January 7, 2026
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Slovenian DSO registers enormous interest in connecting BESS to distribution grid

Applications for 400 MW have been submitted for the connection of battery energy storage systems to the distribution grid, according to Elektro Ljubljana, one of the distribution system operators in Slovenia.

Slovenia’s distribution system operators (DSOs) are getting an increasing number of requests to connect battery storage systems directly to distribution substations. Notably, in early May, the five Slovenian DSOs fed more electricity into the transmission network than they drew from it for the first time, and for two consecutive days.

Matjaž Osvald, Executive Director of Operation and Development of the Distribution Network in DSO Elektro Ljubljana, pointed out that last summer the company observed increased investor interest in directly connecting batteries to distribution substations.

It issued installation terms for 90 MW, and requests for at least as much are waiting to be processed, he added.

Installation terms were issued for batteries with 90 MW in overall capability

However, the company estimated there could be at least 300 MW more in applications. Due to the technical limitations of existing substations, much less could be connected. Substations in the Elektro Ljubljana area are already overloaded and don’t allow additional connections of larger devices, Osvald explained.

Furthermore, upgrading or constructing new facilities is a lengthy process, he pointed out. Current delivery times for transformers alone are longer than two years, with financing also being an issue.

According to Osvald, batteries would be used to store energy from solar power plants, and three types of investors have emerged. One group wants to install batteries to provide system services for system operators on the European market or for electricity trading.

Three types of investors are submitting applications

The second and third batch aim to bring their projects to a certain stage of development and then sell them – either they would purchase land, obtain permits, and install a battery, or only buy land and obtain permits for energy storage.

Osvald expressed concern about the idea of using batteries solely to provide system services in the European market. In that case, there would be no benefits for the Slovenian distribution network, but it could create problems, he stressed.

Such use would occupy all available connection capacity in substations, which, with increasing electrification, could lead to no spare capacity for other grid users, according to Osvald.

He also pointed to the value of BESS for the distribution network in reducing peak loads and consumption.

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January 7, 2026
by in News

Slovenian DSO registers enormous interest in connecting BESS to distribution grid

Applications for 400 MW have been submitted for the connection of battery energy storage systems to the distribution grid, according to Elektro Ljubljana, one of the distribution system operators in Slovenia.

Slovenia’s distribution system operators (DSOs) are getting an increasing number of requests to connect battery storage systems directly to distribution substations. Notably, in early May, the five Slovenian DSOs fed more electricity into the transmission network than they drew from it for the first time, and for two consecutive days.

Matjaž Osvald, Executive Director of Operation and Development of the Distribution Network in DSO Elektro Ljubljana, pointed out that last summer the company observed increased investor interest in directly connecting batteries to distribution substations.

It issued installation terms for 90 MW, and requests for at least as much are waiting to be processed, he added.

Installation terms were issued for batteries with 90 MW in overall capability

However, the company estimated there could be at least 300 MW more in applications. Due to the technical limitations of existing substations, much less could be connected. Substations in the Elektro Ljubljana area are already overloaded and don’t allow additional connections of larger devices, Osvald explained.

Furthermore, upgrading or constructing new facilities is a lengthy process, he pointed out. Current delivery times for transformers alone are longer than two years, with financing also being an issue.

According to Osvald, batteries would be used to store energy from solar power plants, and three types of investors have emerged. One group wants to install batteries to provide system services for system operators on the European market or for electricity trading.

Three types of investors are submitting applications

The second and third batch aim to bring their projects to a certain stage of development and then sell them – either they would purchase land, obtain permits, and install a battery, or only buy land and obtain permits for energy storage.

Osvald expressed concern about the idea of using batteries solely to provide system services in the European market. In that case, there would be no benefits for the Slovenian distribution network, but it could create problems, he stressed.

Such use would occupy all available connection capacity in substations, which, with increasing electrification, could lead to no spare capacity for other grid users, according to Osvald.

He also pointed to the value of BESS for the distribution network in reducing peak loads and consumption.

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December 27, 2025
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EU’s new power pricing interval boosts BESS profit potential – analysis

The rollout of the European Union’s new power pricing system in October, with prices set every 15 minutes, rather than every hour, has increased the profit potential of battery energy storage systems (BESS). In several countries, BESS profits now have the potential to rise by more than 15%, according to an analysis by research and energy intelligence company Rystad Energy.

Thanks to the 15-minute trading interval, arbitrage potential on the EU’s day-ahead power markets has increased by an average of 14%, with some countries, such as Austria and Slovakia, recording gains of over 20%, according to the analysis.

In Germany, quarter-hour arbitrage was 16% more profitable than hourly arbitrage, while in Lithuania, the improvement was 14%.

The new system brings the greatest benefits in countries with less flexibility

The new trading intervals, known as 15-minute Market Time Units (MTUs), bring the greatest benefits in countries with less flexibility in power generation and consumption, where a high share of intermittent renewables can cause large price swings, according to Sepehr Soltani, senior analyst for energy storage at Rystad.

Rystad estimates that if a battery earns around 20% more each year due to these price swings, its total return on investment can increase by about 3% over 20 years.

A 20% annual profit gain could raise return on investment by 3% over 20 years

In contrast, in places with a flexible electricity supply, such as Norway with hydropower and Portugal with hydropower and gas, prices are more stable over an hour, so the difference between profits from 15-minute and hourly trading is much smaller, he explained.

This is why in Portugal, Norway, and Sweden, the new system has brought only minor improvements in BESS profitability potential.

Rystad noted, however, that today’s unusually high arbitrage margins, of over USD 150 per MWh, are not expected to persist over the next 10–20 years. A more realistic long-term average is around USD 60 per MWh, according to the analysis.

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December 19, 2025
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Romania’s biggest battery system put into operation

Nova Power & Gas has commissioned the largest battery energy storage system in Romania, doubling the country’s total capacity. The installation in Florești, Cluj County, has an operating power of 200 MW and a capacity of 400 MWh.

Before the new facility was commissioned, Romania’s overall battery energy storage capacity was 398.8 MWh, according to data from the country’s transmission system operator, Transelectrica. Nova Power & Gas earlier said its own capacity was 240 MWh.

The company was already operating 240 MWh in batteries

The new battery energy storage system (BESS) became operational after Mayor of Florești Bogdan Pivariu signed a certificate of occupancy, Profit.ro reported.

In addition, Nova Power & Gas is building a 150 MW gas-fired power plant in Câmpia Turzii, with the first phase set to come online by December 2026.

Nova Power & Gas is developing further battery systems totaling 1,200 MWh

By 2028, the company plans to install one more gas power plant, of 200 MW, and energy storage systems of another 600 MW / 1,200 MWh overall.

“Through these investments, we aim to maintain and strengthen our leadership in energy storage, while making substantial investments in gas-fired electricity generation to support balance and flexibility in the national energy system,” Septimiu Costea, CTO of Nova Power & Gas, stated in July.

Nova Power & Gas, part of Romania-based E-Infra Group, is active across the Southeast Europe region, with subsidiaries in Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, and Moldova.

The company is also a major power and natural gas supplier, with over 4.6 TWh of electricity and gas delivered in 2024 and a turnover of almost RON 3 billion (EUR 589.4 million), according to Profit.ro.

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December 19, 2025
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Solar power has become dispatchable anytime at low cost

Turning cheap daytime solar electricity into a dispatchable profile results in a total electricity cost of USD 76/MWh, according to the latest analysis by Ember.

Ember’s assessment of storage costs is based on recent auctions in Italy, Saudi Arabia and India and on expert interviews.

Across global markets outside China and the United States, the total capex to build a long-duration (four hours or more) utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) project is around USD 125/kWh, the study reads.

The price combines USD 75/kWh for the core equipment shipped from China and USD 50/kWh to install and connect the battery.

world ember bess energy storage cost capex

The authors of the analysis calculated a levelized cost of storage (LCOS) to be USD 65/MWh.

The metric reflects the cost of shifting one megawatt-hour to another time, such as moving daytime solar to nighttime. It doesn’t include the cost of electricity to charge the battery.

This low LCOS is not only the result of cheaper batteries, given that longer lifetimes, higher efficiencies and lower financing costs thanks to clearer revenue models like auctions have all helped to push the indicator down sharply, according to the analysis.

With the cost of storing electricity at USD 65/MWh, storing 50% of a day’s solar generation for consumption in nighttime hours adds USD 33/MWh to the total cost of solar. The authors used IRENA’s global average price of solar in 2024 of USD 43/MWh.

Delivering constant power every hour of the year requires solar overbuild and more battery storage

Turning this cheap daytime electricity into a dispatchable profile that is closer to an actual demand profile, would therefore result in a total electricity cost of USD 76/MWh, the analysis reads.

The authors stressed that this isn’t the same as baseload solar. Delivering constant power every hour of the year, including cloudy weeks and seasonal lows, requires solar overbuild and more battery storage, they added.

However, shifting half of daytime solar is a major step that aligns solar generation more closely with a typical demand profile, meaning solar can meet a much larger share of the evening and nighttime demand, the authors explained.

world ember bess energy storage cost lcos

Kostantsa Rangelova, ‍Global Electricity Analyst at Ember, pointed out that after a 40% fall in 2024 in battery equipment costs, another major drop is clearly on track in 2025.

“The economics for batteries are unrecognizable, and the industry is only just getting to grips with this new paradigm. Solar is no longer just cheap daytime electricity, solar is now anytime dispatchable electricity. This is a game-changer for countries with fast-growing demand and strong solar resources,” she is convinced.

Cheap batteries will enable solar to meet the majority of global energy growth

world ember bess energy storage cost lcos dispatchable solar

The analysis cited a projection from the IEA’s latest World Energy Outlook that in the next decade, 80% of global energy demand growth would come from regions with high-quality solar irradiation.

For these countries, combining solar with storage is now the most affordable path to meet soaring demand, improve energy security and reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, according to the analysis.

It is an opportunity to develop clean industries

Dispatchable solar with a price of USD 76/MWh is cheaper and quicker than building a new gas power plant, especially if the country relies on more expensive LNG imports, they stressed.

The authors also pointed out that the installation of BESS could help the development of clean industries.

Even when core BESS equipment is imported, roughly 40% of total project value (about USD 50/kWh out of USD 125/kWh) remains local through engineering, civil works, grid connection and other EPC activities, the analysis reads.

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December 19, 2025
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New round of talks between Montenegro and Masdar on strategic partnership

Representatives of the Government of Montenegro and Masdar discussed potential joint projects in the energy sector. The focus of the meeting was on solar energy, energy storage, and hydropower.

Minister of Energy and Mining of Montenegro Admir Šahmanović and the Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović met today at Villa Gorica in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica with Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi and his team.

It was the second meeting between Al Ramahi and Šahmanović in a short period. They met in early September.

The discussions now continued on top priority projects for the Government of Montenegro, ones that could be of mutual interest, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mining.

Priority should be given to projects that are the most technically advanced

Discussions will be intensified to define collaboration models, potential investments, and the selection of first projects to be implemented, the update reads.

Solar projects, including for floating solar power plants, alongside battery energy storage systems (BESS) and hydropower plants, have been identified as segments of special interest. These are also the areas where Masdar has significant engineering and technical experience, the ministry said.

montenegro masdar sahmanovic
Al Ramahi and Šahmanović (photo: Government of Montenegro/Saša Matić)

The two sides agreed to focus on projects that are the most technically advanced, environmentally sustainable, and aligned with the development of the power grid, to ensure their sustainable and efficient implementation.

Šahmanović: Montenegro’s strategic and long-term goal is to establish itself as a reliable and competitive player in the European energy market

Minister Šahmanović pointed out that the country’s strategic and long-term goal is to establish itself as a reliable and competitive player in the European energy market. He underscored that the development of energy infrastructure and renewable energy sources are among the government’s key priorities.

Officials participating in the meeting praised the planned construction of a second submarine cable line with Italy. It is an extremely wise and strategic investment that ensures Montenegro a stronger and more stable position in the European electricity market, they added.
Montenegro’s vision as an energy hub is fully aligned with the government’s development plans, Šahmanović stressed.

Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović highlighted the extensive experience of the United Arab Emirates in energy and infrastructure development in the public sector. It is of great importance for Montenegro’s activities in increasing renewable energy capacities, she added.

Masdar’s expert teams will continue technical talks with the management of EPCG and CGES

Masdar’s representatives have expressed readiness to continue technical discussions with the management of power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) and transmission system operator (TSO) Crnogorski Elektroprenosni Sistem (CGES).

The company’s expert teams will aim to identify priority and mature projects for joint implementation, the ministry said.

EPCG’s CEO Zdravko Dragaš and Ivan Mrvaljević, Executive Officer of EPCG’s Directorate for Development and Engineering, pointed out that the development of green energy is the company’s top priority.

A total of 200 MW in renewable energy projects are currently in development, they added.

Ivan Asanović, CEO of CGES, presented projects that are in the final stages of implementation.

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December 10, 2025
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Montenegro launches second BESS tender but for drastically smaller capacity

Power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore has launched its second battery energy storage system procurement tender. The required capacity is drastically lower than in the first call.

The initial public procurement was canceled because state-owned energy company Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) didn’t obtain approval from the Government of Montenegro to take a loan for a EUR 58 million project.

The new tender envisages the procurement of a battery between 100 kW and 130 kW, with 200 kWh to 260 kWh in capacity. This is a pilot project, and the procurement is valued at EUR 75,000.

The canceled purchase was for two battery energy storage systems (BESS), at 30 MW and 120 MWh each.

The battery will be used on the distribution network

Potential locations include hydropower plant (HPP) Perućica, EPCG’s steel mill Željezara Nikšić, and the Pljevlja thermal power plant.

In the new call, the winning bidder will be obliged to secure a location for installing and testing the pilot BESS, according to the documentation.

EPCG explained that over the previous three years, its projects Solari 3000+, 500+, and 5000+ enabled a strong pace of the addition of prosumer solar power plants to the low-voltage, distribution network in Montenegro.

Although distributed generation has clear financial and ecological benefits, its rapid growth simultaneously brings a string of technical challenges for the distribution network, which was historically developed solely for supplying consumers and for unidirectional energy flow, according to the tender’s documentation.

EPCG sees the installation of batteries in substations as a solution to technical challenges caused by prosumers

The company sees the installation of BESS units within 10/0.4 kV substations as the solution for these challenges.

These batteries would be charged during the hours when photovoltaic facilities have high output in order to reduce and prevent reverse power flow. The idea is to discharge BESS units during hours of peak consumption and low voltage.

The main goal is to minimize voltage deviations in areas that the substations cover, during periods of production and consumption fluctuations. It would increase the hosting capacity for new prosumers, and enhance the stability of the distribution grid under an increased PV plant integration.

Scalability of the battery is one of the conditions for the bidders set by EPCG.

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December 3, 2025
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Croatia initiates project to harness solar energy along highways

Croatia’s highway management enterprise, Hrvatske Autoceste, is implementing a project for solar power plants along its highways. The company plans to use the electricity for self-consumption and for electric vehicle chargers. It would reduce costs and increase its energy independence.

After a tender procedure, Hrvatske Autoceste (HAC) selected ETS Farago to produce project designs for photovoltaic plants at four locations on the A3 highway. It heads east from the capital Zagreb to the border with Serbia.

The job, covering 36 hectares, should be finished by March 2026. Along with the documentation, the selected company is required to submit an assessment of its advantages and disadvantages.

It would be followed by a techno-economic analysis and, if it is favorable, a tender for the installation of solar panels. It is the final step, expected not before 2027.

Slovenia and BiH have initiated similar projects

Of note, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have initiated similar projects. Roadside locations could be a good solution for solar panels, given that such land is unused and alternatives are limited.

ETS Farago is tasked with preparing three versions for each of the four locations: Zagreb Plitvice (2.5 hectares), Rastovica (3.1 hectares), Sredanci (11 hectares), and Ivanja Reka (18 hectares). The first two are next to rest areas, while the other two are at interchanges.

HAC intends to install 259 electric vehicle chargers

The first model is for the production of electricity for self-consumption, with the surplus fed into the grid. Another option is self-consumption including battery energy storage systems (BESS). The third model is the complete sale of all electricity produced in the PV facilities.

The contract is estimated at EUR 11,400 excluding VAT.

HAC previously said that in addition to supplying its own facilities, such as toll booths, traffic maintenance and control centers, and street lighting, its project called solar highways is key to plans for expanding electric vehicle infrastructure.

The company intends to install 259 chargers on roads within five years.

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December 3, 2025
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Econergy secures financing for 87 MW Oradea solar plant in Romania

Econergy Renewable Energy has signed a EUR 40.5 million project finance agreement with UniCredit Bank for its 87 MW Oradea solar power plant in the Crișana region in north-west Romania.

The Oradea photovoltaic facility has been fully connected to the grid since August 2025, and is generating revenues, according to Israel-based Econergy.

The proceeds will be used for various purposes including refinancing of the loans spent to construct the power plant, the company explained.

Within a strategy to hybridize its Romanian solar portfolio, Econergy plans to add a 68 MW BESS component at the Oradea site.

It is the second project finance agreement secured with UniCredit

The expected investment in energy storage is about EUR 21 million, with an estimated annual contribution of EUR 8.4 million in revenues and EUR 6.7 million in EBITDA, based on the first five full operating years, the update reads.

The company said it is its second project finance agreement secured with UniCredit.

Econergy Group is operating in key European markets, including Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, Romania, Poland, and Greece. It develops photovoltaic, wind, and energy storage projects.

The current project pipeline exceeds 14 GW, according to the company’s website.

Econergy is the owner of the largest PV facility in Romania

The company generates revenue by selling electricity, earning development and operation fees, and selling projects at various stages of development.

Of note, Econergy is the owner of the largest PV facility in Romania. In October it agreed to buy out Nofar’s 50% stake in the 155 MW Rătești solar power plant. The firm plans to add a 120 MW BESS.

Econergy has four PV plants in Romania. With the inauguration of Oradea, the company’s operational and ready-to-connect capacity in the country has reached 447 MW. It is building another 788 MW and expects to start the construction of 559 MW more by the end of 2025.

The project was developed with Phoenix Holdings.

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December 2, 2025
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Premier Energy acquires 400 MWh battery energy storage project

Premier Energy has acquired a project for a 400 MWh battery energy storage system at a site near Iași, Romania’s third-largest city.

Premier Energy Group has announced the acquisition of 100% of a ready-to-build project for a battery energy storage system (BESS).

The planned power input and output is 200 MW, while the energy storage capacity would be 400 MWh.

Premier Energy Group is an electricity producer, distributor and supplier as well as natural gas distributor and supplier in Romania and Moldova. It owns and operates a total capacity of 1,100 MW.

The investment is estimated at EUR 75 million

The company has 328 MW in renewable energy projects under construction and in the pipeline.

Premier Energy revealed that the total development and construction cost of the battery near Iași is estimated at EUR 75 million. The firm’s management is currently in advanced discussions on financing options for the project, the update reads.

It expects to secure a long-term financial structure, while the BESS project would be commissioned in late 2026 or early 2027.

Garza: It will be among the largest battery plants in Southeastern Europe

In a market characterized by significant 15-minute price fluctuations and an increasing number of prosumers, the facility will enhance flexibility, reduce system costs and support the efficient integration of renewable generation, the company underscored.

According to José Garza, Premier Energy Group CEO, the project aligns naturally with its strategy of building a more flexible, integrated electricity platform in Romania.

“Its scale places it among the largest battery plants in Southeastern Europe, and it will support the market by helping to alleviate intraday price volatility, improve grid stability and complement our renewable production and supply activities,” he added.

Stohr: Large-scale storage enhances the efficiency of the entire value chain

Peter Stohr, Premier Energy Group CFO, explained that large-scale storage enhances the efficiency of the entire value chain, from production to supply, and creates important synergies with the company’s existing portfolio.

“We are already engaged in discussions with a major CEE financial institution regarding the project’s financing, and we are confident that this asset will integrate seamlessly into our broader energy platform,” he stated.

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