Net-Zero Lab at FEBA
Budget
€140,450
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
9
2.8 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
The Net-Zero Lab is an applied research unit established at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. It is committed to providing actionable knowledge on how to effectively translate climate-neutrality targets into tangible actions, driving evidence-based and just sustainable transformation in Bulgaria and the region. It operates as an interdisciplinary, cross-faculty knowledge and innovation hub dedicated to advancing social innovation, female entrepreneurship, industrial decarbonization, and capacity-building in the energy sector. The Lab fosters inclusive participation in the clean energy transition, promoting an open research approach and meaningful partnerships with individuals and businesses to foster the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to drive sustainable change in Bulgaria and the broader Southeast European region.
EU Legislative Interests
1. Core Climate & Transition Framework European Green Deal (2019) Fit for 55 Package (2021–2023 implementation phase) REPowerEU Plan (2022) European Climate Law (binding 2050 neutrality & 2030 target) 2. Energy Market Design & System Reform Electricity Market Design Reform (2024) Electricity Regulation & Directive (recast, 2024) TEN-E Regulation (Revised Trans-European Networks for Energy) ACER & REMIT Regulation (market integrity & transparency update) 3. Renewables & Efficiency Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) (2023) Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) (2023) Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD, 2024 revision) 4. Industrial Decarbonisation & Clean Industry Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) (2024 implementation phase) Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) (2024 implementation phase) EU Emissions Trading System (ETS revision, ETS II) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM, 2023–2026 phase-in) Clean Industrial Deal (2024–2025 emerging framework) Industrial Accelerator Act 5. Finance & Investment EU Taxonomy Regulation Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) Innovation Fund & Modernisation Fund State Aid Temporary Crisis & Transition Framework 6. Hydrogen, Storage & Flexibility EU Hydrogen Strategy Hydrogen & Decarbonised Gas Market Package (2024) Energy Storage Strategy initiatives (emerging at EU + national level) 7. Social & Entrepreneurial Opportunities Social Climate Fund (SCF) (2023) Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) Gender Equality Strategy (2020-2025) EU Industrial Strategy (2020, revised 2021) 8. Financial & Digitalization Opportunities Horizon Europe (2021-2027) Digitalization of the Energy System Action Plan (2022) 9. Energy Communities & Citizen Engagement Clean Energy for All Europeans Package (CEP) (2019) EU Energy Poverty Observatory (EPOV)
Communication Activities
We produce educational videos on topics that deserve greater public attention, translating complex scientific data and evidence into everyday language. Examples include short educational videos on the liberalization of the household segment of the Bulgarian energy market or summaries of key IPCC report findings, as well as infographics on the macro economic effects of energy price compensations. We also run a social media campaign on the current status of the energy transition analysing the position of Bulgaria on the EU map. Additionally, we regularly publish technical reports and techno-economic assessments based on research aligned with the Net-Zero Lab’s focus areas. Our activities include organizing roundtables, empowerment workshops for students, and international summer schools. One such initiative is the Marine Renewable Energy Academy, which aims to transfer European expertise from advanced offshore renewables markets to the Black Sea region.
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
European Energy Research Alliance European Climate Foundation Black Sea Renewable Energy Coalition
Organisation Members
AURUBIS Bulgaria Bulgarian Association of Production, Storage and Trade of Energy Telelink Infra Bulgarian Hydrogen Association
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.