Challenge

The Bill Gates backed alternative fuel startup Infinium from California hired Alber & Geiger to shape the EU Renewable Energy Directive and respective EU legislation on road transport, maritime and aviation. The primary aim of our advocacy was to ensure that the entire regulatory and legal framework in the EU provides the necessary financial, market and regulatory support to enable concrete investments in hydrogen based e-fuels factories and the eventual roll out of e-fuels in the coming years in the EU.

Strategy

The lobbying focus was on the greenhouse gas savings provided by hydrogen e-fuels when used as a drop in alternative to standard fuels, and the latter’s contribution to meet the Green Deal goals. Similarly, our team engaged with lawmakers and EU officials to corral backing for specific e-fuels targets in maritime transport and high quotas for e-fuels in aviation. We put the spotlight on the important contribution of e-fuels in sectors that are hard to decarbonize, shaping the criteria to determine renewable hydrogen in the EU.

Results

We were able to garner support for higher e-fuels quotas and shepherd the uptake of e-fuels in key modes of transportation. Alber & Geiger’s effort led to a plenary vote in the European Parliament that supported higher targets for e-fuels. In a politically arena with various alternative fuels competing for incentives, our team was able to obtain clear and strong support for e-fuels, turning Europe into one of the most attractive and important markets for that.

Challenge

The European Central Bank’s (ECB) single supervisory mechanism decided to carry out its first audit of Greece’s four systemic banks since it was set up. Greece’s leading bank turned to Alber & Geiger for help amid shareholder complaints over irregularities during the last round of capital raising. Assistance was required to ensure a standard and short regulatory scrutiny that would have not weakened further the image and investor confidence in the bank and its management.

Strategy

Alber & Geiger approached directly the European banking regulators and pressed the European Commission and its respective Directorates to announce their clearance of alleged irregularities. We emphasized the importance of investigations being short to not harm the image of the bank and its management.

We then sought to restructure the confidence on the Greek and European financial sector vis-à-vis the EU and German lawmakers and administrators. Our message put on the spotlight the bureaucratic approach and lengthy investigation on the bank itself, highlighting the lurking threat of economic and social instability of requiring more EU taxpayers’ money to the rescue.

Results

Six months into the mandate, the media campaign against our client and repeated calls against its management came to a halt. We helped facilitate the exchange of views between our client and the European banking regulators at the highest political level. By doing so, we helped prevent another wave of economic instability in Greece’s largest systemic bank.

Challenge

Alber & Geiger was hired by Nuseed to promote Carinata, a cover crop designed for biofuel production, in the EU Renewable Energy Directive in Brussels. Our team was required to ensure the approval of Carinata’s GHG savings. On top, we were mandated to pave the way for Carinata’s classification as an advanced biofuel towards the EU institutions.

Strategy

We targeted lawmakers in the European Parliament and officials in the European Commission. We presented arguments highlighting Carinata’s benefits, especially in producing high-quality and low greenhouse gas fuels. Carinata’s sustainability was emphasised during our outreach, while concerns over threatening food production and land-use were mitigated.

Results

Our engagement helped remove the yearlong impasse and paved the way for the acknowledgment and approval of Carinata’s GHG savings. Alber & Geiger’s engagement with EU officials and lawmakers increased understanding of the properties and benefits of Carinata. Also, it helped create advocates for a review of the existing list of advanced biofuels, and laid the groundwork for the inclusion of all crops that fulfil the criteria, to create a level playing field.