Call for Papers - Bridging Regions: Addressing Climate Change and Renewable Energy Challenges and Opportunities in EU, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus

Date: 4 September 2024
Location: House of Connections, University of Groningen
Deadline: 25 August 2024

The European Green Deal, which aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, underscores the importance of increasing the share of renewable energy in the EU’s energy mix to at least 32% by 2030. Collaboration with the South Caucasus and Central Asia is crucial for achieving these targets due to the regions' significant untapped renewable energy resources.

Strategic partnerships and investments in renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind farms, supported through EU funding mechanisms like Horizon Europe and the European Investment Bank, are essential. Technological cooperation and capacity-building initiatives can enhance the technical and regulatory capabilities in these regions, ensuring sustainable development. The proposed underwater electric cable under the Black Sea, serving as a ‘Green Energy Corridor’, is a pivotal project that can transport renewable energy generated in the South Caucasus and potentially Central Asia to Europe, enhancing energy security and integrating these regions into the European energy market. Additionally, EU-facilitated regional cooperation through initiatives like the EU4Energy programme can streamline policies and regulatory environments, fostering the successful implementation and integration of renewable energy projects across these regions. This holistic approach not only reinforces the geopolitical significance of the South Caucasus and Central Asia but also underscores the EU's commitment to sustainable and diversified energy solutions.

Energy security

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has changed the geopolitical landscape in Eurasia. Supply disruptions and high energy prices remain a major vulnerability for Europe’s energy security.

The energy crisis in Europe has forced a rethink of the continent's traditional energy mix. The high market dependence of EU member states on Russian fossil fuels has highlighted the vulnerability of this approach to energy security. In particular, the outbreak of the war in Ukraine has exposed the dangers of relying on Russian natural gas, as prices have soared and supplies have become uncertain. This has led to calls for a diversification of energy sources, with a focus on renewable energy.

European countries have already started to look for alternative energy supplies from reliable energy partners. The diversification of energy supplies and routes will contribute positively to the security of energy supplies. To this end, the export of energy sources from the South Caucasus to Europe has become highly important for Europe’s energy security.

Now, the key objectives of the EU energy strategy are diversification of energy supplies and sources and to become more energy ‘independent’ by saving energy, producing more local renewable energy, which is crucial for long-term energy security. Besides fossil fuels, renewable energy resources from the region are so abundant that they can easily meet the growing energy demand of Europe in the medium and long- term. These resources can also contribute to achieving the target rate- 42.5% (by 2030) of renewable energy in Europe. The South Caucasus region, with its abundant renewable energy resources, emerges as a key player in meeting Europe's growing energy demand in the medium and long term.

Renewable energy

After the invasion of Ukraine, the EU has increased its attention on the South Caucasus, particularly Azerbaijan's energy resources. In addition to natural gas, the EU is seeking to export renewable energy resources from the South Caucasus, namely Georgia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has signed the Paris Agreement on climate change, which establishes a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by up to 35% by 2030 and 40% by 2050. In pursuit of this goal, the country has already begun developing its renewable energy capacity. Azerbaijan's climate conditions present significant potential for electricity generation from solar and wind. Onshore and offshore wind farms/clusters, solar power, and hydro will be major renewable energy sources. The potential for solar and wind power generation, especially on the Absheron Peninsula and the Caspian coastline, is particularly noteworthy. Overall, the technical potential of renewable energy sources is 135 GW onshore and 157 GW offshore, making it an essential source for generating electricity to support energy transition and sustainable development.

Azerbaijan, together with partners - Georgia, Romania, and Hungary, also support international green energy projects in the region. One of such projects is underwater electric cable under the Black Sea to provide green energy from the South Caucasus to Europe. The nearly 1,200-kilometer cable under the Black Sea will connect the South Caucasus region with South-Eastern Europe, involving the electricity systems of these countries and continental Europe. This project will serve as the ‘Green Energy Corridor’, which can ensure a green energy supply from Central Asian nations to Europe in the future.

The workshop

This workshop, jointly organised by the Wubbo Ockels School for Energy and Climate, ICOG, and the Hague Research Institute, will shed light on the discussions, and will seek to understand the main dynamics that will shape the future energy policy, regional cooperation and sustainable development.

The workshop will discuss the following questions: How has the Russia-Ukraine war impacted the geopolitical energy landscape in Eurasia, specifically in the Black and Caspian Seas region? How does the EU's current energy strategy align with the goals of diversifying energy supplies and achieving energy independence, and how does it impact the broader Central Asia and South Caucasus regions? What are the main dynamics that will shape the future energy policy in the Black and Caspian Seas, Central Asia, and South Caucasus regions, considering the ongoing energy transition and geopolitical changes? What are the key features and potential benefits of the underwater electric cable project under the Black Sea, and how does it contribute to the concept of a ‘Green Energy Corridor’ spanning Central Asia and South Caucasus to Europe? How can international collaborations, such as the hosting of COP29 in Baku, contribute to fostering cooperation among countries in Central Asia and the South Caucasus and implementing climate action goals?

By answering these and other questions, this workshop will contribute to the scholarship on renewable energy security, climate change and energy transition both empirically and theoretically.

Call for papers

Please send your short abstracts (200 words) to a.bayramov@rug.nl
Deadline: 25 August, 2024.