Taking stock of its vast experience and considerable expertise in the study and analysis of geopolitical developments and energy market operation, as well as energy infrastructures and related investments, the Institute is branching out to include a range of Advisory Services among its activities. These services are provided to clients whose interests span across diverse areas of activity such as electricity grids and international Interconnectors, electricity and gas markets ,cross border gas transmission, renewable energy projects, energy storage solutions and energy efficiency improvement schemes. The list is completed with regulatory ,governance and licensing issues.
A typical example of IENE’s activity in the context of Advisory Services is the recently completed assignment for Grant Thornton in Athens (2024/2025). The IENE team examined a range of legal and regulatory issues related to the Green Aegean Interconnector project, which is being promoted by Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO). With Grant Thornton having been awarded the project’s overall feasibility study, the company sought IENE’s specialized expertise in order to examine in detail a series of niche areas, including the legal and regulatory framework for crossing third countries exclusive economic zones (EEZ), the regulatory framework governing international interconnectors, and governance issues together with barriers and mitigation measures.
The Institute has also provided Advisory Services to various governments and state entities in the SEE region on a variety of subjects. These have included advice on the planning of energy transition policies for specific geographic regions facing permanent closure of coal fired generation plants, the impact on energy prices from the large scale penetration of RES in electricity grids, the role of batteries for electricity storage in electricity grids and island energy systems etc.
Another area of work where the IENE is offering Advisory Services is that concerning the certification and issuance of green debt. More specifically the Institute as a certified Green Bond verifier by Green Bond Initiative (GBI) of the UK, is capable of studying and advising private and corporate clients on the raising of green debt which is then used to support clean energy projects, including renewable installations and energy efficiency schemes. Already, the IENE has been successful in organising the issuing of a Green Bond in Cyprus(2023) for a major photovoltaic plant expansion on behalf of a Swedish renewables company, while it is currently advising an industrial and banking group active in SE Europe for the raising of a substantial Green Bond which will help finance the group’s expansion in RES projects including renewable installations the region.
Responding to client needs for advice on specific projects, the IENE team can provide an initial assessment report to interested parties outlining the Institute’s expertise and proposals for undertaking an assignment in a specific area of work.