically, IENE submitted a scientific paper under the title "Investment Constraints for Major Energy Projects in SE Europe and Energy Investment Potential over 2016-2025”, which was accepted for presentation by the conference’s scientific committee. The authors of the paper included Mr. Costis Stambolis, Executive Director of IENE, Mr. Dimitrios Mezartasoglou, Research Associate of IENE, and Mr. Nicholaos Sofianos, IENE’s Research Coordinator. The main findings of the paper were presented by Mr. Stambolis on May 20 in one of the concurrent sessions of the conference.
In his presentation, IENE’s Executive Director initially outlined the current situation on the energy mix of SE Europe and its gradual change with higher penetration of natural gas and RES, the retreat of oil and the almost stable contribution of coal (lignite) over the last ten years. After highlighting regional energy investment constraints, including the impact of oil price fluctuations in regional economies, higher cost of capital as the SE European economies are currently underperforming, compared to the rest of European countries, and decreasing investment costs for renewables, especially for wind and solar, Mr. Stambolis focused on the regional energy investment prospects by 2025.
It is worth noting that the specific reference on the regional investment prospects is based on the findings of the recently published IENE study "SE Europe Energy Outlook 2016/2017”. According to IENE’s Outlook Study, the total energy investments until 2025 in the 13 countries of SE Europe covered by IENE are estimated at €273 billion, compared to the €240 billion projected in the previous "SE Europe Energy Outlook 2011” study for the period 2011-2020. Hence, the current investment prospects are somehow improved compared to previous estimates.
