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Responsible Energy

Responsible Energy

We drive the transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system by championing renewables and fostering local energy solutions.
Since 2010, our mission has been to stop individual coal projects in the CEE region. Today, our sights are set on something bigger: sparking systemic change in the energy sector, making it clean, resilient and accessible to everyone. With providing legal expertise in Czechia, Poland, and for NGOs and institutions across the EU, we're leading the charge towards a more sustainable energy market design.

Our key initiatives

Decentralising the Energy System

We work towards decentralising the energy system and fostering energy communities.

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.

Building Coalitions

We unite municipalities, businesses, and NGOs to embrace locally sourced clean energy, fostering sustainable growth while empowering communities.

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.

EU Policy for Energy Transformation

We are committed to advancing legislation that drives the transformation of Europe's energy sector.

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.

Czech and Global Climate Litigations

We lead groundbreaking legal actions, including the Turów coal mine case, Czech Climate litigation, and global EIA proceedings with Micronesia on the Czech coal plant retrofit.

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.

Key contacts

Kristína Šabová

Lawyer, currently on parental leave

Laura Otýpková

Lawyer and Head of the Responsible Energy Team

Eliška Beranová

Environmental & Energy Lawyer
“Frank Bold is a leading authority in energy and environmental law. Our approach revolves around strategic partnerships, navigating intricate projects, and championing cases that drive substantial change. Proficient in stakeholder engagement, we unify diverse perspectives to achieve seemingly impossible outcomes. Whether tackling systemic shifts or addressing smaller, equally impactful cases, our team is dedicated to putting legislation into practice.”

Laura Otýpková, Head of Responsible Energy Team