phd energy economics germany

UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE

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  Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences

Institute of energy economics (ewi) at the university of cologne, table of content, main competences, cooperation and networking.

The Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne (EWI) sees itself as a knowledge factory: It creates knowledge about increasingly complex energy markets and makes it available to politics, industry and the public. he EWI stands for practical, energy-economically founded and agenda-neutral research and analyses.

In addition to research projects, the EWI also conducts studies for public institutions such as the Federal Government, the State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia and European authorities as well as for private companies. The institute is headed by Annette Becker and Prof. Dr. Marc Oliver Bettzüge.

The EWI works with the latest methods and models, in addition to economic-theoretical analyses, above all modern quantitative methods. These include in particular detailed computer-based models of the European electricity and gas industry, but also of global energy markets. These methods are constantly being further developed at the institute, in close cooperation with various chairs of the WiSo Faculty and the University of Cologne.

Current focal points of the work include the simulation of current and future energy systems, questions of regulatory economics and market design as well as the digitalisation of the energy industry, in particular the use of machine learning methods for the better control of energy logistics.

Important cooperation partners in the WiSo Faculty are the Chair of Energy Economics (Prof. Dr. Marc Oliver Bettzüge) as well as the Areas of Microeconomics, Information Systems and, perspectively, Corporate Development. Furthermore, the EWI closely cooperates with the Institute of Energy Law (EWIR) of the Faculty of Law and the Institute of Meteorology of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

Beyond the University of Cologne, the EWI cooperates in many different ways with other scientific institutions, such as the Jülich Research Centre, various chairs at the RWTH Aachen and TU Dortmund Universities, the Erasmus Centre for Future Energy Business at the Erasmus University Rotterdam and the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies.

In addition, the EWI is a member of the Johannes Rau Research Foundation (JRF) of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia since 1 January 2022. The JRF comprises 16 state-funded scientific institutes. The JRF institutes work together across disciplines, conduct joint public relations work, promote young scientists and are evaluated by external experts.

Scientists from all over the world are regular guests at the EWI. Since 1948, the EWI organises the widely acclaimed annual EWI Energy Conference . Besides, the Institute organises a large number of practice- and science-related events, including a regular international summer school for doctoral students.

The EWI was founded in 1943 on the initiative of Prof. Dr. Theodor Wessels and Dr. Fritz Burgbacher (from the energy supplier Rhenag AG) as a public-private partnership between the University of Cologne and companies in the energy industry. Today the EWI is a non-profit research institution of the Cologne University Foundation.

EWI Directors

Theodor Wessels (1943-1970) was succeeded as director by Hans-Karl Schneider (1970-1986), Carl-Christian von Weizsäcker (1986-2003), Axel Ockenfels (2003-2007), Marc Oliver Bettzüge (2007 to date), Felix Höffler (2011-2019) and Wolfgang Ketter (2016-2021). All directors of the EWI were and are full-time professors at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Cologne.

Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne (EWI)

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Center for Energy Markets

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At a glance

The Center for Energy Markets (CEM) is dedicated at advancing research on the global energy transition. Energy markets are at the heart of one of the biggest societal challenges of our time: creating a sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy provision. CEM brings together economics, finance and engineering approaches to offer applied research contributions to topical energy sector questions. CEM also supports collaboration between students and industry for research projects, theses supervision, and career opportunities.

Vision and mission

Our vision is a  global energy transition  supported with  research and education .

Our academic mission is to contribute to this goal by  advancing the understanding   of   future energy markets and the decarbonization of our economy.

Scientific Staff

Our core research areas comprise energy economics, energy finance, energy price modelling, operative planning in energy markets, market design, regulation, and consumer behavior and firm strategy in energy markets.

Our teaching entails a broad array of courses and seminars. We encourage students to apply for research projects for their Bachelor and Master theses. The CEM supports collaboration between students and industry both in terms of research projects and career opportunities.

For vacancies, including open PhD positions and research assistant jobs, please click here. We also host external job offers from academia, industry, and policy consulting.

ALWAYS ON | Job opportunities at SWM:  Stadtwerke München frequently offers opportunities for students such as working student positions, internships, final theses, talent programs and young professional positions. For more information please consult the career section for students and graduates on the  SWM webpage .

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Energy Economic Research at UFZ

Our approach.

Energy economic research at UFZ is closely connected with the environmental and sustainability aspects of energy policy. Our applied research specifically focuses on the current challenges of both Germany’s Energiewende and European energy policy. We analyze energy and environmental policy from an economic perspective and within the context of a world characterized by the simultaneity of various political goals, multiple market failures, institutional path dependencies and politico-economic restrictions of regulation.

We conduct our research in an interdisciplinary context. Within UFZ we cooperate closely with our colleagues from the departments Environmental and Planning Law , Ecological Modelling and Bioenergy . Our research partners include the German Biomass Research Centre ( DBFZ ), the German Aerospace Centre ( DLR ), the Centre for European Economic Research ( ZEW ), and the Stiftung Umweltenergierecht (foundation environmental energy law).

Our Research Topics

Our Methods

Current Projects

Publications and Team

Our Research

Prof. Gawel's comments on the German government's climate policy:

Klimapolitik in Zeiten der GroKo – ein Politikversagen wird besichtigt , ZUR 29(3), 129-130. Neustart der Klimapolitik erforderlich , ifo-Schnelldienst 71(1), 8-10. Article on the German energy transition:

20 Jahre EEG: Ist das Förderende für alte Anlagen ein Problem für die Energiewende? , Wirtschaftsdienst 97(10), 727-732.

Market and system integration of renewable energies

The growing share of volatile renewable energies raises questions regarding the assurance of cost-effectiveness and security of electricity supply. In this context, we analyze options for further development of the current support scheme for renewables, for instance by introducing direct marketing and tendering. In addition, we investigate to what extent the electricity system needs to be managed differently so as to account for the challenges posed by renewables, e. g. in the fields of capacity mechanisms, grid regulation and use of flexibility options.

Publications

• Gawel, E., Amberg, M. (2018): Ausschreibungen im EEG – eine Auswertung der bisherigen Erfahrungen. Energiewirtschaftliche Tagesfragen 68 (7/8), 24-30.
• Borne, O., Korte, K., Perez, Y., Petit, M., Purkus, A. (2018): Barriers to entry in frequency-regulation services markets: Review of the status quo and options for improvements. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 81: 605-614.
• Tafarte, P., Buck, P. (2017): Integration of wind power – Challenges and options for market integration and its impact on future cross-sectorial use. 14th International Conference on the European Energy Market (EEM), Dresden 2017, 1-5.
• Tafarte, P., Hennig, C., Dotzauer, M., Thrän, D. (2017): Impact of flexible bioenergy provision on residual load fluctuation: a case study for the TransnetBW transmission system in 2022. Ener-gy, Sustainability and Society. 2017, 7:3.
• Purkus, A., Gawel, E., Szarka, N., Lauer, M., Lenz, V., Ortwein, A., Tafarte, P., Eichhorn, M., Thrän, D.: Contributions of Flexible Power Generation from Biomass to a Secure and Cost-effective Electricity Supply – a review of Potentials, Incentives and Obstacles in Germany. Energy, Sustainability and Society 8, art. 18.
• Gawel, E., Purkus, A. (2016). EEG 2017 – mehr Markt bei der Erneuerbare-Energien-Förderung? Wirtschaftsdienst – Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftspolitik, 96 (12), 910-915.
• Gawel, E., Lehmann, P., Purkus, A., Söderholm, P., Witte, K. (2016): The Rationales for Technology-Specific Renewable Energy Support: Conceptual Arguments and their Relevance for Germany, UFZ Discussion Paper 4/2016, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig. (278.6 KB)
• Lehmann, P., Söderholm, P. (2016): Can Technology-Specific Deployment Policies Be Cost-Effective? The Case of Renewable Energy Support Schemes. UFZ Discussion Paper 1/2016, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig. (596.8 KB)
• Korte, K., Gawel, E. (2015): Stromnetzinvestitionen und Anreizregulierung – Problemfelder und Lösungsansätze, Wirtschaftsdienst 95 (2), 127-134.
• Lehmann, P., Gawel, E., Korte, K., Reeg, M., Schober, D. (2016): Sichere Stromversorgung bei hohen Anteilen volatiler Erneuerbarer: Was kann ein Strommarkt 2.0 leisten?, Wirtschaftsdienst. Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftspolitik, 96 (5).
• Purkus, A., Gawel, E., Deissenroth, M., Nienhaus, K., Wassermann, S. (2015): Market integration of renewable energies through direct marketing – lessons learned from the German market premium scheme, in: Energy, Sustainability and Society 5 (12), 1-13.
• Lehmann, P. , Brandt, R., Gawel, E., Heim, S., Korte, K., Löschel, A., Massier, P., Reeg, M., Schober, D., Wassermann, S. (2015): Braucht Deutschland jetzt Kapazitätszahlungen für eine gesicherte Stromversorgung?, in: Energiewirtschaftliche Tagesfragen 65 (1-2), 26-31. See also: ENERGY-Policy Brief 1/2015 .
• Lehmann, P., Brandt, R., Gawel, E., Heim, S., Korte, K., Löschel, A., Massier, Ph., Reeg, M., Schober, D., Wassermann, S. (2015): Capacity payments to secure electricity supply? On the future of Germany’s power market design. Energy, Sustainability and Society, 5 (15), 1-7.

Federative energy policy

The relation between Germany’s Energiewende and European integration yields multiple tensions. At the same time, there may be potential for synergies. Core questions are whether a European integration of national energy policies is already in progress and what kind of energy policy harmonization/convergence would make sense from an economic point of view. Moreover, we analyze issues relating to the coordination of the energy transition policy between the federal government and the states (Bundesländer) .

• Strunz, S., Gawel, E., Purkus, A.: European Energy Governance Landscapes – Energy-related Pressures on Ecosystem Services. In: Schröter, M. et al. (eds.): Atlas of Ecosystem Services: Drivers, Risks, and Societal Responses. Springer, forthcoming.
• Strunz, S., Gawel, E.: Energy Policies in the EU – A Fiscal Federalism Perspective. In: Knodt, M., Kemmerzell, J. (eds.): Handbook of Energy Governance in Europe. Springer, forthcoming.
• Strunz, S., Gawel, E., Lehmann, P., Söderholm, P. (2018): Policy convergence as a multi-faceted concept: The case of renewable energy policies in the EU. Journal of Public Policy, 38(3): 361-387.
• Gawel, E., Strunz, S. (2016): Dezentrale Energiepolitik – Eine fiskalföderalistische Perspektive für den deutschen Stromsektor. Vierteljahreshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung 85 (4), 29-40.
• Strunz, S., Gawel, E., Lehmann, P. (2016): The political economy of renewable energy policies in Germany and the EU. Utilities Policy 42, 33-41.
• Strunz, S., Gawel, E. (2016): Importabhängigkeit und Energiewende – ein neues Risikofeld der Versorgungssicherheit? ifo-Schnelldienst 69 (15), 3-8.
• Strunz, S., Gawel, E., Lehmann, P. (2015): Towards a general “Europeanization” of EU Member States’ energy policies? Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy 4 (2), 143-159.
• Gawel, E., Strunz, S. (2014): State Aid Dispute on Germany’s Support for Renewables: Is the Commission on the Right Course? Journal for European Environmental and Planning Law 11 (2), 139-152.
• Gawel, E., Strunz, S., Lehmann, P. (2014): Wieviel Europa braucht die Energiewende? Zeitschrift für Energiewirtschaft 38, 163-182.

Environmental compatibility of the Energiewende

Until now the Energiewende has been viewed by environmental policy mainly from a climate protection perspective. New ecological conflicts, emerging from the construction and operation of renewable energy plants and complementary infrastructure (grids, storage) have received only little attention in political debates so far. In this context, intra-ecological trade-offs may arise, e. g. between the protection of environment, species, water and climate. We systemize these trade-offs from an economic point of view and analyze instruments that might solve these issues. Both existing and possible new instruments are investigated as suitable alternatives.

• Ludwig, G., Purkus, A., Pannicke, N., Gawel, E. (2017): Bauen mit Holz als Beitrag zum Klima- und Ressourcenschutz – Status quo des Rechtsrahmens und Gestaltungsvorschläge. DÖV, 70 (23), 985-995.
• Purkus, A., Hagemann, N., Bedtke, N., Gawel, E. (2018): Towards a sustainable innovation system for the German wood-based bioeconomy: Implications for policy design. Journal of Cleaner Production 172, 3955-3968.
• Ludwig, G., Purkus, A., Pannicke, N., Gawel, E. (2017): Bauen mit Holz – Förderoptionen im Interesse des Klima- und Ressourcenschutzes. Factsheet. Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH – UFZ, Leipzig.
• Hagemann, N., Purkus, A., Hauck, J., Pannicke, N., Gawel, E. (2016): Possible futures towards a wood-based bioeconomy − a scenario analysis for Germany. Sustainability 8 (98), 1-24.
• Henle, K., Gawel, E., Ring, I., Strunz, S. (2016): Nuclear energy and biodiversity conservation in the face of climate change: response to Brook and Bradshaw. Conservation Biology 30 (3), 663-665.
• Pannicke, N., Gawel, E., Hagemann, N., Purkus, A., Strunz, S. (2015): The political economy of fostering a wood-based bioeconomy in Germany. German Journal of Agriculatural Economics 64 (4), 224-243.
• Purkus, A., Röder, M., Gawel, E., Thrän, D., Thornley , P. (2015): Handling Uncertainty in Bioenergy Policy Design – A Case Study Analysis of UK and German Bioelectricity Policy Instruments. Biomass and Bioenergy, 79, 64-79.
• Gawel, E. (2015): Nationale Klimaziele und die Kohlekraft − Wege und Irrwege. Zeitschrift für das gesamte Recht der Energiewirtschaft (EnWZ) 4 (10), 433-434.
• Witte, K. (2015): Die Umweltverträglichkeit der Energiewende als Governance-Problem, in: Bruckner, Th. et al. (Hrsg.): Zehn Jahre transdisziplinäre Nachhaltigkeitsforschung an der Universität Leipzig. Festschrift anlässlich des zehnjährigen Bestehens des Instituts für Infrastruktur und Ressourcenmanagement (IIRM) (= Studien zu Infrastruktur und Ressourcenmanagement, Bd. 5), Berlin: Logos, 119-124.

Spatial organization of the Energiewende

The rapid expansion of renewables goes along with growing spatial demand. It thus requires concepts for “optimizing” spatial allocation of power stations and complementary infrastructure. With regard to spatial distribution of power stations and grids, many trade-offs must be taken into consideration. On this basis, we address emerging local opposition as a challenge for a sustainable energy system. Our research goal is the dynamic solution or minimization of spatial trade-offs via spatially explicit instruments of energy or land use policy.

• Korte, K., Gawel, E. (2018): Räumliche Koordination im liberalisierten Strommarkt: angemessene Anreize für die Einspeisung. Spatial coordination of generation and network in a liberalised power market: adequate incentives for power feed-in. Wirtschaftsdienst – Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftspolitik 98 (1), 60-67.
• Lienhoop, N. (2018): Acceptance of wind energy and the role of financial and procedural participation: An investigation with focus groups and choice experiments. Energy Policy 118, 97-105.
• Lauf, T., Ek, K., Gawel, E., Lehmann, P., Söderholm, P. (2018): The Regional Heterogeneity of Wind Power Deployment: An Empirical Investigation of Land-use Policies in Germany and Sweden. UFZ Discussion Paper 1/2018, Leipzig: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ. (664 KB)
• Eichhorn, M., Tafarte, P., Thrän, D. (2017): Towards energy landscapes – “Pathfinder for sustainable wind power locations”. Energy 134: 611-621.
• Korte, K., Gawel, E. (2016): Regional differenzierte Netzentgelte als Auslaufmodell? Energiewirtschaftliche Tagesfragen 66 (1/2), 61-65.
• Gawel, E., Korte, K., Singer, J. (2015): Flächennutzung und erneuerbare Energien zwischen Wirtschaftsförderung, Nachhaltigkeit und effizienter Raumallokation, in: Lempp, J. et al. (eds.): Aktuelle Herausforderungen in der Wirtschaftsförderung. Konzepte für eine positive regionale Entwicklung. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien, 119-125.
• Gawel, E., Korte, K. (2015): Regionale Verteilungswirkungen und Finanzierungsverantwortung: Bund und Länder bei der Strom-Energiewende, in: Müller, Th., Kahl, H. (eds.): Energiewende im Föderalismus (Schriften zum Umweltenergierecht, Bd. 18). Baden-Baden: Nomos, 143-184.

Distribution effects of the Energiewende

The Energiewende alters energy provision in several ways. It creates new stakeholders and leads to novel structures of generation capacities, as well as changing cash flows and value added chains. There are controversial discussions about the resulting distributive effects, especially as regards personnel, sectoral and regional allocations. These effects evoke criticism of support for renewables in general and the specific support scheme in particular. In our research we investigate if these distributive effects really result due to the promotion of renewables. We classify and assess the effects from an economic point of view and analyze if and which kind of politicy intervention might be warranted.

• Gawel, E., Geißler, H., Lehmann, P. (2017): Beeinträchtigt die Förderung erneuerbarer Energien die Erschwinglichkeit der Stromversorgung? Eine empirische Untersuchung für Deutschland, in: Großmann, K., Schaffrin, A. (eds.): Energie und soziale Ungleichheit: Zur gesellschaftlichen Dimension der Energiewende in Deutschland und Europa. Berlin u.a.O.: Springer, 319-346.
• Nachreiner, M., Lehmann, P., Tews, K., Matthies, E. (2016): Influence of technological factors and usage patterns on electricity consumption: Are low-income households in Germany worse off?, forthcoming.
• Gawel, E., Korte, K., Tews, K. (2016): Thesen zur Sozialverträglichkeit der Förderung erneuerbarer Energien durch das EEG – Eine kritische Analyse. Sozialer Fortschritt 64 (3), 51-60.
• Gawel, E., Korte, K., Tews, K. (2015): Energiewende im Wunderland: Mythen zur Sozialverträglichkeit der Förderung erneuerbarer Energien durch das EEG. UFZ-Diskussionspapiere 2/2015, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung – UFZ, Leipzig. (399.1 KB)
• Gawel, E., Korte, K. (2015): Regionale Verteilungswirkungen und Finanzierungsverantwortung: Bund und Länder bei der Strom-Energiewende. In: Müller, Th., Kahl, H. (eds.): Energiewende im Föderalismus. Baden-Baden: Nomos, 143-184.
• Gawel, E., Korte, K., Tews, K. (2015): Distributional Challenges of Sustainability Policies – The Case of the German Energy Transition. Sustainability 7, 16599-16615.

Mix of environmental and energy policy instruments

Practice-oriented analyses of environmental and energy policy must comprise interdependencies between different instruments effective at the same time. One focus of our research is on the interactions between European emissions trading and national support schemes for renewables. Moreover, we look at the energy and electricity taxes, the German Renewable Energy Act and the regulatory instruments in the grid sector with respect to their potential to form a coherent policy mix.

• Gawel, E., Strunz, S. (2018): On the Effectiveness of Germany’s Renewable Energy Sources Act. European Energy and Environmental Law Review 27 (5): 188-200.
• Gawel, E. (2018): Neustart der Klimapolitik erforderlich. ifo-Schnelldienst 71 (1), 8-10.
• Gawel, E. (2018): Klimapolitik in Zeiten der GroKo – ein Politikversagen wird besichtigt. Zeitschrift für Umweltrecht 29 (3), 129-130.
• Strunz, S. (2018): Speeding up the energy transition. Nature Sustainability (News and Views) 1, 390-391.
• Horschig, T., Adams, P.W.R., Gawel, E., Thrän, D. (2018): How to decarbonize the natural gas sector: A dynamic simulation approach for the market development estimation of renewable gas in Germany. Appl. Energy 213, 555-572.
• Lehmann, P., Söderholm, P. (2018): Can Technology-Specific Deployment Policies Be Cost-Effective? The Case of Renewable Energy Support Schemes. Environmental and Resource Economics 71 (2), 475-505.
• Gawel, E., Lehmann, P., Purkus, A., Söderholm, P., Witte, K. (2017): Rationales for Technology-Specific Renewable Energy Support and their Relevance for Germany. Energy Policy 102, 16-26.
• Gawel, E., Strunz, S., Lehmann, P. (2017): Support policies for renewables. Instrument choice and instrument change from a Public Choice perspective. In: Arent, D. et al. (eds.): The Political Economy of Clean Energy Transitions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 80-99.
• Gawel, E., Lehmann, P., Purkus, A., Söderholm, P., Strunz, S. (2017): Political Economy of Safe-guarding Security of Supply with High Shares of Renewables. Review of Existing Research and Lessons from Germany. Research report. Energiforsk, Stockholm.
• Lehmann, P., Gawel, E., Korte, K., Purkus, A. (2017): 20 Jahre EEG: Ist das Förderende für alte Anlagen ein Problem für die Energiewende? Wirtschaftsdienst 97 (10), 727-732.
• Lehmann, P., Gawel, E., Purkus, A., Söderholm, P. (2017): Ist eine technologiespezifische Erneuerbaren-Förderung wirklich ineffizient? Energiewirtschaftliche Tagesfragen 67(5), 19-24.
• Purkus, A., Gawel, E., Thrän, D. (2017). Addressing Uncertainty in Decarbonisation Policy Mixes – Lessons Learned from German and European Bioenergy Policy. Energy Research & Social Science, 33, 82-94.
• Gawel, E., Bedtke, N. (2016): Große Transformationen aus Sicht der Institutionenökonomik und der Neuen Politischen Ökonomik, in: Held, M. et al. (eds.): Politische Ökonomik großer Transformationen (= Normative und institutionelle Grundfragen der Ökonomik, Jahrbuch 15). Marburg: Metropolis, 287-322.
• Gawel, E., Purkus, A. (2015): Die Rolle von Energie- und Strombesteuerung im Kontext der Energiewende. Zeitschrift für Energiewirtschaft 39 (2), 77-103.
• Rodi, M., Gawel, E., Purkus, A., Seeger, A. (2016): Energiebesteuerung und die Förderziele der Energiewende. Der Beitrag von Energie- und Stromsteuern zur Förderung von erneuerbaren Energien, Energieeffizienz und Klimaschutz. Steuer und Wirtschaft 93 (2), 187-199.
• Gawel, E., Strunz, S., Lehmann, P. (2016): Support Policies for Renewables – Instrument Choice and Instrument Change from a Public Choice Perspective. WIDER Working Paper Series 2016/6, United Nations University, Helsinki.
• Gawel, E., Purkus, A., Bruttel, F. (2016): Auktionen als Förderinstrument für erneuerbare Energien. Erfahrungen mit den Ausschreibungsrunden 2015 nach FFAV und Implikationen für die Weiterentwicklung im EEG 3.0. Zeitschrift für das gesamte Recht der Energiewirtschaft (EnWZ) 5 (4), 153-159.
• Bruttel, F., Purkus, A., Gawel, E. (2016): Auktionen als Förderinstrument für erneuerbare Energien – eine institutionenökonomische Bewertung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Photovoltaik-Freiflächenausschreibungsverordnung. UFZ-Bericht 1/2016. Leipzig: UFZ.

Theory and methodology

Our analyses draw on New Institutional Economics, especially the Theory of Transaction Cost Economics, New Political Economy, the Theory of Institutional Change, the Theory of Agency, the Property Rights Theory and the Economic Analysis of Law. Furthermore we apply theories and methods of environmental and energy economics, regulatory economics, public economics, regional economics and ecological economics. We use both quantitative and qualitative methods in our research. On the quantitative side, we deploy agent-based modelling and econometric analyses. In addition, we adapt partial equilibrium models and non-technical analyses.

Sustainable deployment of renewable energies with multiple environmental impacts − Policy strategies to address ecological trade-offs of the energy transition (MultiplEE)

Electricity grids in a sustainable energy system: an institutional economic investigation of energy grid regulation against the background of energy political goals in Germany (dissertation) (ENERGY-TRANS)

Environmental compatibility of the Energiewende – ecological and social trade-offs of a sustainable transformation of the energy supply systems (dissertation) (University of Leipzig, Institute for Infrastructure and Resources management)

Economic Analysis of Sustainable Spatial Allocations of Energy Systems – A Theoretical Examination and an Agent-Based Model of Renewable Energy Systems (dissertation) (Helmholtz Association)

Ökonomische Analyse der räumlichen Allokation erneuerbarer Energien und komplementärer Infrastrukturen (dissertation) (University of Leipzig, Institute for Infrastructure and Resources management)

Drivers of bioenergy production and their transregional effects (dissertation)

Completed Projects

Kopernikus-Projekte für die Energiewende. Systemintegration und Vernetzung der Energieversorgung − ENavi (BMBF)

Analyse der gesamtökonomischen Effekte von Biogasanlagen − Wirkungsabschätzung des EEG

The Political Economy of Safe-guarding Security-of-supply with High Shares of Renewables. Synthesis of Existing Research and Lessons from the German Case

Helmholtz Alliance: „Future infrastructures for meeting energy demands. Towards sustainability and social compatibility” (ENERGY-TRANS) (Helmholtz Association)

Weiterentwicklung des Energie- und Stromsteuerrechts im Interesse des Ausbaus der erneuerbaren Energien und der weiteren Umsetzung der Energiewende (BMWi)

Stärkung eines nachhaltigen Konsums im Bereich Produktnutzung durch Anpassungen im Zivil- und öffentlichen Recht (UBA)

Concepts and Instruments for a Rational Bioenergy Policy – A New Institutional Economics Approach (dissertation) (Helmholtz Association)

List of publications on energy (258 KB)

Posts on scientific blogs:

List of blog posts on energy economics

Prof. Erik Gawel , Charlotte Geiger, Christian Klassert , Klaas Korte , Dr. Paul Lehmann , Dr. Nele Lienhoop , Jan-Niklas Meier, Felix Reutter , Dr. Sebastian Strunz , Philip Tafarte , Elisabeth Wolfram

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PhD projects

Tabitha hackenberg.

Tabitha is a Research Fellow currently pursuing her doctoral studies as well as a Lecturer at the Department of Energy and Environmental Management (EEM). Her doctoral research focuses on integrating energy system analysis and planning with spatial techniques for modelling sustainable energy systems in the Global South. She lectures on Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for energy modelling and simulation as well as Research Methods with an emphasis on quantitative methods.

Tabitha has a Master of Engineering in Energy and Environmental Management with a specialization in developing countries from Europa-Universität Flensburg, Germany and a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering and Technology from Egerton University, Kenya. Before pursuing her postgraduate studies, Tabitha was a sales engineer and later a project manager in the packaging and bottling machine manufacturing industry working with clients in East and Central Africa.

Mominul Hasan

Mominul Hasan has been a research fellow and PhD student at the Department of Energy and Environmental Management (EEM) of Europa-Universitaet Flensburg since 2018. His PhD research focuses on identifying catalysts for the energy transition in developing countries with a case study on Bangladesh. This research aims to develop an energy system model for maximizing renewable energy share in the country, considering potential opportunities and overcoming challenges at the status quo. Within this framework, Mominul scrutinizes options like electric vehicles, distributed generation, distributed energy storage, such as behind and front of the meter energy storage, digitalization of power systems, such as virtual net-metering and peer-to-peer energy transactions. He is expected to accomplish his PhD degree by 2023. 

Mominul was born and grew up in Bangladesh. His academic background includes a bachelor degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Bangladesh and a master degree in Energy and Environmental Management from EUF.

Mominul has over five years of project development experience in renewable energy, such as grid-connected PV systems, mini-grids, and smart grids. Since 2018, he has been an active academic staff of EEM and offers courses like solar PV systems and project management. He enjoys interacting with international students for expanding his intercultural and interdisciplinary skills.   

Yudha Irmansyah Siregar

Yudha holds a bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia. In 2015, he finished a master programme focusing on energy economics at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany. His master thesis discussed energy scenarios and models for the development of the global energy sector. Yudha worked for more than eight years in the energy sector in Indonesia. After completing his bachelor, he gained professional experience in the energy extraction industry between 2009 and 2013. From 2016 until 2020, he actively involved in promoting clean energy development in Indonesia. Yudha was working for non-profit organisations during the period. Since October 2020, Yudha has joined the Department of Energy and Environmental Management as a PhD student. Energy transition in his home country is the overarching theme of the research project. He combines a number of qualitative and quantitative methods to address the bottlenecks of renewables deployment in Indonesia. His main PhD topics are energy policymaking, energy modelling and renewable energy economics.  

Setu was born in New Delhi, India in 1988, and emigrated with his family to Melbourne, Australia in 1995. After obtaining his Victorian Certificate of Education (University Entrance Diploma), he began a double degree in Mechanical Engineering and Business Management at RMIT University. After completing his studies in 2010, Setu joined the renewable energy industry, gaining experience as an engineer in the onshore and offshore wind energy sector, first in Australia and later in Europe. Setu left his career in the wind industry in 2014 to consult for RVE.SOL, a start-up building solar mini grids in East Africa. This enabled him to gather practical experience in Kenya and investigate first-hand the challenges of financing and planning decentralised energy generation projects in developing countries. From mid-2015 Setu worked at MicroEnergy International in Berlin, focusing on the topic of Energy Poverty and innovative solutions such as Swarm Electrification through the daughter company ME SOLshare in Bangladesh. It was in this interdisciplinary context that Setu developed his research approach, which thanks to the Reiner Lemoine-Stiftung he currently pursues at Europa-Universität Flensburg. His interdisciplinary research project seeks to develop a methodology for the smart measurement of household energy development pathways. This involves adapting and validating methods for continuous energy poverty measurement, modelling and predictive analysis. These methods will leverage Internet of Things sensors and GSM based surveys to provide real-time information that enables insightful analytics. The aim of this research project is improving energy poverty assessment and providing better evidence for energy access policy decision-making on the path toward a global renewable energy transformation.

Le, Quyen Phuong

Phuong Le is Electrical Engineer and holds a Master of Energy and Environmental Management from Europa-Universität Flensburg. He was born in Vietnam and was a Scientific Assistant on Wind Energy Engineering in FH Flensburg and Europa-Universität Flensburg, from 2012 to 2017. Phuong Le is now working in an energy company in Germany. Wind turbulence and economic aspects are always his fascinating objects in his research topics.

Rajarajan Rathinavelu

Rajarajan Rathinavelu, obtained his B.Tech (2007) in Mechanical Engineering from NIT-Jaipur, India, M.Eng (2009) in Technical Management from University of Applied Sciences-Emden, Germany and M.Sc (2012) in Wind Energy Engineering form University of Applied Sciences-Flensburg, Germany.

In 2007, Raj started his professional life as a co-founder of textile start-up, JO FAB, India. Later, he went onto work in renewable energy thematics at organizations such as HiLOG, Germany; Lahmeyer International, Germany; Noridic Folke Center for Renewable Energy, Denmark; FOWIND, India; ITU Diensleistungen, Germany.  

Since 2013 Raj doing his doctoral research on Offshore Wind Farm Planning in India on self financing mode.

Finalized PhD projects

María m. movsessian.

Maria was born in Managua, Nicaragua in 1987. Studied Industrial Engineering at Universidad Centroamericana in her home country between 2005 and 2010. She worked at an affiliate of Exxonmobil from 2008 until 2012 as part of the Maintenance Planning team and as Project Engineer where she developed projects with focus on energy savings and environmental impact. In 2012 she was awarded a scholarship from DAAD and joined the "Energy and Environmental Management with focus on Developing Countries" Master Program in the University of Flensburg, Germany. For her master thesis, she assessed the use of fuels in the Transport Sector in Nicaragua and sought to promote the use of domestically produced biofuels. Through a doctoral scholarship from the Reiner Lemoine-Stiftung, María started in 2014 her doctoral research at the Interdisciplinary institute for Environmental-, Social- and Human in Europa-Universität Flensburg about the self-proposed project " Seeking a more environmentally sound Nicaragua by 2035: promoting Renewable Energies and assessing their contribution towards Sustainable Development in the country".

Paul Bertheau

Paul Bertheau was born in 1986 in Berlin where he grew up. After the acquiring of his Abitur, he completed a voluntary ecological year in a conservation centre in Brandenburg where he developed his interest in environmental topics. He then went on to study his Bachelor in landscaping and conservation as well as undertaking zoological research. The prominence of climate change as a global environmental issue further expanded his interest in broader questions of global responsibility and justice. These were the focus of his master's degree in "Global Change Management" where he was able to acquire specialised knowledge in the field of renewable energy. After studying, he also gained important practical experience in the design and application of renewable energy projects in developing countries.

Since compiling his master thesis (2012), in which he examined the global potential for the hybridization of diesel systems with renewable energy solutions, he has addressed the topics of rural electrification and decentralized energy systems from many angles. While working as a research assistant at the RLI on energy access and electrification strategies, he was also involved in the implementation of various projects. In recent years he was also able to gather regional experience in many countries including those in South-East Asia.

Annika Groth

Annika studied Economics at the Free University in Berlin and the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in Madrid. Previously, she worked as a Research Fellow for the Prognos AG, the European Centre for Economic Research and Strategy Consulting in Basel and for Chile Ambiente, an environmental organization in Santiago de Chile. She also gained professional experience working with BITKOM, the German Federal Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media, GIZ, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, and DIW Berlin, the German Institute for Economic Research. Her main areas of research interests are renewable energy sources, economic development and public sector economics. She works for the EEM Department and is pursuing her PhD on socio-economic effects of mini-grid systems connected to the central grid.

John Kuteesakwe

John Kuteesakwe holds a Master of science in Energy Systems and Management of Europa Universität Flensburg  and a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture of Makerere University, Uganda. He worked for 7 years in Agricultural sector with Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited and with World Vision – an international NGO, hence combining experience of profit and non-profit organization. Having finished his Masters he worked for more than 8 years with GTZ (now GIZ) in the Uganda Energy Department being employed first as a project office, program officer and finally as a project coordinator for the biomass energy component of the Program. Since 2011, he has a part-time lectureship at Europa Universität Flensburg as he pursues his PhD in the Sustainability of Cooking energy in Sub-Saharan Africa – a case study in Uganda.

Agunyo Miria Frances

Miria pursued a Bachelor`s in Engineering Environmental Engineering & Management with a focus on environmental management systems, sanitation and project management at Kyambogo University in Uganda from 2004 to 2008. From 2008 to 2011 she was employed as an operation`s officer at BIMCO Consult Ltd, an environmental firm involved in carrying out impact assessments and audits of various projects within Uganda. During this time she was part of a team carrying out impact assessment and audits for projects involving factory, petroleum station, housing estate establishments, telecommunication/electrical base station installations. Agunyo also lectured environment impact assessment and economics of environment on a part time basis at Kyambogo University from 2010 to2011. From 2012 to 2013 Agunyo pursued a Master`s in Engineering Energy & Environmental management with a focus on developing countries. In her master thesis she compared Bremen Overseas Research & Development Association (BORDA) wastewater treatment systems with a centralised wastewater treatment system in Germany using life cycle assessment. Some of recommendations from her thesis are currently implemented by BORDA for some of their systems. During this time she also completed a 3 months internship at Farmatic Anlagenbau GmbH in Germany, a company leading in industrial scale biogas technology implementation mostly in Europe. She was part of the engineering team were she obtained experience in designing, process engineering and trouble shooting of biogas plants. Since November 2013 Agunyo has been employed as a lecturer at Flensburg University of Applied Science as she pursued her PhD at Europa Universität Flensburg. She was also employed as research assistant for the Interreg IVa Large scale bioenergy Labs project from November 2013 to February 2015 where she focused on post treatment of digestate.

Sebastian Groh

Sebastian holds a Bachelor in Economics from University of Mannheim (Germany) and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain) as well as a Masters in International Economics from the University of Goettingen (Germany), University of Pune (India) and Universidad José Matías Delgado (El Salvador). Sebastian received an executive training on strategic leadership for microfinance from Harvard Business School and is a Stanford Ignite Fellow of 2013 from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Sebastian finalized his PhD on the role of energy in development processes, energy poverty and technical innovations under support of the Hans-Böckler Foundation. He is originally from Germany and resides in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Theoneste Uhorakeye

Theoneste holds a Master of Engineering (MEng.) in Energy and Environmental Management from Europa-Universität Flensburg, Germany and a Bachelor´s Degree in Electrical Power Engineering from the National University of Rwanda. He finalized his PhD research on modelling climate change effects on energy systems in Rwanda. In EEM/SESAM Program, Uhorakeye lectured Grid integration of Renewable Energy and his research interests include energy modelling, energy policy, climate change impacts assessment and GIS.

Peter Heßbrüggen

Peter studied Mechanical Engineering in Kiel and is the founder, owner and managing director of the consulting company evoltas. Since 25 years he is an advisor for strategic change management and process optimization with digital tools. His research is related to the question: How can sustainable innovations be developed effectively? The question contains the objective, namely the generation of sustainable innovations. It is limited to the HOW, that is the method. It asks for a course of action that will help the innovation team to effectively leverage their existing knowledge, motivation and creative talent in designing a sustainable innovation. The adverb "effectively" emphasizes that the development of sustainable innovation is an urgent problem, arising from the current problems and needs of our society. This also implies that sustainable innovation is a driver for the sustainable development of society. As a result, he provides an ontology that can be used to develop a software application for designers, facilitators and assessors of sustainable innovation ideas. Based on the provided database it is possible to assess the sustainable idea  and evaluate the process of designing to identify patterns that make sustainable innovation more effective.

• Semester Overview
• Testimonials and Experience
• Impressum und Datenschutz

Welcome to the Institute for Energy Policy and Energy Economics

shaping the global landscape of energy in the heart of Europe

War in Ukraine

Bewilderment after.

After the attack by Russian troops on Ukraine on the night of 24 February 2022, there is bewilderment at the Institute of Energy Policy and Energy Economics and the University of Leipzig. Our solidarity goes out to the entire Ukrainian population.

THE INSTITUTE AND MEEBA

The secret of our success.

When the institute launched MEEBA together with the University of Leipzig and MGIMO in 2007, the program was a key factor in the academic and entrepreneurial cooperation of European and Russian energy companies.

ECONOMICS & BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

highest quality education with an interdisciplinary approach

current and future challenges of a rapid growing industry

GERMANY & EU

leading industries worldwide & major players in the sector

A few things we’re great at

find out more about our MEEBA-program and become an expert in the field of energy

FLEXIBLE AND SMALL GROUPS

study in a select international group with participants from all over the world: Asia, America, Africa and Europe

acquire a Master of Science from second oldest university in Germany

ENERGY ECONOMICS

gain a deep insight in the energy industry through a split study program: focussing on enery sources as oil and gas as welle as renewables and future technologies

ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE

acquire additional qualifications, such as the official trader certificate of the European Energy Exchange (EEX), and join workshops with companies like PwC, KfW and Gazprom

SKILLS AND SPECIALIZATION

within the Master’s program, students specialize not only in the field of energy economics and business administration but also acquire & put into practice relevant skills in the following fields:

European &

– International Arbitration

Financial Modelling

– Financial Modelling – Corporate Finance

Energy and Commodity Trading

– EEX Trading Training – Energy Management – Commodity Trading

Climate Change & Protection

– EU-Policy

– Business Development – Strategy – Project Lead

Logistics, Storage & Transport

– Maritime Transport

Challenges & Opportunities

– Introduction to IT

Student Testimonials

Don’t take our word for it – here’s what our students say:

Enthusiasm for Europe & Russia, interest in the economic and legal part of the Energy Sector and the ambition to connect with great students and alumni worldwide brought me to this master program.

Lars Krützfeldt

Third Semester,

Already during the Master I had several job offers. After returning from Russia I started as working student at the EEX and today, after finishing my studies, I took the opportunity to engage as business developer and member of the strategy team at the exchange.

Maria Lukovic

Alumna, graduated 2018 Law background

Coming from Engineering, this program offers me the opportunity to get a broad insight into economics, finance and management while staying focussed on international energy issues and technological challenges.

Amjad Kashman

Latest news from our blog.

Find out about past or current business and study trips,

Summer semester 2019 in Moscow

First impressions from our student Lukas Wackwitz in Moscow: The second semester of our German-Russian double degree Master program takes place in the capital of Russia, Moscow, and started on[…]

COP 24 in Katowice

Lara Schech, student of the M.Sc. International Energy Economics and Busness Administration, took part as youth delegate and present with federal environment minister Svenja Schulze during the Talanoa Dialogue for[…]

International Gas Forum in Saint Petersburg 2018

Since 2011 a group of Russian, American and European companies organize the International Saint Petersburg Gas Forum every October, parallel to the influential and even larger Energy Forum in Moscow.[…]

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE PART OF MEEBA

In order to participate in the double degree,

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

In any field with a minimum

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

A minimum of B2 English proficiency

WORKING EXPERIENCE

Substantial postgraduate work experience (minimum 1 year)

The Master program is an intense experience – in order to provide the best education, support and preparation, we do our best to lead you to a successful career in Germany, Europe and worldwide

Prof. Dr. Thomas Bruckner

Chairman of the institute

Prof. Dr. Robert Holländer

Vice-chairman of the institute

Miss Maren Rath

MEEBA coordinator

Students from Germany

Looking back at a long common history, MEEBA was initiated as an opportunity to enable stronger economic & academic ties between Germany & Russia.

from the EU and worldwide

Students from the European Union and all over the world have completed MEEBA: engineers from Jordania, lawyers from Mexico, economists from the Philipines and even IT-students from New Zealand.

Students from Russia

Students from Russia have the opportunity to start the Master’s program either in Germany or in Russia: while in Leipzig you start in English, in Moscow the first semester is in Russian.

Interested?

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us and our coordinator .

Additionally, you are welcome to contact our Alumni via LinkedIn and get in touch with current MEEBA students

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Doctoral degree programs

The University of Stuttgart has graduate schools, PhD research groups, and doctoral degree programs in an interdisciplinary research environment for doctoral researchers from Germany and abroad.

The University of Stuttgart offers multiple structured programs leading to a doctoral degree in a variety of subjects. Please refer to the respective homepages of individual programs to find out how to apply.

Cooperative doctoral degree programs Thanks to the University of Stuttgart’s cooperation with both post-secondary technical schools (universities of applied sciences that lack the right to confer doctorates) and with private sector companies, students in cooperative doctoral degree programs get an excellent scientific education with strong practical relevance. As a student in one of these programs, you will have two supervisors, one from the University and one other from the technical school or business enterprise.

Doctoral Degree Programs

Cooperative doctoral degree programs.

Engineering and Natural Sciences

• German-French doctoral student research group: Analyse intelligenter Systeme unter Berücksichtigung von Mehrfeldkopplungen
• Doctoral student research group: Aerothermodynamic design of a scramjet propulstion system for future space transportation systems
• Graduate School: Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (GSaME)
• Graduate School: Simulation Technology (SimTech)
• Graduiertenkolleg: Intelligent Methods for Test and Reliability (GS-IMTR)
• International doctoral degree studies program: Environment Water (ENWAT)
• Integrated doctoral student program: CRC/TRR Biological Design and Integrative Structures
• Integrated doctoral student program: Interface-Driven Multi-Field Processes in Porous Media (IRTG-IMPM)
• International Research Training Group: Droplet Interaction Technologies (DROPIT)
• Graduate and Research School: Efficient Use of Energy Stuttgart (GREES)
• Research Training Group 2543: Intraoperative Multisensoric Tissue Differentiation in Oncology

Completed projects

• Doctoral student research group: Non-linearities and upscaling in porous media (NUPUS)
• Graduate School  KIC InnoEnergy , a European consortium for promoting sustainable energy supply that has some 160 partners from industry, universities, research facilites and business schools. The University of Stuttgart is one of its founding members.
• Doctoral degree studies research group: HYBRID (University of Stuttgart, Esslingen University, Daimler AG, Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Doctoral degree studies research group: PROMISE 4.0 – Intelligent production systems and methods in the Industry 4.0 context for smaller and mid-size enterprises (University of Stuttgart, Esslingen University, Aalen University, Heilbronn University) (in formation).
• Doctoral degree studies research group: Windy Cities (University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart Technology University, Esslingen University)
• Doctoral degree studies research group: Robert Bosch Center for Power Electronics
• Doctoral degree studies research group: Services Computing (University of Stuttgart, Reutlingen University)
• Doctoral degree studies research group: Soft Tissue Robotics (University of Stuttgart, University of Auckland)  

Media studies

• Doctoral degree studies research group:  Digital Media (University of Stuttgart, University of Tübingen, Stuttgart Media University)

Team of the Graduate Academy GRADUS

Pfaffenwaldring 5c, 70569 stuttgart.

• Further information

Jürgen Hädrich

Managing Director GRADUS

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102 energy PhD positions in Germany

Filtered by, refine your search.

• Scholarship 93
• Research Job 10
• Technical University of Munich 22
• Forschungszentrum Jülich 13
• University of Göttingen • 8
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft 6
• Heidelberg University 4
• University of Münster • 3
• Hannover Medical School • 2
• Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf • 2
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München • 2
• Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics 2
• Aalen University • 1
• Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg • 1
• Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und ‑prüfung 1
• Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg • 1
• Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin • 1
• Dresden University of Technology • 1
• Free University of Berlin 1
• Georg August University of Göttingen 1
• Goethe University Frankfurt • 1
• Heidelberg University 1
• Helmholtz 1
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht 1
• Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr 1
• Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen 1
• Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology • 1
• Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences 1
• Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research • 1
• Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials • 1
• Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry • 1
• Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics • 1
• Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden 1
• Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology • 1
• Max Planck Institutes 1
• Ruhr-Universität Bochum • 1
• University of Bayreuth • 1
• University of Bonn • 1
• University of Cologne • 1
• University of Duisburg-Essen • 1
• University of Kassel • 1
• Computer Science 15
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PhD Position - Resource-integrated Energy Scenarios

Your Job: The energy transition needs new and, in particular, critical materials for energy technologies . This is why possible restrictions on the availability of materials must be considered from

PhD student (f/m/d) Spectral energy budget of the atmosphere

At the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), a part-time position (75%) in the Department “Modelling of Atmospheric Processes” is available as PhD student (f/m/d) “Spectral energy budget

PhD Position - Replacing lost material flows within the energy transition

Your Job: The energy transition not only generates new demand for materials, but also phase out material flows such as gypsum production in coal-fired power plants. These lost material flows must be

PhD Student (m/f/d) Immunology and Cell Biology

We are announcing a part-time position as PhD Student (m/f/d) in the Research group Immunology and Cell Biology Topic: Regulation of the human proteasome network under mitochondrial protein import

Ph.D. student or PostDoc (f/m/d) to study evolutionary aspects of plant cell biology

of Life Sciences of the Technische Universität München in Freising-Weihenstephan. With a focus on cell biology, we study cell polarity and signalling pathways regulated by RhoGTPase signalling in multiple

PhD position | Sustainable Energy Materials | Electrochemistry

PhD position | Sustainable Energy Materials | Electrochemistry 30.06.2023, Wissenschaftliches Personal We test novel catalysts for sustainable energy conversion processes such as polymer electrolyte

PhD Students on development of new synthetic cell composites for Immunotherapy (f/m/d)

on the development of advanced synthetic cell systems for applications at the intersection of cancer immunotherapy and immunoregulatory materials. INM’s research group Immuno-Materials investigates how

International Max Planck Research School for Cell , Developmental and Systems Biology (IMPRS-CellDevoSys)

Integrating Biology , Physics , Chemistry and Computer Science , the International Max Planck Research School for Cell , Developmental, and Systems Biology trains talented young researchers seeking

Ph.D. student or Postdoc position (m/f/d)

Job Code: SD015 Job Offer from August 02, 2024 The Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (MPI CEC) in Mülheim an der Ruhr studies fundamental chemical processes for energy storage in

PhD position- Power system monitoring and quantum communication

Your Job: Maintaining an efficient, sustainable, and stable energy supply requires integrating various technologies, which poses complex challenges for modern energy systems . In particular, given

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Renewable Energy

Geschäftsstelle / OLTECH office

+49 (0)441 798-3648/3649

OLTECH Direktorium / Governing Board

Prof. Dr. Thorsten Dittmar  (Direktor/Director)

Prof. Dr. Mathias Dietz  (Vize-Direktor/Vice-director)

Prof. Dr. Heike Wehrheim  (Vize-Direktorin/Vice-director)  

Geschäftsführung / Managing directors

Dr. Ferdinand Esser

Christine Steinseifer-Jeske  

Administration

Oili Tsakmakis

Keti Antadze-Tamminga

Sophie Barlage (Student assistant)        

Besucheranschrift / Visitor address

Raum W3 1-138

Kontaktmöglichkeiten aktuell / Contact options: per Mail und telefonische Erreichbarkeit Mo-Do 09:00 - 12:00 via e-mail and via phone from Mon-Thur 09:00-12:00

Beratungstermine:  individuell nach Absprache                                                       Individual appointments  on request

Courses and Events

  iCal

Career insights online 13.09.2024

The seminar format "Career Insights Online" aims at introducing different career paths of marine scientists in the widest sense and offers the possibility to get in touch with former members of the Marine Graduate Schools in Oldenburg, Bremen and Bremerhaven. It focusses on career paths outside of academia and will give insights into job fields in, for example, industry, administration, consulting, non-governmental organisations and journalism.

ICYMARE 2024 Bremen

ICYMARE 2024 in Bremen International Conference for YOUNG Marine Researchers 16-20 September 2024 will take place in Bremen from 16th to 20th of September 2024! Everybody is welcome to join the [...]

Good Scientific Practice – Protecting Scientific Integrity

The major objective of the workshop “Good Scientific Practice – Protecting Scientific Integrity” is to know and understand the basic rules and values of the responsible conduct of research in all its stages, according to local, national and international regulations and guidelines. The participants will explore the differences and grey areas between good scientific practice, questionable research practice and scientific misconduct. They will learn how misconduct can be recognized and prevented, and how it should be addressed and dealt with in case it occurs, and what damage it can cause if handled improperly.

OLTECH Career paths in Science, Medicine and Technology 15.10.2024

“Career paths in Science, Medicine and Technology” offers you the chance to meet OLTECH alumni and other role models, to hear from their experiences, and to interact with them. You will learn about a variety of career paths and get insights into different areas of work, in particular jobs outside of academia. Guests: Dr. Andrea Gall, Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz

Workshop: "Night Science and Creativity: Where Do Good Research Questions Come From?"

"Night Science" emphasizes the imaginative and exploratory side of research, where creativity and curiosity drive the formation of new hypotheses and research directions. This workshop aims to equip students with tools and strategies to enhance their creative thinking, helping them develop innovative research questions and approaches within their fields. The detailed workshop schedule is outlined below.

OLTECH - Mentoring programme for young researchers (02/2025 - 11/2025)

Young researchers actively explore their career options, learn career development methods, build a network, and improve their networking strategies. This is made possible through: specific trainings, workshops & lectures. We offer everyone a framework for a fruitful mentoring partnership.

Career insights online 08.11.2024

Scientific writing workshop.

This workshop concentrates on the process of writing an academic manuscript in the natural sciences (biology, medicine, chemistry, physics). Choosing an audience, creating a story, explaining complex data and formulating convincing arguments will be discussed. Additionally, detailed information will be given regarding the content of each manuscript section. Workshop participants will be instructed in the formal and organizational aspects of academic writing and train their competency with exercises.

How to Write an Ethics Proposal

In this course, doctoral candidates and master's students are familiarized with fundamental questions of ethics in the sciences as well as with the content and formal aspects of writing ethics proposals. Participants receive support in writing their own ethics proposal if they wish, both during the semester and in the semester break. Lecturer: Dr. Jale Nur Özyurt Dates: 28.11.2024  from 13-17  and 29.11.2024 from 9-13

with Dr. Michael Gommel, M.A. – Research Integrity Consultant The major objective of the workshop “Good Scientific Practice – Protecting Scientific Integrity” is to know and understand the basic [...]

PhD Programme Renewable Energy

The PhD Programme Renewable Energy aims to provide doctoral students with the opportunity to

• Pursue a doctorate in diverse  research areas
• Participate in an interdisciplinary, structured  PhD Programme
• Research at international partner institutions within the  IPID4all  programme (finished)

PhD Applications

If you want to find a PhD position at the University of Oldenburg please follow the  application guidelines  of the Graduate School 'Science, Medicine and Technology'.

The IPID4all programme is finished. It provided master and doctoral students as well as senior researchers with the opportunity to participate in international research exchanges and conferences.

UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE

Faculty of management, economics and social sciences cologne graduate school in management, economics and social sciences, phd programme in economics.

The Cologne Graduate School (CGS) in Management, Economics, and Social Sciences offers a doctoral (PhD) programme with an integrated M.Sc. Economic Research. It consists of two stages:

• The first stage of the programme is the two-years M.Sc. Economic Research. It prepares students for high-level research in economics. It is fully taught in English.
• In the second stage, PhD students work on research projects for their dissertation and interact with other PhD students and faculty members in workshops, seminars, and summer schools.

The PhD Programme in Economics offers education, funding and supervision for research in all major fields of economics and related fields in management. It is a challenging and rigorous full-time programme in a friendly, supportive environment dedicated to excellence in teaching and research. Taking part in the graduate programme prepares students for academic positions at universities and institutions around the world as well as for top-level positions in internationally-orientated companies.

Applications for the graduated program can be either for the first stage (bachelor students) or for the second stage (master students). We invite applications of outstanding students who are close to finishing a bachelor's or master's degree in economics or a related discipline who count among the top 10% of graduates in their study programme.

Students with a bachelor's degree will enter the integrated graduate programme in the first stage via the M.Sc. Economic Research and can transfer to the second PhD stage after successful graduation of the M.Sc. Economic Research.

Students already holding a research-oriented master degree can directly enter the second stage. Students with a related master's degree without an explicit research focus (e.g. in economics, econometrics, finance, business administration, or math) attend one year of course-work before entering the second stage.

We offer funding and facilities for students at all levels. Specifically, grants are available for accepted students holding a master degree and for highly qualified applicants with a bachelor´s degree. Students who successfully passed the course-work and are admitted to the second stage can receive funding through CGS scholarships, positions financed through the excellence cluster ECONtribute or doctoral positions at the departments and chairs of the Faculty.

These doctoral students are also equipped with a workspace and computer devices at the beginning of second stage. Shared rooms with computer devices are also available for students in the first stage. Student housing is available for national and international bachelor and master students moving to Cologne. For more information regarding housing please consult the webpages of the Kölner Studierendenwerk .

The PhD programme in Economics is part of the Cologne Graduate School in Management, Economics, and Social Sciences (CGS). It closely cooperates with the following research centers at the University of Cologne and Key Research Initiatives of the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences:

Cluster of Excellence “ECONtribute: Markets and Public Policy”: The Cluster brings together outstanding researchers from economics and neighboring disciplines – management, psychology, political science and law – from the Universities of Cologne and Bonn, the Behavior and Inequality Research Institute (briq) and the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, with the goal of establishing a leading international research center on markets & public policy.

Center for Social and Economic Behavior (C-SEB): The Center for Social and Economic Behavior (C-SEB) at the University of Cologne brings together Cologne-based researchers and international colleagues from economics, management science, and psychology who investigate the fundamental principles and behavioral mechanisms that affect social and economic behavior.

Behavioural Management Science (BMS): The WiSo Key Research Initiative Behavioural Management Science (BMS) brings together researchers that apply methods of behavioural economics and applied microeconometrics to advance our understanding of how management practices influence the behaviour of people in organisations and affect organisational performance.

Be part of the Cologne experience!

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Science and research in Germany are characterised by a distinguished infrastructure, a wide variety of disciplines, well-equipped research facilities and competent staff. Germany offers various career opportunities for international PhD students and researchers.

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• Higher Education and Research

Energy studies

German universities are offering around 300 courses in the field or renewable energies.

Environmental engineering, energy economics or renewable energy technology:  anyone interested in studying subjects involving renewable energy at a German university has a broad range of choices. “There are about 300 courses in Germany that qualify their graduates for this growing sector,” says Theo Bühler, a labour market expert from Bonn who specializes in environment and energy. More and more uni­versities are responding to the strong demand from companies in this sector who are looking for qualified personnel. There is a need especially for engineers and technicians, as well as for natural scientists and business specialists. In the last four years the number of courses covering renewable energies has doubled. And the number of courses offered in English with an international appeal has also increased significantly. Whereas there were just seven courses available in this field in 2007, students can now choose between more than 25 options.

An overview of courses with potential and good career prospects in the re­newable energy sector:

European master in renewable energy

University of Kassel / University of Oldenburg

Study in a different European country each semester: that’s the special thing about this master programme in renewable energy. It is offered by a network of nine European universities, including the German universities of Kassel and Oldenburg. To qualify for this postgraduate course lasting three semesters, you need to be a graduate who has studied at least four years in engineering, mathematics or physics. You also need sufficient professional experience in your specialist area and a very good knowledge of English.

www.master.eurec.be/en

Wind engineering

Flensburg University of Applied Sciences / University of Kiel

Become a wind energy specialist: the master programme at Flensburg University of Applied Sciences and the University of Kiel prepares postgraduates for work in the wind energy sector in three semesters. The English-language course covers the fields of mechanics, electro-technology, economics and the environment. Entrance requirements are a first degree in engineering sciences, or several years of work experience, and a good knowledge of English.

www.fh-flensburg.de/fhfl/wind_engineering.html

Geothermal energy systems

Bochum University of Applied Sciences

The main features are geosciences, mechanical engineering, plant construction and electro-technology: the master programme at Bochum University of Applied Sciences lasts for four semesters and provides specialist knowledge in geothermal energy and its applications, and it is integrated in the civil engineering sciences. The course is interesting for civil engineers and geologists, mechanical engineers and chemists. The university cooperates with the Geothermal Center Bochum (GZB).

www.hochschule-bochum.de

Renewable energy

University of Oldenburg

From wind energy to solar technology: the course in Oldenburg is an international postgraduate programme in English extending over 16 months and is designed particularly for students from developing countries. The course combines theory with practice and case studies from the energy sector. Since 1987 more than 300 students from 70 countries have participated in the programme. The requirements are a first degree and work experience in the energy sector.

www.ppre.uni-oldenburg.de

Energy economics

University of Münster / RWTH Aachen

Technology, economics and law: the two-year master’s course in energy economics is based on this interdisciplinary mix. The course offered jointly by the Universities of Münster and Aachen cooperates with companies and organizations in the energy sector and aims to qualify people from the engineering and natural sciences as future employees and managers in the energy market. The course can also be completed in tandem with a career. The entrance requirement is a first degree in economics or a technical subject.

www.rwth-aachen.de

Biobased products and bioenergy

University of Hohenheim

The basics of crop sciences, engineering and economics for the cultivation of renewable resources and energy plants, their processing and conversion into energy: The University of Hohenheim near Stuttgart offers a bachelor course covering this range of subjects which are in high demand in this newly emerging occupational field. A good knowledge of biology, technology, economics, mathematics, physics and chemistry is important when choosing this course of study.

www.uni-hohenheim.de

Environmental planning and ecological engineering

Technical University Munich

The use of natural resources, the treatment of waste materials, the reclamation of contaminated soil and waters: these are major themes concerning students on the master’s course at Munich’s Technical University. The Programme includes not only the basics of engineering and natural sciences, but also agriculture, horticulture, forestry and planning studies. Students should have a bachelor degree when applying for this two-year master’s course.

http://portal.mytum.de

Regenerative energy sytems

Technical University Berlin

Photovoltaics, wind energy and the processing of regenerative resources: these are the main areas in the master’s course which embraces the whole spectrum of energy technologies in four semesters. Individual modules enable students to gain deeper insights into certain subjects. The programme qualifies people for a position in the energy sector, building technology, administrative bodies or scientific institutions. To take part in the course you need a bachelor degree in the area of energy or process technology, or a related field of study.

www.tu-berlin.de

Renewable energy and energy efficiency for the Mena region

University of Kassel / University of Cairo

Practice-oriented training in the fields of environment and energy for specialists from Germany, the Middle East and North Africa: this master’s programme in English is offered jointly by the universities of Kassel and Cairo. In four semesters the course covers not only areas in the natural and engineering sciences; it also enables students to discuss economic, ecological and regulatory policy aspects in the energy sector. Students attend part of the course in Cairo and a second part in Kassel.

www.uni-kassel.de

Water resources engineering and management

(WAREM), University of Stuttgart

Groundwater management and geohydrology, hydraulic engineering, water resources development and water management: this English-language master programme lasts for four semesters and conveys theoretical and practical knowledge in sustainable water management. The University of Stuttgart offers WAREM as a consecutive course which can be combined with the courses in conservation technology or civil engineering. The course also requires a good knowledge of English.

www.warem.uni-stuttgart.de

Further information is available at:

www.jobmotor-erneuerbare.de

www.studium-erneuerbare-energien.de

Related content

• Times Higher Education
• Posted on: 11 September 2024

Phd Position within Optimal Infrastructure Planning for Zero-Emission Offshore Energy Systems

Job information, offer description.

There is a PhD Candidate position available at the  Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management  – section Managerial Economics, Finance and Operation Research. The position is resident at NTNUs campus in Trondheim. This is an educational position, which will provide promising research recruits the opportunity for professional development through studies towards a PhD-degree. The position is connected to the PhD program at the Faculty of Economics and Management and the faculty will be your employer.

Information about the Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management

The department  is organized into six sections:

• Managerial Economics, Finance and Operations Research 
• Health, Safety and Environment Management
• Strategy and Business Development
• Operations Management
• Experts in Teamwork
• Section of Economics and management (Campus Gjøvik)

The PhD position will be part of The LowEmission Research Centre at NTNU and SINTEF. The centre develops new knowledge and technologies for decarbonization of offshore energy systems, energy efficiency and integration with renewable power production technologies for application on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), see:  https://www.sintef.no/en/projects/lowemission-research-centre/ .  

About the position

Offshore energy systems are increasing in complexity, transitioning from fossil production only to incorporating renewable generation, hydrogen production and CO2 capture and storage (CCS) value chains. Through comprehensive energy export infrastructures and grids, these systems are tightly connected to the larger grid, industry and energy sectors. The increased integration and diversification of energy carriers can enable new opportunities for providing decarbonized energy and security-of-supply. However, the optimal planning of such zero-emission offshore energy systems is challenging and subject to uncertainty on multiple scales. Managing the uncertainty in this planning requires solving large and stochastic optimization problems using advanced modeling and computational approaches. 

Relevant topics are models and algorithms to analyze:

• Hydrogen and CCS based offshore energy systems that are designed to ensure zero emissions along the whole value chains, including end use 
• the interaction of the North Sea offshore energy system with the decarbonized EU energy system, focusing on energy security and tightened emission requirements 
• offshore wind developments for combined clean energy supply to the facilities at the NCS and for export to Europe and Scandinavia

Methodologically, the project will be based on large-scale energy system analysis and optimization under uncertainty. This includes techno-economic modelling, stochastic programming and/or energy policy analysis. The project will be a cooperation between NTNU and SINTEF, and the academic and industrial partnership of the LowEmission centre. 

You will report to your supervisor.

Duties of the position

• Execute a PhD project within 3 years (including obtaining own data for research, analysis and dissemination). 
• Plan and execute field work, stakeholder survey or interviews for data collection targeted to address the research objectives. 
• Complete the necessary doctoral coursework as per NTNU’s guidelines.
• Attend project meetings and develop a collaboration network with industrial and academic partners.
• Disseminate research findings through national/international academic conferences and open access scientific journals that meet the requirements for the PhD position.

Qualification requirements

• The PhD-position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is completion of a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in Operations Research  or Optimization, or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of  NTNU’s grading scale . Applicants with no letter grades from previous studies must have an equally good academic foundation. 
• The position requires excellent English oral and writing skills. 

The appointment is to be made in accordance with  Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate  and  Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant 

Preferred selection criteria

• Background and/or experience relevant to the project topic (see the project topic)
• Documented experience with stochastic optimization
• Documented experience with energy system analysis
• Good knowledge of digital tools like Julia, Python, etc. 
• Scandinavian language skills

Personal characteristics

• A high level of personal responsibility and initiative
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team in accordance with the project objectives
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary projects and teams
• Suitable candidates should have good communication skills, be flexible and solution-oriented 

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement.

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and  inclusive work environment  with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the  Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Information about Working and living in Norway can be found at the following link:  http://www.nyinorge.no/en/Ny-i-Norge-velg-sprak/New-in-Norway/

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are paid gross NOK 532.200,- per annum before tax, From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. The period of employment is 3 years.  Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in  Industrial Economics and Technology Management  within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period. 

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning  State Employees and Civil Servants , and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. 

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The position is subject to external funding.

Your work place will be at the Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management ( https://www.ntnu.no/iot ). It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English. Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

The application must include:

• Application letter concerning your motivation for completing a PhD
• A CV with information on education, previous research experience, together with authorized documentation of certificates and study records. 
• Academic work (not master thesis). Joint work will be evaluated. If it is difficult to identify the contributions from individuals in a joint piece of work, applicants should enclose a short descriptive summary of what she/he contributed to the work. 
• Name and address of three references

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found  here . Please note that diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from  China Credentials Verification (CHSI) . If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well. 

We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your efforts in the joint work, you must enclose a short description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to  The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. 

General information

Working at NTNU

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is our strength. We want to recruit people with different competencies, educational backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to solving our social responsibilities within education and research. We will facilitate for our employees’ needs.

The city of Trondheim  is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with  current legislation . You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

Questions about the position can be directed to Professor Asgeir Tomasgard email  [email protected]  or phone + 47 930 58 771.   If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Advisor Hilde Selli Egelie, e-mail:  [email protected] .

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached.  

Application deadline: 06.10.2024

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management

We conduct research and teaching at an international level in the interface between technology/natural sciences and economics, management, and HSE (health, safety and the environment). Our goal is sustainable creation of value within technology-based areas in industry, business and the public sector in Norway. We have academic groups in Trondheim and Gjøvik. The  Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management  is one of four departments in the  Faculty of Economics and Management . 

Deadline  6th October 2024 Employer  NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology Municipality  Trondheim Scope  Fulltime Duration Temporary Place of service  Høgskoleringen 1, 7491 Trondheim

Where to apply

Requirements, additional information, work location(s), share this page.

Part 4. Turkey’s geopolitical role in the Black Sea and European energy security: From pipelines to liquefied natural gas

By Eser Özdil

This chapter is part of a report on the prospects for enhanced cooperation between Turkey and Western countries in the Black Sea region in the new geopolitical setting following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Strategic assessment

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has undergone a profound transformation in its energy policy to reduce dependency on Russian natural gas. In this evolving policy landscape, Turkey has emerged as a key partner, strategically positioned to curb Russian commercial influence in Europe and the Black Sea region while maintaining its balancing act. In this vein, the European Union’s (EU’s) regulatory advancements, exemplified by the REPowerEU plan, the EU Toolbox, and the European Green Deal, have significantly reshaped energy procurement strategies, emphasizing diversification and security. Turkey’s recent natural gas export agreements, primarily those with Moldova, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria, underline its critical role in enhancing European energy resiliency. Moreover, Turkey’s robust liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure and its potential for future projects fortify the energy security of both European nations and Black Sea littoral states. Crucially, Turkey’s nuanced balancing act in its foreign policy, encapsulated in its natural gas policy, deftly integrates price rationality with geopolitical strategy, enabling it to govern complex international dynamics effectively. Turkey’s approach ensures flexibility in energy sourcing, thus reducing dependency on any single supplier while leveraging the country’s geopolitical position to establish a resilient energy policy. This policy is characterized by agility and adaptability, responding swiftly to regional and global natural gas trade, and enabling Turkey to navigate the fast-changing dynamics in natural gas policymaking. Last but not least, even with flexibility tools like LNG terminals and/or underground storage, high-level dependency in imports on a single supplier poses energy security risks. Since securing LNG and pipe gas quickly is not possible, creating a balanced import portfolio secures countries from short-term energy shocks, which may have destructive effects on market participants. As Turkey has also been developing nuclear projects with Russia, a delicate balance in its energy relations should be carefully maintained.

Preinvasion state of natural gas trade between Europe and Russia

Understanding the evolution of the European natural gas strategy provides important context for Turkey’s ongoing ties with EU nations, especially given the direct implications for EU gas supplies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU relied heavily on Russian natural gas, representing 40 percent of imports, 1 “Share of Russian Gas in EU Natural Gas Imports 2021,” Statista, n.d., https://www.statista.com/statistics/1021735/share-russian-gas-imports-eu/ , accessed July 10, 2024. or 150 billion cubic meters (bcm), in 2020.

With a total annual gas demand of approximately 400 bcm, the EU sourced only 10 percent domestically, and supported limited LNG infrastructure, before the war in Ukraine. In 2021, the EU imported 155 bcm of natural gas from Russia, 2 “How Europe Can Cut Natural Gas Imports from Russia Significantly within a Year , ” International Energy Agency , March 3, 2022, https://www.iea.org/news/how-europe-can-cut-natural-gas-imports-from-russia-significantly-within-a-year . with the number dropping to 80 bcm in 2022, 3 “In Focus: EU Energy Security and Gas Supplies , ” European Commission, February 15, 2024, https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/focus-eu-energy-security-and-gas-supplies-2024-02-15_en . and 43 bcm in 2023. As a percentage, the EU’s reliance on Russian gas has decreased from 45 percent of total imports in 2021 to 15 percent in 2023. These radical policy measures, supported by technical and commercial actions, represent the EU’s renewed strategy against reliance on Russian gas.

During this period, the EU initiated a strategic transition from pipeline gas to LNG, 4 “The United States Remained the Largest Liquefied Natural Gas Supplier to Europe in 2023 , ” US Energy Information Administration,February 29, 2024, https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61483 . with US LNG imports accounting for 44 percent in 2022 and 48 percent in 2023. Qatar, Algeria, and Nigeria have also become significant LNG suppliers, contributing 12.1 percent, 9.4 percent, and 5.6 percent, respectively. Despite a total reduction in pipeline gas imports, EU countries still received 17.8 bcm of LNG 5 Samantha Gross and Constanze Stelzenmüller, Europe’s Messy Russian Gas Divorce, Brookings, June 18, 2024, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/europes-messy-russian-gas-divorce/ . from Russia 6 “Where Does the EU’s Gas Come From?” Council of the European Union, March 21, 2024, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/eu-gas-supply/ . in 2023, representing 6.1 percent of total gas demand. In the infrastructural axis, the EU continues to sustain its ambitious investment plans for expanding LNG import capacity.

In line with the ongoing high investments in LNG infrastructure, the EU increased its LNG import capacity by 40 bcm in 2023, with plans to add another 30 bcm by 2024, 7 “Liquefied Natural Gas,” European Commission, January 2024, https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/carbon-management-and-fossil-fuels/liquefied-natural-gas_en . though this infrastructure is still under construction. The share of LNG in the EU’s gas supply rose from 20 percent in 2021 to 41 percent in 2023, reflecting a radical diversification of energy sources in response to the conflict in Ukraine.

Importantly, while the EU continues to purchase Russian LNG via Novatek, the fourteenth sanction package, 8 “EU Reaches Milestone Agreement on Energy Policy , ” European Commission, June 24, 2024, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_3423 . which was established in June 2024, fully prohibits all forms of reexport agreements. This measure will prevent Russian LNG carriers from utilizing the EU’s developed LNG infrastructure in the near future.

Finally, the majority of the EU’s dependence on Russian gas was based on long-term natural gas pipelines. Notably, historical pipeline agreements, such as the Gazprom-Naftogaz deal, allowed Russian gas transit through Ukraine. This $7 billion agreement 9 Simon Pirani, “The Russia-Ukraine Gas Transit Deal: What’s at Stake?” Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, February 2020, https://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-Russia-Ukraine-gas-transit-deal-Insight-64.pdf . aimed to transit 225 bcm from 2020 to 2024. Post-invasion reductions led Naftogaz to seek international arbitration against Gazprom, and the collaboration will no longer exist after 2024.

Other widely discussed and criticized projects within the EU were Germany’s Nord Stream pipelines, which have become inoperable. The Nord Stream 1 pipeline began operations in 2011, and the proposed Nord Stream 2 aimed to double the capacity to 110 bcm per year. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz initially supported Nord Stream 2, like his predecessor, 10 “Germany’s Merkel Defends Decision to Get Russian Natural Gas , ” AP, October 13, 2022, https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-germany-lisbon-2a8722c63c7ba84923c12eb0e1f8d35c . Angela Merkel, despite warnings from the United States, which argued that the project created a power asymmetry in favor of Russia. Despite significant technical discussions on this asymmetry within the transatlantic community, the project was halted only following the invasion. The damage to Nord Stream 2 and the cessation of Nord Stream 1 exposed vulnerabilities in Germany’s gas supply, prompting the EU to rapidly increase investments in LNG infrastructure.

The EU’s legislative actions to diminish reliance on Russian natural gas

In October 2021, the European Commission introduced a comprehensive “toolbox” 11 “A Toolbox for Action and Support , ” European Commission, October 2021. designed to help EU member states address rising energy prices and bolster energy supply security by reducing dependence on Russian natural gas. Key measures included enhancing gas storage efficiency, establishing a collective gas purchasing platform, and reassessing the EU’s electricity market with the support of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).

In April 2022, the EU launched the EU Energy Platform 12 “Briefing: The European Green Deal , ”European Parliament, July 11, 2023, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2023)751411 . to focus on demand aggregation, joint purchasing of non-Russian gas, efficient use of natural gas infrastructure, and extensive international outreach. This platform aims to mitigate intra-EU competition, diversify supply chains, and reduce reliance on Russian energy sources in a coordinated and multilateral manner.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, European nations, particularly Germany, intensified efforts under the REPowerEU plan 13 “REPowerEU: Affordable, Secure and Sustainable Energy for Europe , ” European Commission, May 2022, https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/repowereu-affordable-secure-and-sustainable-energy-europe_en . to reduce dependence on Russian gas. Introduced in May 2022, REPowerEU aims to eliminate reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2027 by emphasizing energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and diversifying natural gas imports. These policy measures include nationalizing Gazprom’s storage facilities to safeguard German national security.

In conjunction with the regulatory restrictions on Russian facilities, the EU updated the Renewable Energy Directive, 14 “Renewable Energy Directive: Targets and Rules,” European Commission, November 2023, https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-directive-targets-and-rules/renewable-energy-directive_en . setting a 45 percent renewable energy target by 2030. The European Commission’s classification of natural gas as “green” 15 “EU Parliament to Vote on Green Gas and Nuclear Rules , ” Reuters , July 6, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/eu-parliament-vote-green-gas-nuclear-rules-2022-07-06/ . facilitated the expansion of LNG import capacity, aligning with REPowerEU’s objectives for non-Russian gas procurement. Clearly, the EU has implemented a comprehensive and systematic policy program that combines the EU Toolbox with the REPowerEU plan.

Evolution of Germany’s natural gas tactics

Reflecting current geopolitical power shifts and energy security concerns within the EU, there exists a concerted multilateral effort and intergovernmental approach to reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian natural gas through a variety of measures. Nevertheless, Germany’s energy policy has notably differed from those of other European nations—reflecting a unique relationship with Russia over time and overlooking the importance of energy diversification in favor of strategic use of materials, primarily pipelines, in its natural gas trade, initially with the USSR and subsequently with the Russian Federation.   By 1981, Germany’s natural gas trade with the USSR had reached 17.2 bcm, 16 John V. Mitchell, A New Era for Oil Prices, Chatham House, 2006. without any substantial local technical improvements. Another critical twenty-five-year contract in 1981 established an annual export of 10.5 bcm. 17 Madalina Sisu Vicari, “How Russian Pipelines Heat Up Tensions: From Reagan’s Battle over Yamal to the European Row on Nord Stream 2 , ” Opinion, Vocal Europe , April 21, 2016, https://www.vocaleurope.eu/how-russian-pipelines-heat-up-tensions-from-reagans-battle-over-yamal-to-the-european-row-on-nord-stream-2/ . After the Berlin Wall fell and Germany reunified, the USSR began supplying about 30 percent of West Germany’s natural gas needs. By 1990, Soviet gas exports to Western Europe had grown drastically to 63 bcm. 18 Jonathan P. Stern, The Future of Russian Gas and Gazprom, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, 2005.

During this period, Germany faced two significant political-economic challenges in its dealings with Russia. First, the USSR engaged in barter trade, exchanging natural gas for steel pipes, pipe-laying equipment, and other related infrastructure materials with Germany via its companies. Second, Germany leveraged its robust domestic iron and steel sectors to secure cheap Russian natural gas, which it then sold to its European allies.

This approach greatly expanded Germany’s economic reach and indirectly subsidized gas prices for other European countries by maintaining dependence on Russia as the primary natural gas source. A similar mindset prevailed in many Germany-Russia natural gas projects—until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which prompted a significant shift.

End of an era: Russia’s 2022 invasion cuts historic gas bonds with Germany

Germany’s reliance on Russian natural gas, a legacy of the USSR-era pipe-for-gas agreements, 19 Arthur Sullivan, “Russian Gas in Germany: A Complicated 50-Year Relationship , ” Deutsche Welle , September 3, 2022, https://www.dw.com/en/russian-gas-in-germany-a-complicated-50-year-relationship/a-61057166 . conflicts with the essential principle of energy diversification. It is best exemplified by its pre-invasion support for Nord Stream 1 and 2, which represented a total capacity of 110 bcm yearly and would have made Germany unilaterally dependent on Russian gas as a single source, without alternative investments such as LNG infrastructure and gas storage. Germany’s reassessment led to the implementation of the EU Toolbox and REPowerEU, which are aligned with the Green Deal’s targets and green economic model.

In reaction to escalating energy security concerns, Germany has accelerated its diversification efforts by investing in LNG infrastructure, notably acquiring four floating LNG storage and liquefaction facilities. In aggregate, Europe’s LNG investment is poised for considerable expansion. Currently, there are thirty-seven operational import terminals: 20 “European LNG Tracker,” Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, February 2024, https://ieefa.org/european-lng-tracker . eight newly commissioned, four expanded in 2022 and 2023, thirteen new terminal projects under construction, and four existing facilities with planned expansions.

Turkey and Germany: Contrasting approaches to natural gas

Within the transatlantic community, Turkey, much like Germany, has faced criticism for its reliance on Russia. Nonetheless, Turkey and Germany, as NATO allies, exhibit starkly divergent strategies in their approaches to natural gas procurement and energy security. Reflecting Turkey’s balancing act in its natural gas policy, Ankara has historically pursued a multidimensional foreign policy that is sensitive to price fluctuations and geopolitical shifts from the Black Sea to Europe.

This approach began in earnest in 1986 under then-President Turgut Özal, whose neoliberal vision led to market-driven strategies that reshaped Turkey’s natural gas trade mindset. A decisive point was reached in 1987, when the state-owned BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Corporation initiated its first gas imports 21 “Turkey Natural Gas Market,”Gazi ve İklimlendirme Birliği, n.d., https://gazbir.org.tr/en/turkey-natural-gas-market/167 , accessed July 10, 2024. from the USSR, marking the start of Turkey’s strategy to procure natural gas internationally. This was followed in 1988 by the beginning of LNG purchases from Algeria, 22 “Algeria Signs LNG Agreements with Turkey and Greece,” Middle East Economic Survey (archive),February 8, 1988, http://archives.mees.com/issues/1216/articles/42788 . diversifying further in 1995 with a long-term LNG contract with Nigeria at Marmara Ereğlisi, Turkey’s first LNG terminal. 23 “Natural Gas in Our Country , ” Avrasya Gaz, n.d., https://avrasyagaz.com.tr/en/natural-gas/ , accessed July 10, 2024. The deal with Nigeria is widely believed to have been insurance in case of Russian gas cuts.

Turkey’s natural gas procurement history contrasts strongly with Germany’s energy policy, which has been centered on Russian natural gas and offered limited alternatives like LNG infrastructure. Germany’s dependence was highlighted during Russia’s irredentist moves in Georgia in 2008 and Crimea in 2014, and lastly, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, delineating the vulnerabilities inherent in this reliance. Germany’s turning point came quite late, in 2022, when it implemented the EU Toolbox, REPowerEU, and the Green Deal to diversify its energy sources and develop LNG capabilities.

Amid the varied landscape of energy strategies, it is essential to underscore that Turkey distinctly avoided the trade of strategic equipment, such as Germany’s pipe-for-gas strategy, which set the stage for advancing Russian influence in Europe through its pipelines and storage facilities. For more than fifty years, Turkey’s multidimensional approach has been a cornerstone of state policy, beginning with engagement with international markets in the 1980s. This strategy effectively melds considerations of price rationality and ongoing geopolitical risk assessment, integrating them in the foreign-policymaking process through a meticulously managed balancing act. (See Part 1 for more on diplomacy and dialogue.)

In line with this balancing act, Turkey expanded its LNG import capabilities and infrastructure, demonstrating a proactive and versatile approach that has been adaptable to price volatility since the first day of its natural gas procurement. This multidimensional strategy has always ensured flexibility and security in its energy supply and underlined Turkey’s aim of diversifying its energy sources without becoming dependent on fixed infrastructural ties, the dangers of which can be seen in Germany’s delayed response to diversifying away from Russian natural gas infrastructure.

Turkey’s policy and interests in the Black Sea region

From the 1980s to the 2020s, Turkey’s natural gas policy has consistently involved incorporating delicate balancing acts into its contracts with other nations. Between 2010 and 2023, under the leadership of Hakan Fidan at the National Intelligence Organization (Milli Istihbarat Teşkilatı; MIT), Turkey demonstrably enhanced the technical capabilities 24 Ali Burak Darıcılı, “The Operational Capacity of Turkish Intelligence within the Scope of Use of High Technology Products , ” Insight Turkey 24, no. 3(2022), https://www.insightturkey.com/articles/the-operational-capacity-of-turkish-intelligence-within-the-scope-of-use-of-high-technology-products . of its foreign operations within the security sector, making the security bureaucracy one of the key decision-makers of foreign policy. In June 2023, Fidan was named minister of foreign affairs.

Fidan’s vision for Turkish foreign policy is informed by the concept of complex adaptive systems, leading him to move away from traditional definitions 25 Hakan Fidan, “Turkish Foreign Policy at the Turn of the Century of Türkiye: Challenges, Vision, Objectives, and Transformation,” Insight Turkey 25, no. 3 (2023), https://www.insightturkey.com/commentaries/turkish-foreign-at-the-turn-of-the-century-of-turkiye-challenges-vision-objectives-and-transformation . of international systems, whether unipolar, bipolar, or multipolar. He views the international system’s complexity as a call for agile policymaking, a strategy that echoes Özal’s nuanced approach. Notably, Özal advanced Turkey’s strategic interests by securing pipeline gas agreements with the USSR while diversifying energy sources (e.g., LNG imports, Marmara Ereğli terminal). Fidan, too, combines in-depth geopolitical analysis with a systematic decision-making process, skillfully addressing both economic and security challenges.

Prompted by geopolitical tensions originating in Syria after Turkey downed an SU-24 type Russian jet in 2015, 26 “Syria: The Story of the Conflict,” BBC News,December 1, 2015, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34912581 . a critical reassessment of the nation’s substantial reliance on Russian gas, which had previously constituted over 50 percent of its total gas imports, became a focal point of Turkish foreign policy.

This strategic reconsideration sparked a vigorous public and governmental debate, which in turn accelerated significant investments in Turkey’s LNG import infrastructure. In this vein, the transmission capacity of Turkey’s natural gas networks has expanded, with current daily gas entry capacity exceeding four hundred thousand cubic meters (mcm) daily. Turkey is actively working to increase its natural gas storage capacity to at least 20 percent of its annual consumption.

Significant steps in this direction include the deployment of three floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) and upgrades to the total capacities at LNG terminals, now totaling approximately 156 mcm per day. These developments are also in line with the goals set forth by Turkey’s Ministry of Energy, led by Alparslan Bayraktar , following the election last year, 27 Alparslan Bayraktar, “Energy Transition in Turkey,” Turkish Policy Quarterly , November 27, 2018, http://turkishpolicy.com/article/929/energy-transition-in-turkey . to further secure the nation’s energy supply and diversify its sources, ultimately aiming to elevate total capacity to over 500 mcm per day from 2023 onwards. 28 “Energy Transition in Turkey: Alparslan Bayraktar,” World Energy Council, n.d., https://www.worldenergy.org.tr/energy-transition-in-turkey-alparslan-bayraktar/ , accessed September, 2024 Year.

Since 2015, Turkey has decisively shifted away from an overdependence on Russian gas. Nonetheless, the implications of Turkey’s balancing act in natural gas contracts may vary in response to price fluctuations and geopolitical assessments, as can be observed in the comparative supply strategies between 2020-21 and 2021-23.

Rising through the ranks of LNG importers in Europe (2020-21)

Turkey’s development of its LNG infrastructure facilitates the implementation of its balancing act in natural gas contracts, enabling it to sign LNG contracts along with pipelines. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2021, Turkey’s approach to securing its natural gas needs via LNG contracts was notably a consequence of its traditional policy of price rationality. In accordance with that policy, Turkey positioned itself as the fourth-largest LNG importer in Europe with an increase of 1.3 million metric tons in 2020. 29 Anadolu Agency, “Turkey Ranks 3rd Worldwide with LNG Import Rises in 2020,” Hürriyet Daily News, May 1, 2021, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-ranks-3rd-worldwide-with-lng-import-rises-in-2020-164377 .

This positioning entailed a shift toward spot market purchases rather than long-term commitments, as global gas prices plummeted due to decreased demand on production cycles. During that time of pandemic lockdowns, Turkey capitalized on these lower prices to enhance its energy security without binding itself to long-term agreements. The flexibility of relying on spot market LNG allowed Turkey to manage its energy costs effectively during a period of high economic and global uncertainty.

Adapting to market shifts brought piped gas to the fore (2021-23)

From 2021 to 2023, Turkey shifted its natural gas procurement strategy, increasingly favoring contracts through pipelines with suppliers like Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan. In 2022, the total volume of natural gas imports to Turkey reached 54.66 bcm, with a substantial 72.25 percent being transported via pipelines. 30 “Turkey: Oil and Gas Equipment: LNG and LNG Terminals, Upstream and Downstream,” International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce, January 6, 2024, https://www.trade.gov/knowledge-product/turkey-oil-and-gas-equipment-lng-and-lng-terminals-upstream-downstream . This reflects a strong preference for pipeline-based deliveries over LNG, which accounted for only 27.75 percent of imported natural gas.

By 2023, this preference was evident as Russia became Turkey’s predominant energy supplier, providing 59.14 percent 31 “Russia Starts Gas Supplies to Uzbekistan-Gazprom,” TASS, January 6, 2023, https://tass.com/economy/1729479 . of its energy imports by October, according to data from the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (Enerji Piyasası Düzenleme Kurumu; EPDK). The shift in a very short period from LNG to pipeline contracts was a clear demonstration of Turkey’s balancing act in a multidimensional era, addressing the complexity of economic and security challenges. It also showcased Turkey’s agile approach to the consistently changing international system. This shift was driven by a combination of factors, including energy market price stabilization, increased demand in the LNG sector, and a gradual increase in natural gas prices.

Examining the nuances of Turkey’s current energy policy

To fully understand the implications of Turkey’s balancing act in natural gas procurement, it is essential to examine the broader context and current dynamics of the Turkish natural gas and energy market. Turkey’s energy policy has undergone a significant evolution across two distinct phases, as defined by Bayraktar, 32 Bayraktar, “Energy Transition.” each designed to effectively respond to both global shifts and domestic needs.

Energy transition 1.0: Liberalization and privatization (2002-17)

The initial phase began with the ascent of the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi) to power in 2002, focusing on liberalizing and privatizing the energy sector. This era ushered in over $60 billion in investments, dismantled monopolistic structures, and cultivated a more transparent and competitive market, thereby enhancing innovation and efficiency.

Energy transition 2.0: Localization, improvement, market predictability (2017-23)

This second phase prioritized enhancing the security of supply, localization, and market predictability. During this period, Turkey significantly expanded its LNG capabilities, incorporated new infrastructure such as FSRUs, and made a major natural gas discovery in the Sakarya gas field, all of which substantially strengthened domestic resources and supply security. Despite these advancements, challenges persisted, notably the continued dominance of state-owned BOTAS in the natural gas sector, which impacted market liquidity and predictability.

Energy transition 3.0: Decarbonization, decentralization, digitalization, and diversity (2023-35)

Currently, under the continual impacts of global regulations on energy markets, some industry experts, including myself, argue 33 Eser Özdil, How GCC and Turkey Can Go Together toward a Sustainable Future , Atlantic Council, December 8, 2024, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/how-gcc-and-turkey-can-go-together-toward-a-sustainable-future/ . that Turkey is in the midst of a third phase, dubbed the smart energy transition, which emphasizes decarbonization, decentralization, digitalization, and diversity (the 4Ds).

This phase aims to ensure secure energy supplies, diversify the energy mix, and position Turkey as a central energy hub between Asia and Europe. A significant objective within this framework is the development of green and blue hydrogen technologies, with a target of achieving five gigawatts (GW) of electrolyzer capacity by 2035, highlighting Turkey’s commitment to renewable and sustainable energy solutions.

Understanding the nuances of each transition era in Turkey’s energy policy is crucial to grasping the strategic shifts made as part of its balancing act and how they have shaped its current energy landscape. As Turkey continues to evolve its energy strategy, appreciating these nuances will be key to achieving a resilient and diversified energy future.

Potential areas of Turkish-European cooperation

Turkey and the EU are on the cusp of developing a deeply interconnected partnership, centered around natural gas and renewable energy sources, and set against a backdrop of shifting regional powers in the international arena. Despite the negative political climate 34 “Parliament Wants to Suspend EU Accession Negotiations with Turkey,” Press Release, European Parliament, March 13, 2019, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190307IPR30746/parliament-wants-to-suspend-eu-accession-negotiations-with-turkey . that has persisted between the EU and Turkey for almost ten years, their commercial relations continue to strengthen, exemplifying a new model of bilateral governance marked by transactionalism.

Within this governance framework, Turkey’s strategic position as a NATO member enhances its role as a critical energy conduit between East and West, providing a unique opportunity to develop energy cooperation that could significantly impact energy security and economic interdependence throughout Europe.

Meanwhile, as Russia redirects its natural gas exports to new markets like China, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, in response to strained relations with European nations, Turkey continues to maintain strong natural gas trade links with both Russia and the EU.

Despite Russia’s attempts to overtake Turkey’s cultural and political ties with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to establish alternative gas routes, the robustness of Turkey’s trade relationships emphasizes its key role in the global energy market.

In this geopolitical setting, this intricate chessboard showcases Turkey’s balancing act, as it incrementally challenges Russian market dominance in Europe by negotiating lower gas prices, while serving as a crucial conduit for transporting piped gas through both the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which are carrying only Azerbaijani gas being produced in Shah Deniz field and non-Russian LNG to Europe through non-Russian agreements.

At this juncture, Turkey’s delicate balance between these dynamics not only demonstrates its capacity for multidimensional governance, but also has the potential to diminish Russia’s influence in global markets over the long term as a unique member of the Alliance.

Integrating Black Sea and European energy security: Turkey’s strategic influence

Turkey’s energy policy, including leveraging natural gas and renewables, holds strategic importance. Establishing a Turkey-EU natural gas trade axis could diminish Russian influence/control 35 The Kremlin Playbook: Understanding Russian Influence in Central and Eastern Europe , Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2016, https://www.csis.org/events/kremlin-playbook-understanding-russian-influence-central-and-eastern-europe . over Eastern and Central Europe while improving and formalizing relations with the EU, potentially opening doors to cooperative ventures in renewable energy. At this point, opening an energy chapter for official negotiations on EU accession will help both sides further harmonize energy regulatory frameworks as well as energy policies. Focusing on enhancing stability in the broader Black Sea region through natural gas, Turkey (via BOTAS) has secured significant natural gas export agreements since 2022 with several Eastern and Central European countries including Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and potentially Greece through the Bulgarian agreement.   Building on this strategy, BOTAS aimed to secure new natural gas export agreements by leveraging its infrastructure investments, advanced transmission system, geographical location, and robust infrastructure to meet the natural gas demand of Eastern and Central Europe. As part of this strategy, BOTAS and Moldova’s East Gas Energy Trading agreed to export two million cubic meters 36 “Turkey’s BOTAS to Begin Supplying Moldova with Natural Gas from October,” Reuters , September 28, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL8N3B454J/ . of natural gas daily to Moldova starting in September 2023. This translates to approximately 0.73 bcm annually, or about 25 percent of Moldova’s annual natural gas 37 Arnold C. Dupuy, “A New Black Sea Natural Gas Project Could Be a Game Changer for the Region—and a Challenge for Putin,” TURKEYSource , Atlantic Council, July 26, 2023, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/turkeysource/a-new-black-sea-natural-gas-project-could-be-a-game-changer-for-the-region-and-a-challenge-for-putin/ . consumption.   Similarly, Turkey’s strategy to secure Central European energy and increase Romania’s energy resiliency against Russian influence resulted in another export deal with Romania in October 2023. This agreement permits the supply of up to four million cubic meters 38 “Türkiye Signs Deal for Natural Gas Exports to Romania , ” Anadolu Agency, September 27, 2023, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/turkiye-signs-deal-for-natural-gas-exports-to-romania/3001779 . of natural gas per day, and will expire in March 2025. Under this deal, Turkey contributes approximately 1.46 bcm annually to Romania, constituting about 12 percent of Romania’s annual natural gas consumption.   On the other hand, BOTAS and Hungarian state-owned energy company MVM signed 39 “Cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan,” BOTAS, December 19, 2024, https://www.botas.gov.tr/Icerik/cooperation-between-turkiye-an/880 . another crucial natural gas export deal in August 2023, marking Turkey’s first nonbordering recipient of natural gas exports. Even though portions are small, it is a remarkable event in terms of Hungary’s efforts to diversify gas import sources.

The most significant agreement to boost Turkey’s commercial influence in the Black Sea regional energy markets is with Bulgaria. In January 2023, Turkey and Bulgaria, via Bulgargaz, sealed a comprehensive thirteen-year agreement enabling the annual transmission of up to 1.5 bcm. 40 “First Gas Delivery from Türkiye to Bulgaria Starts,” BOTAS, April 13, 2023, https://www.botas.gov.tr/Icerik/first-gas-delivery-from-turkiy/775 . This deal, which supplied approximately 50 percent of Bulgaria’s natural gas consumption 41 Dupuy, “A New Black Sea Natural Gas Project.” in 2023, also grants Bulgargaz access to this capacity at Turkish LNG terminals, notably the new FSRU Saros terminal, with the gas transported through Turkey’s network to the Turkish-Bulgarian border.

Turkey’s economic collaborations with European countries, particularly the littoral nations of the Black Sea like Bulgaria and Romania, underline the establishment of a strategic cooperation to curb Russian commercial influence. This cooperation model could even pave the way for the reactivation of the Trans-Balkan Pipeline (TBP) with a reverse gas flow, further entrenching the alliance in a complex interdependent manner.

In this context, as a policy option, the reverse flow of the TBP—which would allow gas to move from the south to the north, bypassing Russia—could be utilized to strengthen cooperation through pipelines. This would require technical modifications, such as installing bidirectional compressors, an area where Turkey has the necessary expertise and infrastructure knowledge. This policy option would reduce the geopolitical leverage of a single supplier, like Russia, over transit countries. For instance, Turkey could leverage this capability to act as a gas hub, redistributing gas from its LNG terminals or Azerbaijani and/or Turkmen supplies to Europe, further enhancing the region’s energy flexibility and security.

Turkey’s LNG terminals, including the Etki FSRU (28 mcm/day), Marmara Ereğlisi LNG terminal (35 mcm/day), Egegaz LNG terminal (40 mcm/day), Dörtyol FSRU (28 mcm/day), and Saros FSRU (25 mcm/day), collectively contribute to a capacity of 156 mcm/day. 42 Eser Özdil, “To Realize Its Gas Hub Dreams, Turkey Needs to Follow Liberal Market Principles,” TURKEYSource , Atlantic Council, December 20, 2022, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/turkeysource/to-realize-its-gas-hub-dreams-turkey-needs-to-follow-liberal-market-principles/ . This extensive capacity, coupled with Turkey’s idle capacity of approximately 15 bcm, positions it to supply LNG to Slovenia, Hungary, and Bosnia and Herzegovina effectively. This is a window of opportunity for Turkey’s advanced LNG infrastructure to play a crucial role.

Conclusion and energy policy recommendations

Turkey plays—and will continue to play—a crucial role in supporting the energy security of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European countries. This strategic contribution not only enhances these countries’ energy resiliency against Russia’s commercial influence, but also strengthens a more stable Black Sea region as Turkey, the transit country, emerges as NATO’s second-largest army. Turkey’s recent gas export agreements with Moldova, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria underline its commitment and capacity to act as a key energy supplier and gas hub in the region.

Recommendations

• Increase the capacity of TAP/TANAP: Turkey’s transportation of non-Russian gas contracts to Europe aligns with Europe’s 2027 targets. To support this alignment, efforts should be made to increase the pipeline capacity of TANAP and TAP. This involves raising the current capacity from 16 bcm to 31 bcm to facilitate the transportation of non-Russian gas to Europe via Turkey, thereby enhancing the continent’s energy security and reducing reliance on Russian gas.
• Expand Black Sea energy cooperation: Turkey could further broaden its natural gas export agreements and strategic partnerships with Eastern and Central European countries in the Black Sea region, thereby diminishing Russian influence and solidifying its role as an energy hub in the European energy markets.
• Maximize production from the Sakarya gas field: Turkey’s first deepwater gas field discovery is expected to significantly increase its production capacity from 3.5 bcm to 14 bcm in its second phase. This field should be developed as a key resource for supplying natural gas to Eastern and Central European countries, contributing to regional energy diversification and security.
• Enable renewal of the Turkey-Greece interconnector: In 2023, Greece’s total natural gas consumption was 6.38 bcm. The Turkey-Greece interconnector, which transported 0.75 bcm, accounted for approximately 11.75 percent of Greece’s total consumption. To ensure continued support and normalization of energy relations, the Turkey-Greece interconnector agreement should be renewed.
• Enable reverse flow of Trans-Balkan Pipeline for regional security: Prioritize completing the technical modifications of this pipeline to enable reverse flow capabilities, facilitating the transport of natural gas from the south to the north and enhancing regional energy security.
• Secure Central Europe via Turkish LNG: Given Turkey’s advanced LNG infrastructure and significant idle capacity, there is an opportunity to enhance energy supply diversification for Central European countries such as Slovenia, Hungary, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Integrate small modular reactors to diversify Turkey’s nuclear energy security supply: To ensure energy security and reduce dependency on Russian nuclear power, Turkey should urgently prioritize integrating small modular reactors into its nuclear energy supplies, targeting an additional minimum 5 GW capacity.
• Enhance investments in renewable energy in alignment with the EU’s Green Deal: Joint ventures between Turkey and the EU in renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, and green hydrogen, will diversify both regions’ energy mixes and significantly reduce carbon emissions. This strategy aligns with the EU’s Green Deal, which aims to achieve at least 45 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2030, while reducing dependence on Russian gas.
• Use Turkey’s strategic position to create new natural gas commercialization routes: To enhance regional energy security and support the EU’s REPowerEU plan, Turkey should capitalize on its geopolitical position by developing and commercializing natural gas routes from Turkmenistan, northern Iraq, and the eastern Mediterranean. This diversification would reduce dependence on Russian gas, for both Turkey and Europe, and foster both regional stability and economic integration.
• Strengthen collaboration between Turkey’s EPDK and the EU’s ACER: To enhance regulatory frameworks and operational efficiency in energy markets, EPDK and ACER should bolster their ongoing cooperation by focusing on joint technical workshops, personnel exchange programs, collaborative research projects, and capacity-building initiatives, thereby supporting energy market integration, security, and the adoption of renewable technologies in alignment with the EU’s Green Deal and Turkey’s energy transition goals.

Continue on to the next chapter of the report: “Main takeaways and policy recommendations.”

About the author

Eser Özdil today bases his expertise on one and half decades of business experience. As part of his professional portfolio, Mr. Özdil is responsible of management GLOCAL Consulting, Investment & Trade, where he is competently advising top energy companies on public policy, government relations and commercial diplomacy, commercial due diligence, strategy and business development, mergers & acquisitions,  investment and trade. Between 2012 and 2020, Mr. Özdil worked as Secretary General at Petroleum and Natural Gas Platform Association (PETFORM) based in Ankara, Turkey. Prior to PETFORM, he worked at various regional associations and think-tanks. Prior to PETFORM, he worked at various regional associations and think-tanks. Mr. Özdil participated in various official meetings of international organizations, namely Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), European Union, World Bank, OECD, IEA, EFET, and IGU. Özdil recently joined IVLP (International Visitor Leadership Program), the global public diplomacy program run by the U.S. Department of State. He is also a member of the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Network and Non-Resident Fellow of Atlantic Council.

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Further reading.

Report Sep 13, 2024

Part 1. Political and diplomatic dialogue: Challenges and opportunities for Black Sea cooperation between Turkey and the West in the post-2022 environment

By Maryna Vorotnyuk

Turkey and the West should explore avenues of cooperation and fostering a more cooperative engagement culture.

Part 2. Maritime security: Redefining regional order in a new security environment

By Serhat Güvenç

A redefinition of the EU-Turkey relations will result with a lasting maritime security arrangement in the Black Sea.

Part 3. Defense cooperation: Turkey’s triangular balancing in the Black Sea region

By Rich Outzen

For stability in the Black Sea region, the West should seek to converge with its most potent regional ally, Turkey.

The Atlantic Council in Turkey , which is in charge of the Turkey program, aims to promote and strengthen transatlantic engagement with the region by providing a high-level forum and pursuing programming to address the most important issues on energy, economics, security, and defense.

Image: Saipem's pipelay vessel Castorone sails in the Bosphorus on its way to the Black Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey July 5, 2022. REUTERS/Yoruk Isik

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