ECRB adopts its opinion on the 2026 PECI selection process 

The Energy Community Regulatory Board (ECRB) has adopted its formal opinion on the draft preliminary lists of Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECI) prepared under the 2026 Energy Community PECI selection process. ECRB concluded that the selection process was conducted in accordance with the Energy Community TEN-E Regulation and that the applied methodology provides an appropriate basis for assessing candidate projects. 

Of the 27 projects initially nominated, 8 electricity projects fulfilled the applicable eligibility criteria and proceeded to detailed assessment. A particular feature of the 2026 process is that 3 alternative draft preliminary PECI lists, covering electricity projects, were submitted by the Energy Community PECI Group for consideration in the ECRB Opinion.  

While based on the same methodology, the lists reflect different interpretations of the assessment results, particularly regarding the sensitivity analyses and the robustness of projected long-term benefits. The final list will be determined at the Energy Community's Ministerial Council in November. ECRB stressed that this final determination should take into account the assessment as a whole, including the reference assessment, sensitivity analyses, project maturity and, where relevant, the status of national approval procedures. 

Looking ahead, the ECRB recommends further strengthening the transparency of future PECI selection processes, particularly where alternative draft lists are prepared, by clearly explaining the rationale for each list and the role of sensitivity analyses the selection process. 

The ECRB Opinion constitutes an important regulatory contribution to the finalisation of the 2026 PECI list and supports continued alignment of the Energy Community infrastructure planning framework with corresponding EU practices.