UKTI showcases in Bucharest its GREAT expertise in green technologies

16 British companies specialised in green technologies (waste to energy, biomass, clean coal technologies, energy efficiency technologies, energy storage) and delegates from across Central and Eastern Europe gather in Bucharest, 5-7 October, in a business exchange programme organised by the British Embassy in Bucharest.

2015-10-06 13:52:45

The event was opened today, 6 October, by the British Ambassador Paul Brummell, and included keynote speeches by the Romanian Minister for Environment, Water and Forests, Gratiela Gavrilescu, and the British Trade Mission Leader, Alan Bailey, Hon MSc, Chairman, Low Carbon South West CIC.

Several British companies are already active in the energy and environment sector across Central and Eastern Europe, but British expertise remains under-represented in the low carbon area. This, alongside the scale of the opportunity that exists across the region, is the reason why Low Carbon has been earmarked as a priority sector.

Romanian authorities are planning to invest EUR 200 million into a waste-to-energy plant for Bucharest, to be built by 2016, using EU funds. The project is designed to address both the city's waste problems (recycling rate is below 5%), as well as district heating issues (obsolete coal or hydrocarbon plants and outdated heating system). Also, according to the National Strategy for Energy Efficiency, Romania will invest EUR 5 billion in the next 6 years-3.9 billion Euro for implementing a low carbon economy (energy efficiency, renewable energy 24 per cent target), out of which EUR 1.1 billion are aimed at energy efficiency projects (buildings, lighting, smart cities).

Countries in Central and Eastern Europe are upgrading existing energy facilities and diversifying their overall mix at a time when their energy demands are increasing significantly (30% growth in demand by 2030 compared to OECD average of 4%; BP Energy Outlook) and climate commitments are driving development, in the context of the region′s need to reduce energy dependence from Russia.

Alan Bailey, Trade Mission Leader and Chairman Low Carbon South West CIC said: The EU structural and cohesion funds have the potential to catalyse the transition to a low carbon economy in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), as this is a mandatory step which will have to be made by Romania, together with all the countries in the region.

British Ambassador to Bucharest, Paul Brummell said: I am very glad to host the first event in Central and Eastern Europe, entirely dedicated to business opportunities for green industries. We aim to use this business exchange to present to the region the expertise and innovative capability of the UK as a major global exporter of green goods and services, and a leading low carbon innovator.


Alan Bailey: He currently sits on the board of a number of environmental technology start-ups as well as some more established low carbon goods and services companies and is a business mentor for a variety of high growth potential companies and he is the Chair of Low Carbon South West

In 2011 Alan was awarded an Honorary MSc by the University of the West of England for his work in supporting the South West and UK low carbon economy. Alan represented Bristol in Brussels for the European Green Capital Final in 2009, was an Ambassador for Bristol′s Green Investment Bank bid, currently sits on several groups for the West of England LEP and is the driving force behind the very successful Environmental Trade Show (ETS UK).

UK Trade&Investment: UKTI is the government department that helps UK-based companies of all sizes succeed in the global economy, providing them with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. We help businesses grow through international trade, offering expertise and contacts through our extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK's economy-acknowledged as Europe's best place from which to succeed in global business.