The Three Seas Initiative’s Failing Case For Gas

The Three Seas Initiative (3SI) is criticized for prioritizing fossil gas infrastructure over renewable energy, which risks locking in emissions beyond 2050 and violating the EU's Climate Law. As of July 2021, fossil gas projects outnumber renewables in the 3SI database by more than two to one. Many of these gas projects are described as 'zombie projects'—outdated relics that have failed to attract financing or remain unutilized, such as the BRUA and Eastring pipelines. The document highlights that EU gas consumption must decline sharply to meet a 55% emissions reduction by 2030. While the 3SI Investment Fund (3SIIF) recently made its first energy investment in solar developer Enery Development, the briefing argues that significant political and financial shifts, including from the US, are needed to catalyze the region's renewable energy potential and align with the 'Fit for 55' package.

• The Three Seas Initiative (3SI) heavily favors fossil gas over renewable energy, which may lead to the lock-in of gas infrastructure beyond 2050 and conflict with the EU's legal requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050.
• As of the 6th 3SI Summit in July 2021, the 3SI database contained 38 active energy projects, where fossil gas infrastructure projects (18) outnumbered renewable energy projects (8) by more than two to one.
• Several 3SI gas projects are characterized as 'zombie projects'—outdated plans that have failed to secure financing or are currently idle. Examples include the BRUA pipeline, which has received over €500 million in EU grants and loans but remains unutilized, and the Eastring pipeline, which appears indefinitely postponed.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) and European Commission indicate that EU gas consumption must drop significantly to meet climate goals; the Commission estimates a 36% decline from 2020 to 2030 is necessary.
• The 3SI Investment Fund (3SIIF) made its first energy sector investment in May 2021 by taking a stake in Enery Development, an Austrian solar plant developer with a portfolio exceeding 2 gigawatts across Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria.
• Despite the potential for renewables, National Energy & Climate Plans (NECPs) for some 3SI countries, specifically Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Romania, show a slowdown in renewable electricity deployment through 2030.
• The US government has pledged up to $1 billion to 3SI, including $300 million in loans from the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The document argues that without a clear shift away from gas, this funding may continue to support Trump-era goals of promoting US fracked gas.

APA

Global Energy Monitor (2021). The Three Seas Initiative’s Failing Case For Gas. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-2021-Three-Seas-Initiative-Briefing_11.pdf

Chicago

Global Energy Monitor. The Three Seas Initiative’s Failing Case For Gas. 2021. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-2021-Three-Seas-Initiative-Briefing_11.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Energy Monitor |title=The Three Seas Initiative’s Failing Case For Gas |date=September 2021 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-2021-Three-Seas-Initiative-Briefing_11.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalenergymonitor2021three, author = {{Global Energy Monitor}}, title = {{The Three Seas Initiative’s Failing Case For Gas}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2021}, month = sep, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-2021-Three-Seas-Initiative-Briefing_11.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }