Between 4-5 February, Energy Week Black Sea 2026 took place in Bucharest, the leading regional conference dedicated to the energy sector in the Black Sea area. The event brought together government leaders, major energy companies, project developers, investors, and international experts, providing a high-level platform for dialogue on the strategic directions for energy sector development, with a strong focus on renewable energy, regional cooperation, and sustainable investment.
The 2026 edition highlighted the commitment of Black Sea region countries to accelerating the energy transition, strengthening energy security, and integrating renewable energy sources into national and regional energy mixes.
Key topics addressed at the event included:
- Strengthening regional energy interconnections and cross-border infrastructure as a cornerstone of the Black Sea energy transition;
- Energy security and diversification of supply sources in the context of geopolitical developments and the need to enhance the resilience of energy systems;
- Financing renewable energy projects, investment structures, and support mechanisms to accelerate the green transition;
- Green hydrogen and emerging technologies for the decarbonization of hard-to-electrify sectors;
- Advanced energy storage solutions and system flexibility;
- Modernization, digitalization, and improved readiness of electricity grids;
- The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and the expansion of data centres on energy demand, as well as their role in grid optimization, energy system operation, and the acceleration of clean energy investments.
As an event partner, Energy Analytical Studies provides a synthesis of the main working assumptions and insights presented during Energy Week Black Sea 2026.
The conference opened with a keynote address by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania, Ihor Prokopchuk, followed by the inaugural panel, „Advancing the Black Sea Clean-Energy Transition”.
In his speech, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in shaping the future energy landscape of the Black Sea region and expressed gratitude to Romania for its consistent support of Ukraine throughout nearly four years of Russian military aggression.
A central theme of his intervention was Ukraine’s severe energy crisis, described as approaching a humanitarian catastrophe. The Ambassador highlighted that Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure significantly increase nuclear security risks, including through damage to substations critical for supplying nuclear power plants and the illegal occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. He also drew attention to the cross-border effects of disruptions in Ukraine’s energy system, referencing a recent incident that affected the Republic of Moldova and underscored the interdependence and vulnerability of regional energy systems.
In this context, Ukraine is calling for urgent humanitarian energy assistance and enhanced air defence, framed not only as a military priority but as a fundamental prerequisite for long-term energy security. Without effective protection of critical infrastructure, any reconstruction effort remains temporary.
Ukraine has expressed strong interest in deepening trilateral energy cooperation with Romania and the Republic of Moldova, including emergency response mechanisms, cross-border balancing, increased interconnection reliability, and coordinated protection of critical infrastructure, including against cyber threats. Priority projects include the modernization and expansion of cross-border electricity interconnections—particularly high-voltage lines and their integration with the Moldovan system—as well as the development of the Vertical Gas Corridor as a tool for supply diversification and energy security in the Black Sea region.
Looking ahead, the Ambassador noted that the reconstruction of Ukraine’s energy sector will be guided by modernization and innovation, with a focus on distributed generation, digitalization and grid protection, as well as energy storage and flexibility solutions.
Inga Pkhaladze, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, underlined Georgia’s strategic role, situated at the crossroads of major regional corridors in ensuring the secure transit of energy resources:
- Against the backdrop of profound transformations in European and global energy systems, Georgia is prioritizing clean energy development, expansion of electricity interconnections, and deeper integration into regional and European markets;
- Georgia plays a key role in regional energy security and the promotion of renewable energy sources;
- Particular emphasis is placed on strategic projects such as the Black Sea Submarine Cable and the Green Energy Corridor, considered critical both for Georgia and for Southeast Europe’s energy security;
- The Georgian official confirmed the country’s readiness to cooperate with regional states, the European Union, and international partners in implementing these initiatives.
The Minister of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, Dorin Junghietu, highlighted at Energy Week Black Sea 2026 that the development of storage capacities and interconnections is essential for Moldova’s energy resilience:
- Energy security and accelerated investment in renewable energy are core pillars of the national energy strategy;
- The recent energy incident of 31 January exposed vulnerabilities in the national energy system and underscored the urgency of accelerating modernization and regional interconnections;
- The Minister emphasized the strategic importance of interconnections with Romania, particularly the 400 kV Vulcănești – Chișinău, Bălți – Suceava, and Strășeni – Gutinaș lines, for resilience, cross-border trade, and integration into the European energy market;
- He highlighted the importance of the new tender for 173 MW of onshore wind capacity combined with modern battery energy storage systems (BESS), a critical step toward increasing system flexibility and stability;
- The Minister reiterated the Moldovan Government’s commitment to maintaining a clear and predictable regulatory framework aligned with the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 2025–2030 and the Energy Strategy 2050;
- He issued a call to international investors and development partners to engage in the modernization and transformation of Moldova’s energy system.
One of the most sensitive challenges addressed at the event concerned the energy transition and grid infrastructure constraints in developing new generation capacities, discussed during the panel „Grids & Cross-Border Interconnectors”.
The panel examined the role of electricity grids and cross-border interconnections as critical infrastructure for market functioning and renewable energy integration. Participants represented key segments of the energy value chain – trading, transmission, and distribution, including Jérôme Le Page (Energy Traders Europe), Dr. Costin-Mihai Păun (Transelectrica), Alexandru Chiriță (Electrica), Mats Lundin (Emergy), and Tatiana Fiodorov (Fiodorov & Partners). The discussion highlighted that, in the absence of modern and well-developed grids, renewable energy investments risk delays or underutilization regardless of generation capacity growth.
Debates addressed both technical aspects – such as system balancing, integration of new generation sources, grid flexibility, institutional and regulatory dimensions. Emphasis was placed on the need for clear governance frameworks, efficient permitting processes, and strengthened cross-border coordination to translate interconnection projects from strategic concepts into implemented investments.
Overall, the panel concluded that grid modernization and expansion are not merely technical prerequisites of the energy transition, but decisive factors for energy security, market functionality, and achieving regional decarbonization objectives.
The panel „Offshore & Floating Wind: From Concept to Commercial” provided an in-depth analysis of the prospects and challenges of offshore wind development in the Black Sea, focusing on the transition from conceptual stages to commercial projects. Oana Ijdelea, Board Member of Black Sea Oil & Gas, highlighted Romania’s significant offshore wind potential, estimated at approximately 76 GW. She also stressed that geopolitics currently represents one of the most significant risks to offshore project development in the Black Sea, affecting both investor appetite and financing conditions. She emphasized the need to designate offshore wind blocks, develop local and regional expertise, and allocate dedicated funding to enable Romania to capitalize on this potential over the medium and long term.
Alex Gospodinov, CEO of hooracán, noted that despite growing interest in offshore wind, tangible progress in the Black Sea remains limited amid a volatile context. He described the Black Sea as a region with relevant, but not ideal conditions for offshore wind, due to specific environmental factors, limited infrastructure, and geopolitical risks, all of which necessitate a cautious and well-structured investment approach.
From a financing perspective, Manuela Trisnevschi, Head of Energy & Utilities at BCR, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, suggesting that Black Sea countries should coordinate efforts through the creation of a regional offshore wind hub. She highlighted the need for cross-country collaboration, shared commitments, and cross-border projects to reduce risks and facilitate access to financing.
Overall, the panel concluded that while offshore wind represents a major strategic opportunity for the Black Sea region, its realization depends on geopolitical stability, regulatory clarity, targeted investments in infrastructure and skills, and strengthened regional cooperation to move from theoretical potential to bankable commercial projects.
The panel „Data Centres, AI & Renewables – Building the Black Sea’s Digital Energy Hub” brought energy consumption driven by digitalization to the forefront as an emerging and increasingly relevant issue on the regional energy agenda. The discussion gathered representatives from the technology, energy, and infrastructure sectors – Filip Kowalski (SAP), Giorgio Inforzato (Automa Power & Utilities), Mihai Manole (TEMA ENERGY), Dr. Eng. Adrian Victor Vevera (ICI Bucharest), and Kristofer Fröjd (Decade Energy), to examine the impact of the rapid growth of data centres and AI applications on energy demand.
It was emphasized that data centres and AI are becoming major new demand hubs, requiring high levels of supply continuity, flexibility, and security. This necessitates a rethinking of generation capacity planning and grid development. Integrating renewable energy into digital infrastructure supply was identified as essential for decarbonization, requiring solutions such as long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), storage, microgrids, and digitalized system operations. Discussions highlighted the role of smart grids and intelligent energy infrastructure in supporting digital hubs, as well as the need for coordinated investments in networks, balancing capacities, and consumption optimization technologies. Romania was identified as having the potential to become a digital hub, though political support is needed amid competition from Poland, Greece, and the Czech Republic.
Regional connectivity was revisited in the session „From Strategy to Steel – The Black Sea Submarine Cable as a European Energy Connector,” featuring representatives including Zviad Gachechiladze (GSE), Davit Narmania (GNERC), Florin Stanciu (Transelectrica), and Vasiliki Klonari (WindEurope). The discussion underscored the strategic role of the Black Sea submarine cable as a key European energy interconnection between Romania and Georgia, supporting both renewable integration and the future supply of digital consumption hubs.
Zviad Gachechiladze emphasized that the Black Sea submarine cable is a project of major importance, with the potential to transform Romania and Georgia into a clean energy hub bridging the South Caucasus and the European Union. While based on bilateral cooperation, the project’s impact extends beyond the two countries, generating benefits for the entire Black Sea region and the European energy market.
The project’s central objective is to enable energy integration between the South Caucasus and the EU by facilitating cross-border electricity exchanges and harnessing regional production potential. A defining feature is its bidirectional design, allowing both exports and imports of electricity, thereby enhancing flexibility, security, and resilience across connected energy systems. Participants acknowledged that while the project is technically, regulatory, and financially complex, it is both necessary and timely in the context of the energy transition and rising European demand for clean energy.
In conclusion, discussions at Energy Week Black Sea 2026 highlighted that the success of the energy transition depends on accelerated investment in grids, interconnections, storage, and digital infrastructure, supported by regional cooperation and geopolitical stability. The event strengthened dialogue among policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders, outlining concrete directions for the strategic transformation of the regional energy sector.
Energy Analytical Studies extends its gratitude to the event organizers and to the Executive Director of Invest in Network, Inessa Shahnazarova, for the opportunity to participate in Energy Week Black Sea 2026.