IENE Study “SEE Energy Outlook 2025/2026”

Background

The "SEE Energy Outlook 2025/2026" is a comprehensive study which deals with the current energy situation in the SE European region but also covers the “Outlook” from now until 2050. The study covers all 16 core countries in the region: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Türkiye. In addition, the present “Outlook” provides energy information on a number of peripheral countries including Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Ukraine, Slovakia, Austria, Azerbaijan and Italy which are economically and geographically related SE European core countries.

This is the fourth time that such a major study has been undertaken by IENE with the first one published in 2011. The study contains substantial comparative data, detailed sectorial analysis, and energy demand and production estimates and projections. Through a series of introductory chapters, where the economic and political background together with the key energy policy issues of South East Europe are presented, the study examines the impact of the regional integration process and energy competition issues on SE Europe’s energy prospects.

EU’s decarbonization policy and energy security implications are also discussed at length in relation to latest geopolitical developments. The study comprises the following parts: energy policy, energy security, country energy surveys, legal framework, regional economic issues, sectorial analysis, energy demand and supply projections for 2050 (oil and gas, electricity, renewables, energy efficiency), energy technologies and energy investment outlook.

The energy sector analysis focuses on the region’s main energy drivers such as petroleum (upstream, midstream, downstream), natural gas, power generation, electricity transmission, renewables, energy efficiency, co-generation, and environmental protection. A major part of the study concerns the individual countries of the region and contains an energy profile of each one of the 16 core countries. A set of original energy maps for the region has been created, together with comparative data tables and economic analysis.
Another important part of the study covers the energy interconnections in South East Europe, the Black Sea and the Caspian region for oil, gas and electricity. The major energy projects of the region (oil and gas pipelines, gas storage, nuclear plants, hydrocarbon exploration projects, refineries, RES installations and energy efficiency projects) are described and fully analysed.

As energy market integration in electricity and gas in SE Europe progresses and several milestones have been achieved, the study provides an insight on market competition conditions. In a similar vein the situation in the downstream oil market is thoroughly examined together with latest developments concerning the transition to green fuels.

Furthermore, the present “Outlook” study containing an analysis of the energy technologies which are appropriate for application in SEE. The study concludes with an in-depth analysis and projections of the investment potential per energy fuel and per country but also assesses the business opportunities of the region’s entire energy sector.

Given the current state of affairs in SE Europe and the constant flux which characterizes energy markets and the fact that certain key cross border projects, such as upstream exploration, major pipelines, electricity transmission lines etc., have suffered serious setbacks over the last three years, mostly due to the war in Ukraine and adverse financing conditions, with final investment decisions being constantly differed, the study provides useful insight on the latest situation, at both government and company level.

Overall, through the publication of the present “SEE Energy Outlook”, IENE is actively contributing towards a better understanding of energy market operation at national and regional level, but also in assessing the investment prospects and business opportunities involved. One of the key observations of the study is the need for a much better organized and continuous market surveillance and analysis. This is necessary if we are to understand fully and interpret correctly energy market signals and market trends.

The, until recently, poor statistics and lack of reliable data on projects and energy flows make such a task an absolute necessity. IENE is already addressing this challenge in close co-operation with its network of partners in the region. In this respect IENE has over the years built a comprehensive energy data base for the region which is constantly being updated and could be of immense help to governments, companies and individual researchers.