July 10, 2025
by in News

Romania ends double taxation of energy storage

The National Energy Regulatory Authority of Romania has approved a regulation eliminating double taxation of energy storage, to allow for faster deployment of solutions for storing electricity.

The National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) announced that it has approved an order on methodological norms exempting electricity that is stored and reintroduced into the grid from the payment of regulated tariffs.

The main goal is to eliminate double taxation of stored energy, as it was a significant obstacle to the development of storage technologies, essential for balancing the energy system and integrating production from renewable sources, ANRE said.

The regulation introduces three changes. It abolishes the extraction tariff – one of the two components of the transmission tariff – as well as the distribution tariff and system services tariff.

The decision introduces three novelties

The second novelty is the exemption from paying green certificates, and the last one is a unified procedure, applicable to both concessionaire and non-concessionaire operators.

The exemption applies strictly to energy stored and reintroduced into the grid, while for the storage facility’s consumption, including technological losses, grid tariffs remain applicable, ANRE stressed.

“We cannot build a balanced and resilient energy system with rules that penalize innovation. Through this regulation, we send a clear signal to investors: Romania supports energy storage, not just as a technological option, but as a pillar of the energy transition,” said George Niculescu, ANRE President.

The regulation is aligned with ACER recommendations

According to ANRE, the regulation is aligned with European best practices and ACER recommendations, which encourage differentiated tariff treatments and incentives for network flexibility.

The ANRE decision follows the amendments introduced by Government Emergency Ordinance (GEO) 134/2024 in November 2024.

A few days ago, Romanian engineering and technology company Simtel said the current total battery energy storage capacity in Romania is 398.8 MWh.

Post Views:46
July 10, 2025
by in News

Serbia’s power demand soars 20%

Electricity consumption in Serbia has increased by 15% to 20% over the past three weeks compared to the same period last year, according to Dragan Rakić, the head dispatcher of Serbia’s transmission system operator Elektromreža Srbije.

The main reason for the rise in electricity consumption is the increased use of air conditioning units due to the heat wave, which began as early as mid-June this summer.

Dragan Rakić, the head dispatcher of TSO Elektromreža Srbije (EMS), told public broadcaster RTS that the system remains stable despite high temperatures and the reduction of electricity production in hydropower plants.

The record high for summer electricity consumption was set on July 17 last year

Daily consumption in recent days has been 92 GWh to 95 GWh, with the peak of 98.5 GWh reached on June 26. Rakić recalled that the all-time summer consumption record was 105.8 GWh on July 17 last year.

The highest consumption occurs in major cities such as Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš. Air conditioners are on even at night, both at home and at work, he added.

Rakić stressed that the electricity supply situation is stable, although hydrological conditions are negatively affecting electricity production in hydropower plants, and partially coal-fired power plants, which require water for cooling.

He added that much of Europe was affected by the dry spell.

EMS is also prepared for extreme weather events

Meanwhile, European think tank Ember noted that record solar power production, backed by energy storage capacity, helped maintain the stability of the electricity system in Europe during the latest heatwave.

Temperatures across Europe jumped to more than 40 degrees Celsius, triggering an increase in electricity demand as the use of air conditioners soared. Daily electricity demand on July 1 was up to 6% higher in Germany, 9% in France, and 14% in Spain than on June 24.

Rakić claimed EMS is ready for extreme weather conditions as well as other emergencies. The company has emergency power line towers and crews on standby when a red weather alert is issued, he explained.

Post Views:35
July 9, 2025
by in News

Germany, Netherlands emerging as BESS optimization, offtake deal hotspots

The BESS dealmaking landscape in Europe has evolved dramatically over the past four to five years, driven by diminishing battery pack costs and the emergence of stackable revenue streams in mature markets, Pexapark said in a new brief. Germany and Netherlands have emerged as hotspots for optimization and offtake, after Great Britain’s convincing lead for several years.

Navigating the fast-paced battery energy storage system (BESS) optimization market is a new challenge for the industry, given the growing number of players, the lack of standardization, and the speed of contractual innovation, Pexapark said in its BESS Brief. To support market participants, the firm has launched the BESS Deal Tracker, which captures the vast majority of publicly disclosed optimisation and offtake deals across European markets.

The first optimization agreements emerged five to six years ago in Great Britain – the maiden European country to develop an advanced utility-scale BESS market. Of note, the electricity systems of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are separate.

Spurred by multiple revenue stacking opportunities available to BESS – from the dynamic frequency response product suite to wholesale arbitrage, the balancing mechanism, imbalance, and inertia services – Great Britain has led the way in deal activity. As of May 26, it accounted for nearly 45% of contracted capability, with almost 2.7 GW signed and 35 out of 63 deals captured by the said Deal Tracker.

Austria, Denmark, Greece, Bulgaria join market with first deals

However, driven by strong fundamentals and a sheer need for flexibility, Germany is emerging as a dealmaking hotspot. In the first five months of 2025 alone, 11 BESS deals were announced in Germany, totaling 540 MWh.

“With ancillary services defying saturation predictions, and new revenue streams – such as inertia – coming up, we expect continued momentum in Europe’s largest and most liquid power market. That said, the German optimisation market is still at an early development stage. Lenders are not yet fully comfortable, and most deals have been merchant-based and short-term,” said the brief’s author and the organization’s Senior Analyst and BESS Lead Apostolis Valassas.

Beyond GB and Germany, the Netherlands stands out with four large-scale agreements announced in the past year. In another sign of the market’s move out of infancy, several markets – including Austria, Denmark, Greece and Bulgaria – recently recorded their first-ever BESS optimisation deals.

Evolving BESS duration, size

Most BESS offtake deals announced in 2020-2022 were predominantly for one-hour assets in Great Britain. At the time, frequency response – where shorter-duration batteries excel – dominated the revenue stack and shaped asset design.

A lot has changed since then. Rising wholesale market volatility driven by increasing renewable penetration, the decline in required capital expenditures (capex), and ongoing improvements in battery energy density have driven a transition toward longer-duration systems.

More megawatts were contracted in the first five months of this year than in 2024 in total

Indeed, the average battery duration in deals tracked by Pexapark has increased from just one hour in 2020 to 2.3 hours in 2025, signalling a broader strategic shift from solely focusing on ancillaries to trading across the whole stack.

Deal sizes are also growing exponentially, from an average 75 MW across 20 deals with disclosed operating power in 2024 to 138 MW across 24 deals in 2025, as of May. It is again a function of falling capex requirements, the strategies to deploy more megawatts to capture multi-market value, and growing lender appetite to finance larger-scale BESS assets, according to the report.

Pexapark, which provides of price data, market intelligence, and advisory services for renewable energy, was one of the knowledge partners at this year’s edition of Belgrade Energy Forum, organized by Balkan Green Energy News.

Post Views:21
July 9, 2025
by in News

Simtel to install BESS for Güriş in Romania

Romanian engineering and technology company Simtel will install a battery energy storage system in Romania for Turkey-based Güriş.

With a storage capacity of up to 196.4 MWh and an installed power of up to 98.6 MW, it would be one of the largest battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Romania.

Simtel said it signed an engineering, procurement, and construction contract with Energy Capital Group, owned by Mogan Bucharest SRL, part of the Güriş Group from Turkey.

The contract is worth RON 168.9 million (EUR 33.3 million), and the deadline is nine months.

The contract includes the supply of a BESS, the design, construction, installation, commissioning, completion, and testing of the facility. The project will be implemented in the village of Iaz, Obreja commune, Caraș-Severin county.

Energy Capital Group obtained support via the National Recovery and Resilience Plan

Energy Capital Group received support via the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) for its project. It is part of the pillar dedicated to the green transition. Romania approved a grant of over RON 50 million (EUR 9.86 million) for the implementation of the battery energy storage project.

With the investment, Romania is taking a significant step towards strengthening its energy infrastructure and increasing flexibility in consumption and production, according to Simtel COE Mihai Tudor. Storage systems are an essential pillar of the energy transition process and in the sustainable development of power grids, he added.

Director of Mogan Bucharest SRL Kaan Yamantürk said the company sees “a great future and opportunity” in Romania.

Güriş is active elsewhere in Southeastern Europe as well.

Simtel: The largest storage project has a capacity of 72 MWh

Simtel pointed out that the size of the facility is significant, considering that, according to the latest data published by Transelectrica, the current total battery energy storage capacity in Romania is 398.8 MWh.

Moreover, the largest storage project completed so far has a maximum capacity of 72 MWh, the firm added.

Of note, in October last year, Monsson said it was completing the second phase of a battery energy storage system within a hybrid power plant project in Constanța. The first phase was inaugurated in April and, with 24 MWh, it was the largest BESS unit in Romania at the time.

A subsidiary of Monsson has submitted a battery storage project of just over 2 GWh in capacity for an environmental permit in Romania. Simtel and Monsson have signed a strategic partnership on the development of solar and energy storage projects in Romania.

Post Views:64
July 8, 2025
by in News

Heatwave strains European grid, brings profit to energy storage operators

Record solar power production, backed by yet insufficient energy storage capacity, helped maintain the stability of the electricity system in Europe during the latest heatwave, Ember said. Many nuclear and other thermal power plants reduced their activity as river water temperature wasn’t low enough for efficient cooling. Intraday price spreads at European power exchanges landed a windfall for owners of battery energy storage systems and pumped storage hydropower plants.

The heatwave since late June has caused stress for European power systems, driving electricity demand and doubling daily power prices. Yet grids remained stable, fueled by record volumes of solar, think tank Ember pointed out in a report.

Outside temperatures jumped to more than 40 degrees Celsius, triggering an increase in electricity demand as the use of air conditioners soared. Outages in nuclear and thermal power plants exacerbated the challenges.

Daily electricity demand on July 1 was by up to 6% higher in Germany, 9% in France and 14% in Spain than on June 24. As for peak demand, it jumped by 12% in France, 15% in Spain, and 5% in Germany and Poland.

A bigger electricity price spread within one day means higher income for operators of battery energy storage systems

The average daily price surged 15% in Spain, 106% in Poland, 108% in France and 175% in Germany.

“Despite the huge pressure, European grids passed the stress test, and solar electricity played a major role in keeping them running. The surplus of solar energy during the day helped prevent blackouts. However, the use of energy storage is still insufficient, leading to reduced energy supply after sunset. This translated into a sharp increase in electricity prices,” said Ember’s Europe Programme Director Paweł Czyżak.

Record EU solar generation helps keep power supply stable

June saw the highest solar generation on record in the European Union – 45 TWh, which kept the grid well-supplied during daytime hours. The result was 22% up from one year before.

“Heatwaves will not go away – they will only get more severe in the future. Solutions that can help mitigate their impacts, such as battery storage, interconnection, demand flexibility and dynamic tariffs, should become a key part of grid planning and power market design,” Czyżak added. The biggest opportunity is to store solar electricity, to help power air conditioning well into the evening, he stressed.

Outages limited but still posing concern

The overheating of cables is the likely cause of power outages in Italy on July 1. With rising air and water temperatures, the cooling of thermal power plants becomes more challenging as well. It led to forced reductions in electricity generation from nuclear power plants in France and Switzerland.

The French nuclear fleet has been impacted the most, with all but one of the 18 facilities experiencing some type of capacity reduction. According to the update, up to 15% of the capacity may have been impacted.

A blackout of several hours struck large parts of the Czech Republic including Prague on July 4. However, the authorities only blamed it on a transmission cable in the country’s northwest falling, and the resulting domino effect. Notably, the air temperature was much lower than in previous days.

Sun brings power alongside heat

In the peak days of the heatwave in Germany, solar delivered 50 GW and even more, generating 33% to 39% of Germany’s electricity. The country hosts 14 GW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and 10 GW of pumped storage, which partly bridged the gap between the peaks of production and consumption.

The rallies in electricity prices in the evenings are getting passed on to consumers, so using air conditioners gets more expensive upon sunset. It is a business case for clean flexibility solutions. Due to a high supply of solar electricity during the day, and a cooling-related demand peak in the late afternoon hours, the daily electricity price spreads skyrocketed.

The spread in Poland in the day-ahead segment almost reached EUR 500 per MWh on July 1. Namely, the daily low was EUR 21.04 per MWh below zero, and the peak amounted to EUR 471 per MWh. In Germany, the benchmark went from EUR 0.16 per MWh in negative territory to EUR 404.91 per MWh.

Storage assets charge at low prices and discharge during peak time, reducing the need for costly imported fossil fuels in the evening, and supporting the balancing of the grid, the analysts underscored.

Interconnection played a role as well. The heatwave peaked in different countries on different days, so interconnectors moved electricity to where it was needed most, dissipating the price peaks in the process.

Post Views:46
July 7, 2025
by in News

Foreign renewable energy investors remain committed to Romania as large plants coming online

Renewable energy companies from abroad aren’t intimidated by negative power prices in Romania, especially with the battery storage segment accelerating. Energy giants EDP Renewables and Engie have new solar power plants, and more renewable energy facilities are coming online, while the government is disbursing European grants.

The renewable energy market in Greece is consolidating and a number of foreign investors are leaving, but some other countries in the region that Balkan Green Energy News tracks remain attractive, especially Romania and Turkey. Big names from abroad keep coming, and the established ones are commissioning facilities and committing to more projects.

Like elsewhere in Europe and beyond, the increasing occurrence of low, zero and negative power prices are impacting the sentiment in Romania. But funding from the European Union, the government’s administrative support, renewable energy auctions and bets on battery storage seemingly outweigh the current risks.

EDPR’s new photovoltaic park Albina will generate 67 GWh per year

EDP Renewables (EDPR), subsidiary of Portuguese energy giant EDP, recently inaugurated its Albina photovoltaic plant. Located in western Romania, just outside of the city of Timisoara, the renewable energy unit came online late last year.

Albina has 60 MW in peak capacity and a 48.8 MW grid connection. The company expects it to generate 67 GWh per year. EDP said that with the new plant it reinforces its commitment to Romania. It operates wind and solar power plants in the country of over 570 MW in combined capacity.

Engie praises renewable energy potential in Romania

Engie Romania commissioned the sixth photovoltaic park in its portfolio. It is located in the commune of Ariceștii Rahtivani in Prahova county. Together with the new facility, of 37.2 MW in peak capacity, French Engie’s branch in Romania now has 248 MW in renewable energy in operation.

The site covers ​​57 hectares. Estimated annual output is 57 GWh. The firm owns three wind farms of 178 MW in total while its six PV systems have 70.3 MW in overall peak capacity. Last year it built one of the first hybrid power plants in the country.

Engie Romania said the new plant strengthened its position and praised the country’s “significant potential” in the renewable energy segment. The firm targets 1 GW in the country by 2030. It also distributes natural gas and supplies both gas and electricity, and offers energy services.

Rezolv building one of largest wind power plants in Europe

The Vifor wind farm in Buzău county, northeast of Bucharest, is almost half done. Rezolv Energy plans to finish it in 2027. The first phase is for 192 MW, with a planned expansion to a colossal 461 MW.

The company purchased Vestas turbines for the wind park, which is set to become the largest in Europe and the second-largest in Romania. The developer won a fixed electricity price for 15 years in the form of a contract for difference at the country’s renewable energy auction. The wind power plant will also benefit from a power purchase agreement (PPA).

Wind farm of 99.2 MW Galaţi in to launch operations next year

OX2 is building the Green Breeze wind farm, delivering the project as a turnkey construction project for the investor, Nala Renewables. The project involves 16 Vestas V162-6.2 MW turbines, or 99.2 MW altogether. Annual production at the future wind power plant in Galaţi in the eastern part of the country is 312 GWh, according to the estimate.

The facility is on schedule for the start of operations in the first half of next year. Together with Green Breeze, OX2 is working on 620 MW in five wind power projects. The Swedish company has said it intends to grow and diversify in the country.

Enery from Austria lining up renewable electricity plants in Romania

Romania-based Enevo announced that it started building a solar park of 54.2 MW in peak capacity for Enery Development.

Also in Dâmbovița county, Enery Element, the joint venture of the Austrian company with Element Power Group, has a project for a battery-backed PV park.

Total investment is some EUR 27.5 million, of which EUR 2.4 million is from the EU’s Modernisation Fund. The solar power component is 74 MW and the battery energy storage system (BESS) would provide 10.2 MWh in capacity. The location, formally run by project firm Gura Solar Plant, is in the Gura Ocniței commune.

Ecoener, headquartered in Spain, is developing an agrivoltaic project of 11 MW

A Spanish group with an annual turnover of almost EUR 100 million wants to build the first agrisolar park in Iași county, in the commune of Țibănești. Solar panels of 11 MW in total peak capacity would be placed 1.5 meters above ground. The investor, Ecoener, established a Romanian subsidiary for the endeavor: Ecoener Țibănești.

Greece’s PPC turning its wind, PV facilities into hybrid power plants with battery storage

Greek state-controlled Public Power Corp. (PPC) is developing a BESS investment through its firm Sun Challenge, which operates the Lumina solar power project in Călugăreni, Giurgiu county. The PV facility of 63 MW in peak capacity has been online for two years now. Lumina is PPC Renewables’ largest solar power unit in Romania.

It is one in a string of the Greek company’s energy storage projects. PPC plans BESS at its wind farms Topolog (27 MWh), Corugea (80 MWh) and Sălbatica (60 MWh) in Tulcea county. It slated another 120 MWh in total storage capacity at wind power plants Nicolae Bălcescu and Târgușor in Constanța county.

PPC operates wind, photovoltaic and hydropower capacity in Romania of 1.3 GW overall

The Fântânele-Cogealac-Gradina wind farm, which PPC took over from Macquarie Asset Management, already includes a BESS facility. The 600 MW facility is the largest in Romania of its kind.

In Prahova, PPC Renewables Romania plans a 10 MWh storage system at the Berceni 1 photovoltaic park, with an installed capacity of 9.8 MW. Another storage system, of 8 MWh, would be integrated with the Colibași photovoltaic park (7 MW) in Giurgiu county.

PPC operates wind, photovoltaic and hydropower capacity in Romania of 1.3 GW overall.

Turkey-based YEO Technologies, Danish company Eurowind Energy and Solarpro, a contractor from neighboring Bulgaria, all have new investment updates, too.

Post Views:119
July 7, 2025
by in News

EU’s Modernisation Fund disburses EUR 3.66 billion for clean energy projects in nine countries

Energy modernization projects in nine member states of the European Union will receive a total of EUR 3.66 billion from the Modernisation Fund, in the largest disbursement to date from the facility financed by carbon pricing revenues, according to a press release from the European Commission. The selected projects focus on renewable energy, grid upgrades, energy storage, and energy efficiency.

The largest beneficiary of the latest disbursement is Poland, which will receive EUR 1.33 billion for its projects, followed by the Czech Republic, with EUR 1.05 billion, and Romania, with EUR 712.3 million. Hungary will get EUR 181.3 million, Croatia EUR 170 million, and Greece EUR 113.6 million. The rest will go to Latvia (EUR 40 million), Lithuania (EUR 37 million), and Slovenia (EUR 19.7 million).

Croatia will finance renewable heat production and zero-emission transportation, and Slovenia will upgrade power grid to integrate renewables

In Croatia, EUR 80 million will be used for the production and use of heat from renewable energy sources and energy efficiency improvement in heating and cooling systems. The rest will go to investments in zero-emission transportation. In Slovenia, the funding will facilitate renewables integration through the modernization and development of the electricity transmission and distribution network.

Greece, which became a Modernisation Fund beneficiary in January 2024, intends to replace urban diesel buses with new electric buses, improve energy efficiency in municipal swimming pools, and switch the heating and cooling systems in its greenhouse infrastructure to renewables.

In Romania, the funding will help improve the energy efficiency of facilities covered by the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), support the contract-for-difference (CfD) scheme for onshore wind and solar, and finance the installation of solar and wind power plants for self-consumption in the agricultural and food sectors and public institutions. It is also intended for investments in new solar, wind, and hydropower capacities and to support the modernization and rehabilitation of the district heating network.

In the Czech Republic and Lihtuania, the funding will support energy storage projects

Other example projects include investments in storage capacity for renewable electricity in the Czech Republic, investments in large-scale energy storage capacities in Lithuania, and a clean air program in Poland that focuses on energy efficiency improvements and heat source replacements in single-family houses, according to the press release.

The investments will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the energy, industry, and transportation sectors, improve energy efficiency, and help the beneficiary states meet climate and energy targets, the commission said.

The projects will also help improve people’s everyday lives, by reducing bills, improving public services, creating jobs, and making the energy transition real, fair, and beneficial for all, according to Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.

With this latest round of funding, the total disbursements from the Modernisation Fund since January 2021 have climbed to EUR 19.1 billion. The fund is financed by revenues from the auctioning of emission allowances under the EU ETS.

Post Views:91
July 4, 2025
by in News

Project underway for 99 MW Bokšić solar plant with battery storage

The Croatian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition has initiated a procedure to determine the need for an environmental impact assessment for the planned 99 MW solar power project Bokšić, which includes a battery energy storage system.

The annual electricity production of the Bokšić solar power plant is estimated at just under 120 GWh. The facility, with a planned connection power of 89 MW, would be connected to the grid through a new 110/33 kV transformer station, and then to the existing 110 kV Našice-Slatina transmission line.

The annual electricity output is estimated at just under 120 GWh

The project also includes a battery energy storage system (BESS), according to the environmental impact assessment report prepared in February and updated in June. It would be designed for an operating power of 38 MW and a capacity of 70.8 MWh, with an expected lifespan of 20 years.

Solar power plant Bokšić will have a 70.8 MWh battery system

The assessment procedure is necessary because the developer, Zagreb-based Funicula, intends to build a stand-alone photovoltaic plant, according to the ministry. The project’s site is near Bokšić, in the Đurđenovac municipality in Osijek-Baranja County.

The solar power plant is planned to occupy ​​about 123.8 hectares of land, with photovoltaic panels covering about 46 hectares. The site will be enclosed by a protective masonry fence up to two meters high, raised at least 15 centimeters above the ground to allow small animals to pass underneath, according to the ministry.

Bokšić is among the largest solar projects in Croatia

Few solar projects in Croatia are for a larger capacity than Bokšić. State power utility Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP) is working on the Korlat endeavor, also of 99 MW. At an auction last year, two major solar power projects were awarded market premiums – Promina, with a planned installed capacity of around 189 MW, developed by Spain-based Acciona Energia, and Obrovac Sinjski, for 144 MW, to be built by Aurelis Solis.

Post Views:39
July 4, 2025
by in News

IHA: Turkey’s 2024 hydropower additions highest in Europe again

The world’s hydroelectric capacity increased 1.7% last year to 1.44 TW, the International Hydropower Association said in its annual report. It highlighted the sharp rise in the pumped storage hydropower segment. Turkey doesn’t host any such energy storage facilities, but the country’s additions of conventional capacity were the highest in Europe for the second time in a row.

Hydropower generation rallied 10% to 4.58 PWh in 2024. It rebounded strongly from drought-affected lows the previous year, the International Hydropower Association (IHA) calculated. Data from its 2025 World Hydropower Outlook points to strong global momentum, led by a surge in pumped storage hydropower.

The world’s largest source of renewable electricity accounted for 14.3% of supply.

Scandinavia and Central Asia may see a 5%-15% rise in hydropower output from their current fleet, while Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East could experience declines of up to 40% by the century’s end, the authors warned. The declines are driven by longer dry periods, reduced flows and greater evaporation. IHA expects the strongest impact in countries such as Spain, Italy and Turkey.

Notably, the last of the three achieved the highest growth in Europe in overall capacity last year, for the second time in a row. Turkey added 241 MW, making it 11th in the world, after 399 MW the year before. Then it was three notches higher on a global scale.

More than half of capacity in project pipeline is for pumped storage

Hydropower development pipeline grew 8% to 1.08 TW, including 600 GW of pumped storage.

Growth in global capacity amounted to 24.6 GW, against 22 GW in 2023. In relative terms, it rose 1.7% to 1.44 TW, of which pumped storage jumped 5% or 8.4 GW to 189 GW. The rise was 6.5 GW in the previous year. The rate in the pumped storage segment doubled in the past two years.

China continues to dominate, with 14.4 GW of capacity added in 2024, including 7.75 GW of pumped storage. It translates to shares of 59% and a head-spinning 92%, respectively, on the global scale. China reached 436 GW, which was 30.2% of the world total.

Hydropower plants in Norway generated almost two times more electricity than the ones in Turkey

The country has more than 91 GW of pumped storage capacity under construction, compared to over 105 GW in the whole world! China is planning to add a whopping 136 GW beyond that in the segment.

The overall hydropower sector faces a potential shortfall of 60 GW to 70 GW by 2030 from the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) target in its “tripling renewables” scenario.

A clear business case for pumped storage in Europe is emerging, supported by a project pipeline of 52.9 GW in development, of which 3 GW is under construction, the report reads.

Turkey has strongest conventional hydroelectric fleet in Europe but poor utilization rate

Norway has the most hydropower capacity in Europe, as it reached 33.9 GW last year. Pumped storage hydropower had a share of 1.4 GW.

Turkey remained second in Europe in overall hydropower capacity and ninth in the world, at 32.77 GW. But there are no pumped storage hydroelectric units in the country, so in conventional terms it ranks the highest on the continent.

On the other hand, hydropower production in Norway was almost two times higher than in Turkey in 2024, 140 TWh versus 75 TWh. The latter increased its output from 66 TWh.

Interestingly, while IHA measured an increase of 241 MW in capacity last year in Turkey, IRENA’s earlier annual report showed growth of 424 MW, to 32.39 GW. There is nearly 600 MW currently under construction in the country, according to the update. It compares to 460 MW in the report released a year ago.

France is Europe’s third, with 25.45 GW at the end of 2024, of which 5.1 GW was pumped storage. Output was equivalent to Turkey’s.

Spain was next overall, at 22.75 GW. Portugal came in second-best in added capacity, at 160 MW. Germany is at the top of the chart in operational pumped storage hydropower – 9.45 GW.

As for the other markets that Balkan Green Energy News tracks, Greece had more than 3 GW of pumped storage projects in development at the end of 2024.

Post Views:47
July 4, 2025
by in News

YEO’s Defic Globe buys projects for 219 MW in Romania amid rebranding

Defic Globe, YEO’s Istanbul-based joint venture with Emsolt Investments, acquired 15 project firms developing plans for power plants of 219 MW in total. The portfolio also brings a potential 320 MWh in battery energy storage systems (BESS). Separately, YEO launched its CALL Energy brand, which aims to build 1 GW in capacity by 2030.

Through its subsidiary Defic Globe, YEO Technology (YEO Teknoloji Enerji ve Endüstri) is continuing its expansion in Romania. The Istanbul-based joint venture with Emsolt Investments took over 15 special purpose vehicles (SPVs) or firms for particular investments. They are developing projects for power plants of 218.7 MW in overall peak capacity.

The facilities would be of different sizes and in various locations around Romania, the company said. In addition, the new portfolio brings the possibility for building BESS units with a combined capacity of 320 MWh, according to the update.

YEO, which holds 51% of Defic Globe, estimated the total investment at EUR 220 million. It said the acquisition grows its project portfolio in Romania to 590 MW in peak capacity. Some facilities are operational or under construction, and the others are in the planning phase.

The group comprises direct investments and joint endeavors with Shanghai Electric Power, Scatec and other international companies.

New brand CALL Energy investing up to USD 1 billion

YEO is active in more than 30 countries, delivering turnkey solutions in energy and industrial systems. In the Balkans, in addition to its energy expertise role, it invests in renewable energy projects.

The company carries out projects in areas from advanced energy storage solutions to power grids, high voltage transformer centers, renewable energy plants, industrial, commercial facilities and household energy conversion to hydrogen. YEO was a friend of this year’s edition of Belgrade Energy Forum, organized by Balkan Green Energy News.

Separately, the company launched its CALL Energy brand, formerly YEO Energy (YEO Enerji), and appointed Sacit Akbaş as the subsidiary’s chief executive officer. It aims to invest between USD 750 million and USD 1 billion, of which up to 70% abroad, to build 1 GW in capacity by 2030.

Projects for 1.5 GW in ten countries

Under the slogan CALL to Renewable Energy, the firm intends to develop large-scale projects, especially in Europe. The target growth markets are the eastern part of Europe and the Sub-Saharan regions of Africa, it revealed.

YEO Technology’s renewable energy arm operates 32.6 MW in peak capacity in Romania and Italy. It is about to boost the Romanian part to over 190 MW in peak capacity this year, with two power plants under construction. The project portfolio amounts to 1.5 GW.

YEO Technology’s renewable energy arm counts on growth through EPC services as well

CEO Akbaş came from Enerjisa, where he was the energy solutions director for more than two years. He said more than 30 projects are underway in ten countries on three continents.

CALL Energy also sees growth opportunities in contracting engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services through the said endeavors. It added that it would engage in asset management as well.

The firm highlighted its preliminary licenses for nine battery-backed solar power projects in Turkey, of 346 MW in total connection capacity. It slated two of them for the start of construction next year. Furthermore, permitting is nearly complete for four hydropower projects of 32 MW altogether. The sites are on the Aras river in eastern Turkey.

Post Views:17