Advancing the Black Sea Clean Energy Transition Through Connectivity and Cooperation

The Black Sea energy interconnection agenda is becoming central to the region’s clean energy transition. As countries seek to accelerate decarbonisation while strengthening resilience and energy security, cross-border infrastructure and regional cooperation are emerging as key priorities.

These issues were at the core of the opening panel of Energy Week Black Sea 2026, which explored how connectivity, investment and policy coordination can help unlock the next phase of clean energy development across the region.

Moderated by Kostis Geropoulos, Co-Founder and Director of Energy and Climate at NE Global, the panel brought together senior policymakers and financiers from Moldova, Georgia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The strategic role of Black Sea energy interconnection

Energy systems across the Black Sea region are becoming increasingly interconnected. Stronger transmission networks and cross-border electricity infrastructure are essential for integrating renewable energy, balancing power systems and ensuring security of supply.

Panelists highlighted that the development of a regional Black Sea energy interconnection framework will allow countries to diversify supply routes, integrate renewable generation and strengthen cooperation between transmission system operators.

As renewable capacity continues to expand, investment in grids and interconnections is becoming just as important as investment in generation.

Georgia’s vision for regional connectivity

Inga Pkhaladze, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, highlighted the Black Sea’s strategic position between Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Energy security and clean energy are increasingly interconnected agendas. For Georgia, this translates into a strong focus on cross-border connectivity, renewable energy development and deeper integration with European energy markets.

Flagship projects such as the Black Sea submarine cable illustrate this strategy. Beyond enabling renewable integration, the project aims to diversify electricity supply routes, strengthen system resilience and position Georgia as a key transit and export hub for clean energy.

For a country without a direct land border with the European Union, subsea interconnection also carries political and regulatory significance, helping align standards and market frameworks with Europe.

Why grids and transmission investment matter

Grzegorz Zielinski, Director and Head of Energy Europe at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), emphasised that grids and interconnections are foundational to both energy security and the clean energy transition.

Investment in transmission infrastructure enables market integration, renewable scaling and system balancing across borders. While generation and storage projects can increasingly be delivered by the private sector, transmission networks remain critical national assets that require strong public leadership supported by multilateral finance.

Zielinski also pointed to the evolving nature of renewable support mechanisms. As competitive auctions become more widespread, new challenges are emerging around investor returns, merchant exposure and system balancing.

This is creating space for new regulatory approaches, corporate power purchase agreements and targeted policy frameworks supporting energy storage and flexibility.

Moldova’s renewable expansion and regional integration

From the Moldovan perspective, Dorin Junghietu, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, provided a clear example of why regional energy interconnection in the Black Sea region matters.

Recent regional blackouts demonstrated how Moldova’s electricity interconnections with Romania and Ukraine enabled rapid recovery of the power system. Since synchronisation with the European electricity network in March 2022, cooperation between transmission system operators has become a cornerstone of system resilience.

Moldova is also experiencing rapid renewable energy growth. Installed capacity increased from 77 MW in 2022 to nearly 1,000 MW by the end of 2025.

Government auctions supported by long-term power purchase agreements have attracted strong investor interest. New auction rounds are increasingly focused on wind energy paired with battery energy storage systems to manage variability.

Cooperation as the backbone of the Black Sea energy transition

Looking ahead, panellists converged on several shared priorities for the region.

Grid modernisation and digitalisation must keep pace with renewable deployment. Cybersecurity is emerging as a critical dimension of energy resilience, while distributed generation and microgrids can reduce systemic risks during crises.

Most importantly, regional cooperation and Black Sea energy interconnection projects were repeatedly cited as the backbone of a secure, affordable and clean energy future.

As the opening panel concluded, the message was consistent and pragmatic: the Black Sea clean energy transition will not be delivered through isolated national strategies, but through coordinated investment, aligned regulation and sustained collaboration across borders.