Responsible Energy Team

what we do

We drive the transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system by championing renewables and fostering local energy solutions.
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We are dedicated to decentralising energy systems, empowering communities with sustainable energy. We lead legal battles and advocacy campaigns with strategic importance, vigorously promoting an energy system that is sustainable, resilient and benefits the society as a whole.

We have been advocating for the decentralization and decarbonization of the energy sector since 2010, altering the strategy and focus of our activities through time. Initially, we targeted the entire CEE region, where energy players were heavily intertwined with public institutions and significantly influenced conditions for all others in the EU.

Currently, we drive systemic transformation of the energy system focusing on renewables, decentralization and community energy. We combine legal expertise with insights into the electricity market design to come up with solutions for a net-zero economy - bridging the gap between EU, national and local policies.

The story of the team

Shortly after our foundation in 2010, we brought The Federated States of Micronesia into a groundbreaking transboundary legal proceedings - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Prunéřov II coal-fired power plant in the Czech Republic, citing concerns over climate change. We provided legal support throughout the landmark proceedings.

From 2011 to 2019, our efforts in Gubin in Poland led to the abandonment of large coal mining projects, showcasing impactful environmental advocacy and legal successes.

When new EU emission standards were introduced in 2017, we launched a full-scale legal battle to force Czech and Polish coal power plants to comply. Our efforts prevented a staggering 1500 kg of mercury pollution and secured crucial phase-out commitments. Building on this success, we brought our hard-won experience to the European Commission, shaping the revised Industrial Emissions Directive.

Our long term activities in Turów coal mine case lead to the CJEU supporting the Czech Republic's application concerning the imminent threat posed by the Turow to the local communities and their drinking water sources.

We lent our legal expertise to a Climate litigation that in 2022 succeeded in the municipal court in Prague. The court affirmed that the state should take the necessary measures to slow down climate change.

Over time, we are increasingly focusing on creating opportunities for the development of renewable energy sources and introducing solutions in the energy sector that have a positive impact on society as a whole. These activities lead to the establishment of the Community Energy Union (UKEN) in 2022. In 2023 our advocacy activities lead to adoption of a new energy law that allows electricity sharing in the Czech Republic. Currently, we focus on refining the regulatory framework for community energy and decentralization.

"We used to primarily focus on fighting coal power plants, and in several pivotal legal cases, we were successful and set important precedents. Now we concentrate on proactively bringing solutions for a clean and resilient future, such as advocating for rules for functional community energy."

Eliška Beranová, Lawyer from Responsible Energy Team and head of the UKEN legislative working group

Brussels office

Rue d’Edimbourg 26
1050 Brussels – Belgium

Head office

Údolní 33, 602 00 Brno
Czech Republic

Responsible Energy Team

The story of the team

Meet the team

Laura Otýpková

Eliška Beranová

Anna Michalčáková

David Blažek

Jan Bakule

Laura Otýpková

Eliška Beranová

Brussels office

Head office

What we do

Frank Bold

Transparency

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