Europe's energy transition

GIIA, in partnership with Aquila Capital, recently hosted an investor roundtable looking at the ongoing Energy Transition in Europe.

As 2020 draws closer, and with it the European Commission’s Renewable Energy Directive deadline for Member States to increase renewable energy levels to 20%, investors across Europe are responding to both opportunities and challenges from this significant area of international policy.

Attendees learnt that as many of the larger nations including France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom lag behind on their targets, the ongoing transition to more renewable energies is more in focus now than ever before. Expert contributions to the event came from Tom Howes, Deputy Head of Economic Analysis and Financial Instruments at DG Energy; Dario Traum, Head of Policy for Europe, Middle East and North Africa at Bloomberg New Energy Finance; Dr Tor Syverud, Head of HydroPower Investments, Aquila Capital; and Mirko Masek, Partner, Freshfields who provided their insight on this important policy area.

With Government balance sheets stretched, it will continue to fall to the private sector to lead the push to cleaner energy generation. And with more than 200 renewable energy assets located across Europe, GIIA members are at the forefront of this challenge.