Eastern Europe Turns To Gas And Renewables

摘要

New generation capacity under construction in Central and Eastern Europe is on the rise, with the region turning to gas and renewables to ease margins and, in the case of the region's EU member states, comply with EU environmental rules. According to a recent power plant tracker published by Platts Energy in East Europe, some 43.9 GW are under construction with a further 186 GW at various stages of permitting and planning. This compares with 32.8 GW and 169.7 GW registered at the time of the previous tracker in April 2008.rnThe figures suggest that the economic recession has yet to have an effect on development. Most of the capacity under construction is being developed by Europe's largest utilities, which are only pursuing projects where development is already at an advanced stage. Going forward, with non-recourse finance hard to come by and company income falling with demand, many investors are likely to come under pressure to cancel or at least defer planned new build.