Country and Regional Projects in Central and Eastern Europe

NREL provides technical expertise and analysis to European countries to strengthen energy system reliability, security, and affordability through the deployment of advanced energy technologies and data-driven decision-making tools.

Croatia

NREL partnered with Croatia to assess the feasibility of using geothermal energy as a renewable heat source, including evaluating deep geothermal resources and integration costs.

Latvia

NREL is collaborating with Latvenergo on a study aimed at enhancing energy security in Latvia and the Baltic region by reducing reliance on energy imports. The study utilizes detailed modeling and analysis to guide Latvenergo’s decisions on where to site renewable energy projects and how to modernize existing power plants.

Lithuania

NREL collaborated with the Lithuanian Energy Agency and other organizations to conduct in-depth modeling and analysis on pathways for Lithuania to advance its power system. This study evaluates the impacts of energy policies on grid operations, hydrogen development, energy storage, and electricity distribution networks. Initial results show that Lithuania has sufficient resource potential and infrastructure to reliably meet its 2030 electricity demand using 100% renewable energy.

Romania

NREL partnered with Romania and the Bucharest thermal district operator to assess the feasibility of using geothermal energy for the city's district heating system. This effort included evaluating deep geothermal resources and the cost of integrating them into the existing distribution network to diversify energy supplies and bolster system reliability.

Ukraine

In partnership with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, NREL applied expertise in microgrid development, energy storage integration, and advanced grid modeling to strengthen Ukraine’s energy resilience. NREL conducted a techno-economic analysis for a microgrid in Merefa, evaluated battery storage integration at critical facilities in Chernihiv and Chortkiv, and assessed renewable energy potential in Lviv and Chernihiv.

NREL also developed high-resolution solar resource data, which can be accessed through RE Data Explorer and integrated into modeling tools to support project siting and investment decisions. PVWatts, now available in Ukrainian, estimates the energy production of grid-connected photovoltaic energy systems throughout the world, enabling users to make data-driven decisions.