We advocate for laws that support smart electricity market design, development of renewable resources and energy communities. We offer expert legal guidance to key decision-makers, ensuring impactful policies are not only crafted but fully implemented. Our commitment goes beyond legislation—we drive the swift deployment of renewables and accelerate the transition to a thriving, net-zero economy.
We view community energy as a powerful tool for citizens to take control, protect themselves from the energy crisis, and build lasting resilience. That's why we've developed an expert publication for national legislators, offering a comparative analysis of community energy legislation across seven EU countries.
As a founding member and coordinator of the Community Energy Union (UKEN), we play a pivotal role in fostering such partnerships.
We foster knowledge exchange and gather practical insights to address systemic challenges. By leveraging real-world experiences from diverse stakeholders—ranging from developers to municipalities—we scale up decentralized energy projects and enhance the regulatory landscape for a sustainable energy system.
Within its first year of operation, UKEN proudly joined REScoop.eu, the leading European network for renewable energy cooperatives.
As we strive for systemic change, we tackle EU policy challenges, targeting areas where we can make the most significant impact. Leveraging our hands-on experience with EU legislation at the national level, we offer strategic policy improvements to EU institutions.
One notable example is the Emissions Trading System (ETS), a crucial tool for advancing the energy transition. We've actively lobbied at the European level to address disparities in how emission allowances are managed across member states, including the Czech Republic, ensuring a fairer and more effective approach.
With Frank Bold's expertise, the CJEU supported the Czech Republic's application concerning the imminent threat posed by the Turow coal mine to the environment and human health. Despite this victory, the government prioritised relations with Poland over citizen protection, withdrawing the lawsuit and reaching an unfavourable agreement.
We lent our legal expertise to a Climate litigation that succeeded in the municipal court in Prague in June 2022. The court affirmed that the state should take the necessary measures to slow down climate change.
With exceptional creativity in the case of the Prunéřov coal-fired power plant, we proved that the EIA process can be truly international. By involving Micronesia in the proceedings, a new legal precedent was set, which made its way to the Columbia Law School conference in New York.
Laura Otýpková, Head of Responsible Energy Team
