October 30, 2025
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Croatia allocates EUR 50 million for prosumers in business sector to install BESS

Croatia has allocated EUR 50 million to support businesses in installing batteries for storing energy from their existing solar power plants or ones they plan to install.

In recent years, many companies all over Europe have installed solar panels for self-consumption to reduce electricity costs. But battery energy storage systems (BESS) offer additional benefits for such prosumers.

Now Croatia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development has launched a public call for the allocation of grants to firms.

Small, medium, and large entrepreneurs are eligible to apply

The goal is to enable entrepreneurs to store the energy produced in their power plants and use it when it is most needed – delivering it to the grid later or for their own consumption.

The call is financed by funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). Small, medium, and large entrepreneurs are eligible to submit applications. The deadline is January 31, 2026.

The ministry’s goal is to continue investments in the power system, thereby ensuring the integration of an increasing amount of energy from renewable sources.

BESS has numerous advantages over other technologies: high efficiency, adaptability, reliability, economic viability, and fast response, the call reads.

The call targets installation of batteries with a total capacity of 60 MWh

All applicants must specify concrete benefits that would be achieved by implementing the project in their bids.

BESS projects with a total capacity of at least 60 MWh could be installed by the end of the second quarter of 2026, according to the call.

New energy storage capacities would significantly increase the flexibility and resilience of the domestic power system, the ministry said.

The minimum subsidy amount per project is EUR 60,000, and the highest is EUR 1.5 million. The minimum storage capacity eligible for grant is 1 MWh per facility.

Of note, Croatia has already implemented a call for the installation of batteries in firms.

However, the subsidies were allocated for joint installation of renewable power plants and batteries.

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October 30, 2025
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Repono acquires BESS project for 404 MWh in Romania

Swedish energy storage operator Repono has completed the acquisition of a 202 MW / 404 MWh battery energy storage system project located in Romania’s Argeș county.

Romania has become one of the most active markets for battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in South East Europe.

Developed by a domestic firm, the Argeș project reached a ready-to-build stage, Repono said. The investment benefits from a grid connection contract with the country’s transmission system operator Transelectrica. The entry point is the 220 kV Pitești substation, northwest of Bucharest.

Once operational, it will be among the largest grid-scale storage assets in Southeast Europe, capable of storing and releasing enough energy to supply more than 120,000 four-person households during peak-demand periods, according to the company.

The partnership with local developers includes a framework for additional energy storage projects

A partnership with local developers is set to drive significant future growth for the firm, based in Sweden.

It includes a framework for additional energy storage projects across Romania with a combined capacity of up to 1.4 GW, reinforcing Repono’s long-term commitment to the market, the update reads.

“This transaction represents an important milestone for Repono AB and demonstrates our continued commitment to developing large-scale storage infrastructure that supports Europe’s energy transition,” CEO Karim Nils Grueber stated.

De Kool: Large-scale storage assets are key enablers of a stable European power system

The Argeș project’s market optimization will be handled by Gunvor, in collaboration with Vienna-based optimiser Enspired. They are tasked with managing the energy offtake and market strategy to ensure the BESS is efficiently integrated into the Romanian and regional power markets.

According to Harmen de Kool, Chairman of the Board of Repono and a representative of InnoEnergy, large-scale storage assets like the one in Argeș are key enablers of a stable and decarbonized European power system.

It further fortifies InnoEnergy’s aim to achieve carbon neutrality, he added.

With this acquisition, Repono continues to expand its European portfolio of grid-scale BESS, with active developments spanning Germany, Romania, Italy, Austria, and Poland.

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October 30, 2025
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France, Slovenia sign declaration on nuclear energy

Slovenia and France have signed a declaration on cooperation in the nuclear energy sector. The document was signed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Slovenia.

Slovenia has been developing a project to build a new unit at the Krško nuclear power plant for several years. In early September, the project’s developer, GEN Energija, said that three reactor projects offered by EDF and Westinghouse had been assessed as technically feasible for the site of the future Krško 2 nuclear power plant.

According to the Slovenia Times, Macron and Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob committed to closer cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the economy and energy.

 Golob: France is a European nuclear power

The two countries signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of education and a declaration of intent to establish long-term cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.

According to Golob, France is a European nuclear power that is building its carbon-free future based on the development of this energy source. There is good cooperation between experts from the two countries, he recalled at a joint press conference in Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, stressing that the declaration opens up new opportunities.

Golob said he is convinced that between two equally qualified bidders for Krško 2, Slovenia will be able to choose the solution that best serves its long-term interests and that gives regional importance to the project.

The potential new power plant is not intended only for Slovenia

Krško 1 was built using US technology, but Golob also sees certain advantages in the French bidder, EDF. He revealed that the potential new power plant is not intended only for Slovenia, but would also enable Southeastern Europe to meet a significant portion of its electricity needs.

In October 2024, Slovenia canceled a referendum on building its second nuclear unit. However, GEN Energija continued to develop the project.

In July this year, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning initiated the preparation of a spatial plan for the second unit of the Krško nuclear power plant and invited the public to submit comments.

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October 30, 2025
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North Macedonia launches decarbonization guide for small businesses

The Economic Chamber of North Macedonia has developed the country’s first decarbonization guide for small businesses. The digital tool is intended to help North Macedonia’s economy adapt to international climate rules, including the European Union’s carbon border tax (CBAM).

The decarbonization guide provides detailed instructions on the most effective ways for local companies to reduce their carbon footprint as part of the global fight against climate change, according to the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia.

The key feature is a carbon footprint calculator that covers nearly 60 different energy sources and refrigerants. Information is also available on EU and domestic climate regulations, as well as funding opportunities, such as subsidies.

The platform offers practical case studies and success stories of leading companies to highlight the benefits of clean energy, according to the chamber.

Božinovska: The decarbonization guide marks a turning point in the country’s green transition

The guide was developed in cooperation with the advisory team of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Delegation of the EU to North Macedonia.

The guide was presented in the country’s capital, Skopje, at a gathering attended by more than a hundred entrepreneurs from all sectors of the North Macedonian economy.

Sanja Božinovska (photo: Economic Chamber of North Macedonia)

“The decarbonization guide is a turning point in our country’s green transition, equipping businesses with the tools they need to act now,” said Sanja Božinovska, North Macedonia’s Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources.

The guide is designed to help companies reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to international climate rules, while, as the chamber says, preserving competitiveness.

One of these rules is the EU’s tax on the import of carbon-intensive goods, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

The guide is available on the website of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia

This digital tool will help North Macedonia move towards a low-carbon economy, the chamber added.

The guide is available on the chamber’s website in the form of an interactive platform. Its development was financed by EIB Global.

Björn Gabriel, Head of EIB Representation in North Macedonia, has said that the guide comes at a crucial time as North Macedonia advances its green transition and prepares for upcoming carbon regulations.

According to Head of the Delegation of the EU to North Macedonia Michalis Rokas, decarbonization, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources are powerful tools for building a more innovative, resilient, and competitive economy.

If every small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) takes at least a few significant steps toward greener business practices, the combined impact on more than 68,000 firms will be truly transformative, claims Rokas.

Michalis Rokas (photo: Economic Chamber of North Macedonia)

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October 30, 2025
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Romanian power distributor Electrica to build 15 battery systems totaling 1 GWh

Romanian power supplier and distributor Electrica has initiated a permitting procedure for the construction of 15 battery energy storage parks, with a combined capacity of about 1 GWh, aimed at providing flexibility to the national grid and supporting the integration of renewable energy sources.

The battery energy storage systems (BESS) would boost Electrica’s ability to respond dynamically to fluctuations in consumption and production within the national energy system. It should also enable the efficient integration of growing renewable capacities in Romania, significantly reducing price volatility and dependence on imports, according to a press release from Electrica.

Electrica’s new battery capacity is expected to reduce price volatility and dependence on energy imports

“Developing this 1 GWh storage infrastructure is a strategic pillar in Electrica’s transformation into a leader of the energy transition,” the company said, adding that the battery systems would be built on Electrica’s own land, leveraging assets from its existing portfolio.

“This project is not just about technology or capacity; it is about redefining how Romania manages energy security for the decades ahead,” said Alexandru Chirița, Electrica’s CEO. He also stated that the timeline for the project was “ambitious,” according to the press release.

The BESS capacities will be distributed across Romania

The project, part of Electrica’s 2030 strategy, will be developed in phases, with BESS installations distributed across Romania. The first phase is expected to bring a significant portion of the storage capacity online already in 2025, according to a report by PVknowhow.com.

Battery energy storage is on track to become another pillar of Romania’s energy transition, as investors increasingly develop BESS capacities combined with solar, hydropower, and wind, or as standalone energy storage facilities.

Romania is supporting BESS projects for renewables integration with subsidies provided from its national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP). In September last year, the Ministry of Energy awarded grants to 13 projects.

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October 30, 2025
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Montenegro’s EPCG appoints Bojan Đordan as acting CEO

Elektroprivreda Crne Gore has appointed a new chief executive officer. Instead of Ivan Bulatović, the new head of Montenegro’s state-owned power utility is Bojan Đordan.

The Board of Directors of Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) has relieved the previous chief executive officer Ivan Bulatović of his duties and appointed Bojan Đordan as the acting CEO.

Đordan is assuming the top position after leading the utility’s sector for renewable energy sources.

The decision was made in line with the statute and internal acts of EPCG, to ensure continuity in company management and the implementation of ongoing business and investment activities.

The company intends to soon open a contest for a new CEO

The board of directors vowed to announce a contest soon for a new CEO, in line with the law and company procedures.

The company will remain focused on implementing strategic projects in the energy transition, modernization, and development of new capacities, while consistently adhering to the principles of transparency, accountability, and professional management, according to the update.

Đordan was also head of EPCG’s production section

Bojan Đordan has graduated from the School of Electrical Engineering in the country’s capital Podgorica.

From 2008 to 2011, he worked at Crnogorski Telekom before moving to EPCG, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Before becoming the head of the renewables sector in EPCG, Đordan led the company’s production section.

Ivan Bulatović was chosen for a four-year term in January 2024 after a contest for the top job.

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October 30, 2025
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Serbia warns of gas crisis as EU transit ban threatens Balkan Stream supply

Serbia is in a very difficult situation because, as of January 1, 2026, it won’t be able to receive Russian natural gas via Bulgaria, according to the Ministry of Mining and Energy.

Serbia receives natural gas from Russia via the Balkan Stream. The pipeline is an extension of TurkStream that passes through Bulgaria and Serbia. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary, Serbia’s neighbors, are also supplied via Balkan Stream. TurkStream delivers gas from Russia across the Black Sea to Turkey.

Serbia is facing a very difficult and almost dead end situation due to the European Union’s ban on the transit of Russian gas through the EU to third countries, which will come into effect on January 1, 2026, according to Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović.

Đedović Handanović: Bulgaria won’t allow the flow of Russian gas through the Balkan Stream

Bulgaria won’t allow the flow of Russian gas through Balkan Stream, which will negatively impact Serbia, she stressed.

The European Commission set out a plan in May to phase out the purchases of Russian natural gas, including in liquefied natural gas (LNG), and oil, by the end of 2027. The council now confirmed that imports of Russian gas will be prohibited from January 1, 2026, while maintaining a transition period for existing contracts.

Đedović Handanović: We are doing everything in our power, but the situation is almost hopeless, considering the current situation regarding NIS

Yesterday, the Council of the European Union agreed on its negotiating position on the European Commission’s draft regulation to phase out imports of Russian natural gas. When the European Parliament adopts its own position, it can start negotiating with the council.

When the two institutions approve a regulation, it directly applies to all member states.

Đedović Handanović expressed hope that a solution would be found due to, as she put it, President Aleksandar Vučić’s excellent relations with world leaders.

“We are doing everything in our power, but it is an almost dead end situation, considering the current situation regarding Naftna industrija Srbije [NIS]. Our country, which is not involved in any conflict, has found itself affected through no fault of its own. Despite everything, we will do our best, as we have so far, so that citizens don’t feel the problems we are facing,” Đedović Handanović underlined.

Namely, the United States imposed sanctions on October 9 against NIS, Serbia’s national oil importer, refiner, and operator of a chain of service stations.

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October 30, 2025
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SANY International takes over large PV-BESS project in southwestern Romania

Renewable energy company Sany International (Singapore) has completed the acquisition of a project for a solar power plant of 95 MW in peak capacity combined with 218 MWh in battery storage. The location is in Romania’s Dolj county.

SANY Renewable Energy signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) and contracts for difference (CfD) earlier this year in Serbia for its wind power projects Alibunar 1 and Alibunar 2. Just before that, and through another subsidiary, SANY Group secured its entry into the European market for solar power plants with energy storage

Renewable energy company SANY International (Singapore) is now the owner of a project for a solar power plant of 95 MW in peak capacity combined with 218 MWh in battery storage. The location is in Dobrești in Romania’s southwest.

Deal was signed in April

The shares transfer ceremony took place in Bucharest on October 15 in the presence of representatives of domestic developer Enero and local energy officials, the company said, as quoted by Economica.net. It is its first acquisition of such a project outside China.

SANY Singapore’s representative Xu Zhongtian signed the share purchase agreement in April. After that, the Commission for the Examination of Foreign Direct Investments (CEFDI or CEISD) approved the transaction.

Dobrești project is at ready-to-build stage

The project at a site 45 kilometers from Craiova in southwestern Romania is at a ready-to-build stage, Sany International (Singapore) revealed.

It is one of the largest hybrid projects integrating photovoltaics with a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Romania, the company added. Of note, Dolj is one of Romania’s coal regions, which are transitioning to cleaner energy sources.

“This investment reflects the growing interest in the clean energy sector in Central and Eastern Europe, in a context in which countries in the region accelerate efforts to achieve EU energy and climate targets. At the same time, SANY strengthens its strategic focus on renewable energy investments at the European level, aiming to expand its presence in fast-growing green energy markets,” the announcement reads.

SANY Group is an industrial conglomerate, established in 1989 in China. It is mostly known for construction machinery, but SANY Renewable Energy is one of the world’s biggest wind turbine manufacturers, too.

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October 30, 2025
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Sunotec secures financing for Bulgarian BESS, renewables portfolio

Sunotec has secured financing for a portfolio of seven projects in Bulgaria. The deals were agreed in September.

The portfolio, for 115 MW in peak solar power capacity and 763 MWh of battery storage, significantly expands Sunotec‘s investment presence in its home market, according to the update.

Six projects are for standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) and one is for a solar power plant with a colocated BESS.

According to the firm, they are either wholly owned or partially, through Solaris Holding AD, a 50/50 joint venture with the main shareholders of Eurohold Bulgaria AD.

The standalone battery energy storage system projects are part of the government’s RESTORE program

The seven projects contribute to decarbonizing Bulgaria’s power sector, enhancing its grid stability and energy independence, Sunotec stressed.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Energy has approved the said standalone BESS projects to receive subsidies under the RESTORE program, the company added.

In the first round of the National Infrastructure for Storage of Electricity from Renewable Sources (RESTORE) program, Bulgaria approved EUR 587 million in subsidies for 82 BESS projects totaling 9.71 GWh.

In late July, Sunotec and Sungrow agreed to install 2.4 GWh of BESS

In late August, the ministry launched the public consultation process for a proposed new round of its subsidy program for BESS.

Viktor Stefanov, Head of IPP at Sunotec, said the seven investments mark a major milestone in its evolution.

The company added that they further strengthen its position, as well as of Solaris Holding, among Bulgaria’s leading investors in photovoltaics and energy storage.

In late July, China-based Sungrow achieved an agreement with Sunotec on installing 2.4 GWh of BESS in Europe. The portfolio includes several large-scale projects across Bulgaria, which will serve energy storage needs.

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October 30, 2025
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Two large photovoltaic parks commissioned in Albania in 2025

In the first eight months of this year, Albania added two solar power plants of an overall 150 MW and a hydropower facility of 48.9 MW to its transmission grid.

Hydropower plants account for almost all electricity production in Albania, but the share of photovoltaics is gradually growing. Several major solar parks already online – the Karavasta facility is the biggest in the Western Balkans. Conversely, there is not a single wind turbine in operation in the country.

According to the Energy Regulatory Authority (ERE), renewable electricity plants of 225 MW in total capacity have been put into operation in the first eight months of this year.

Project Blue completed

Five solar parks came online, with 156 MW altogether. The largest one is Sunny Side Solar (100 MW). The domestic Kastrati Group, which is active in construction and the oil business, built the facility in the Fier area in western Albania.

The Spv Blue 2 solar power plant has 50 MW. It is a joint project of Blessed Investment and Matrix Konstruksion. The location is in Sheq Marinas in Fier. Their Blue 1 PV park, in the same area, is the first fully privately financed solar park in Albania. The two companies commissioned it last year.

Sunny Side Solar and Blue 2 both began operating in August, as did one of the three remaining new units, of 2 MW each. The other two started generating electricity in April and June.

Gostimat hydropower complex launches production

Of the overall 69.2 MW in new hydropower plants, the Gostimat facility has 48.9 MW. Notably, ERE’s earlier updates show the project was for a complex of seven units on the river Gostima in the Shkumbin basin. The operator is Egnatia Hydropower.

MC Inerte’s project firm M.C. Energji Gojan built its 15 MW hydropower plant Gojan in the Puka area in northern Albania.

In addition, the regulatory body said nine hydropower plants of 26.4 MW in combined capacity have switched to the free market.

The country’s total electricity generation capacity was 3.2 GW at the end of last year.

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