This project consisted of two parts. One part, supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, developed robust scenarios for a fully decarbonised power system in the Western Balkans that is feasible in terms of costs and ensures reliable electricity supply. The second part, supported by the European Climate Foundation aimed to support a broader fact-based dialogue on the energy planning and policy environment of the energy transition in the Western Balkans with respect to achieving carbon neutrality in the power sector and create a space for making inclusive alliances comprised of local, national, and regional authorities. The work adds to the EU’s “Green Agenda for the Western Balkans“ by informing the debate on two key aspects of the process:

• i) financing the coal-to-clean transition and
• ii) the technical feasibility of an accelerated coal phase-out while being mindful of the risk of stranded assets from countries building additional gas infrastructure that risks another fossil-fuel lock-in.