From securing green financing to building community trust, renewable energy development in Central and Eastern Europe is as much about people and partnerships as technology.

Europe’s energy transition is often discussed in terms of gigawatts of renewable capacity, billions of euros in investment and tonnes of carbon emissions avoided. Yet behind every successful renewable energy project lies a more complicated reality.

For independent power producers (IPPs) in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), the challenge is not simply to build more renewable capacity. It is to develop projects that are financially viable, technically reliable, environmentally responsible and welcomed by local communities.

At Enery, we experience these challenges firsthand. Each project requires navigating regulatory environments, securing financing, finding reliable partners and balancing commercial realities with environmental and social responsibilities.

Increasingly, success depends on something that cannot be measured in megawatts: trust.

Green Financing: Finding Partners Who Share the Vision

Renewable energy projects require substantial upfront investment, while their economic and environmental benefits materialize over decades. Securing financing is therefore about more than obtaining capital. It means finding financial institutions that understand the technology, market risks and long-term value of sustainable infrastructure.

This becomes particularly challenging for hybrid projects combining renewable generation with battery storage, where technologies involve different revenue models and risk profiles.

Enery’s Ogrezeni project in Giurgiu County, Romania, illustrates both the complexity and opportunity.

Combining 761 MWp of solar capacity with more than 1 GWh of battery storage, Ogrezeni will be among Europe’s largest hybrid renewable energy projects. In March 2026, Enery secured EUR 460 million in syndicated green financing from seven banking groups to support its construction.

The transaction also marked the launch of Enery’s Sustainable Financing Framework. The framework is providing a more transparent basis for financing our renewable energy, establishing criteria for directing capital towards eligible sustainable investments, supported by external review and reporting.

Sebastian Staicu, Head of Financing at Enery, explains:

“Financing large-scale renewable projects is not simply about finding banks willing to lend. It is about bringing together partners who understand the technology, believe in the project’s long-term value and are prepared to navigate its complexity. Ogrezeni demonstrates that ambitious hybrid projects in CEE can attract strong international financing when supported by the right expertise and partnerships.”

The Right Partners Can Make or Break a Project

Financing is only one part of the equation.

Delivering utility-scale renewable projects requires experienced construction companies, technology suppliers, legal and technical advisers, environmental consultants and grid specialists.

Finding the right partners is particularly important in CEE, where renewable energy markets develop at different speeds and permitting procedures, infrastructure and regulatory requirements vary significantly.

Projects can face delays due to grid connection challenges, supply chain constraints or unforeseen construction conditions. Selecting partners based solely on price can prove costly when experience, reliability and execution capabilities are overlooked.

For Enery, responsible development means building long-term relationships with companies that share our commitment to safety, quality and environmental standards.

The same applies to our role as an employer. Attracting local talent, developing expertise and maintaining safe, inclusive working environments are essential to sustainable growth.

A Place in the Community, Not Just on the Grid

One of the most underestimated challenges in renewable energy development is earning the confidence of local communities.

Despite growing support for clean energy, misconceptions about solar and wind projects persist. Concerns about agricultural land, biodiversity, landscape changes and neighbouring properties can create resistance, particularly when communities feel excluded from decision-making.

Some concerns arise from misinformation; others raise legitimate questions that developers must address transparently.

Communities want to understand what a project means for their everyday lives. Will it create employment? How will the land be managed? What measures will protect local ecosystems? Will the community benefit beyond construction?

Answering these questions requires meaningful dialogue, credible environmental assessments and continued engagement.

Enery believes sustainability should be visible beyond corporate reporting. Our community initiatives in Romania, including solar installations supporting local institutions, educational programmes and community infrastructure improvements, reflect this approach.

Krasimira Petkova, Head of ESG at Enery, comments:

“A renewable energy project should create value beyond the electricity it generates. Our responsibility is to understand the communities where we operate, listen to their concerns and identify opportunities to make a positive contribution. Sustainability becomes meaningful when commitments translate into tangible benefits for people, nature and future generations.”

Trust cannot be secured through a single consultation or community investment. It must be maintained through transparency, consistency and responsible operations.

Sustainable Energy Needs Customers Who Believe in It

Even when financing, construction and community engagement align, another essential partner remains: the electricity customer.

Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) connect renewable energy investments with businesses seeking long-term price visibility and lower-carbon operations.

However, committing to renewable electricity requires more than sustainability targets. Companies must understand their consumption profiles, assess market risks and recognise the strategic value of predictable energy costs.

For IPPs, customers willing to make these commitments can strengthen the commercial foundation for new investments.

Enery’s experience with corporate PPAs across CEE demonstrates how partnerships between energy producers and industrial consumers can support both competitiveness and decarbonisation.

From Ambition to Accountability

The next phase of Europe’s energy transition will not be defined solely by how quickly new renewable capacity is installed.

It will depend on whether developers can deliver financially resilient projects that protect environmental resources and generate lasting value for communities and businesses.

Green financing, responsible supply chains, meaningful stakeholder engagement and long-term customer partnerships are not separate sustainability initiatives. They are interconnected elements of successful renewable energy development.

For Enery, the ambition is not simply to develop more megawatts across CEE, but to demonstrate that renewable infrastructure can be built through responsible partnerships, transparent practices, and long-term commitment. Because the true measure of a successful energy transition is not only how much clean electricity we produce, but also the value we create along the way.