The year 2009 has brought times of hardship in every part of the world, including the South-East European countries. The world economic crisis has severely affected many industries, among which the energy sector. The financing of crucial energy projects in the region is suffering delays. A number of countries are still experiencing energy deficit, which is slackening the pace of their economic development. However, a crisis can also prompt new possibilities.

Hydro power can be one of them. Regardless of the fact that the relative share of hydro electricity in most of the countries in the region is far from great, hydro power is an important component of the energy mix. On a global scale, hydro power produces almost 20% of the world's electricity. Unlike wind and solar power, the electricity produced by water allows for a greater stability of the electricity systems and comes at a competitive price. Moreover, hydro power stations can be a reliable long-term power source with more than 100 years of operational lifetime. If the zero emissions of GHG are added to that, hydro power stands out as an important contributor to the 20-20-20 target of the EU energy policy.

At the same time the hydro power sector is facing plenty of challenges. Despite their large availability, less than one third of the world’s hydro resources have actually been developed. In the region of South-East Europe, each country is experiencing problems of different nature because of the particular development of the sector, the specific national energy policies, the various aspects of the hydro facilities ownership, the regulatory policy and the setting of hydro energy prices, the lack of investment incentives.

Almost everywhere there is an apparent need for more efficient use of the hydro power potential and water management, new technological and software solutions, rehabilitation of the existing facilities, opening up investment possibilities for the construction of new ones, stepping up the development of the electricity transmission grids and the regional energy market, establishing new approaches and policies in the hydro power sector.

It is our desire that the First Hydro Energy Forum for South-East Europe becomes a focal point of ideas and visions in this direction, activating the efforts of the industry, investors and national administrations and attracting the attention of the leading European companies in the field of equipment production and engineering. If in this dialogue we succeed to leave behind the discrepancies and discover what we have in common, it will certainly be to the benefit of everyone participating and of the hydro power sector in this part of Europe as a whole.

We will be expecting you on 15th and 16th October 2009 at the Melia Grand Hermitage Hotel in the marvelous Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Golden Sands.

Forum Topics:

• Hydro power potential of the South-East European countries: Alternatives to reduce the energy deficit in the region;
• Selection of strategies and policies for utilising hydro energy in the region: Possibilities for implementing bilateral and multilateral hydro energy projects. The role of small hydro in the energy mix;
• European partnership perspectives: Modern technologies, professional experience and cooperation with front-runners to develop hydro energy potential;
• Regional experience in national and regulatory policies: Possibilities and incentives for hydro power production and differentiation of hydro power stations according to technology applied;
• Role and significance of the national electricity companies, electricity system operators and electricity distribution companies for the development of the hydro sector in the SEE countries;
• Protection of the environment, legislation and permit awarding procedures for hydro power plants, policies and practices of the countries in the region;
• European funds, financial structuring of the hydro projects and innovative investment approaches as an alternative to the financial crisis;
• Possibilities for public-private partnership in the construction of small hydro power plants and the role of municipalities.

Participants:

• Representatives of the hydro energy business in the SEE countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey, Croatia, Montenegro;
• Representatives of the European Commission;
• State officials from the countries in the region;
• Regulatory authorities from the countries in the region;
• Representatives of the national electricity companies of the countries in the region;
• Representatives of the transmission systems operators in the region;
• Electricity distribution companies;
• Leading European companies operating in the hydro energy sector from Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland;
• Prominent European producers of hydro power equipment;
• Consulting companies, banks, investment funds, credit institutions with experience in energy projects financing.