January 28, 2026
by in News

ContourGlobal enters Greece with battery projects, small PV plants purchase

KKR-owned ContourGlobal bought a group of small solar power plants in Greece, alongside a portfolio of battery storage projects totaling 500 MW in operating power and 2 GWh in capacity. It is the company’s debut in the country’s energy sector.

Right after the inauguration of its standalone battery energy storage system in Bulgaria of 202 MW and 500 MWh, ContourGlobal revealed that it entered neighboring Greece through three acquisitions. The London-based company said it acquired photovoltaic systems of 37 MW in overall peak capacity and a group of mature projects for battery energy storage systems (BESS).

There are 26 solar power plants, commissioned between 2011 and 2022. They were owned by Quest Energy, a subsidiary of Quest Holdings, listd on the Athens Stock Exchange. The assets are contracted under feed-in tariff (FiT) and feed-in premium (FiP) supporting schemes, providing both predictable and premium revenues, ContourGlobal pointed out.

Expected yearly output is 51 GWh, enough to power as many as 15,000 Greek households per year.

ContourGlobal has acquired in recent months the full ownership of six battery storage projects through two different transactions with FRV (Fotowatio Renewable Ventures) from Spain and Greek developer Zephiros, the announcement adds. They total 500 MW in capability and 2 GWh of storage capacity.

ContourGlobal is breaking ground for its first BESS plant in Greece this quarter

The ready-to-build (RtB) Taxiarches project is for 100 MW and 400 MWh, respectively. The site is in Farkadona in the Trikala regional unit in Thessaly. Construction is scheduled to begin before the end of March and commercial operation is expected by early 2027.

“Building on our experience operating large-scale BESS projects from Chile to Bulgaria and on the developments already underway in the United States, we see Greece as a key market to scale our battery storage portfolio in Europe and support the country’s energy transition,” Chief Executive Officer Antonio Cammisecra said.

All BESS projects have permits

All projects have secured environmental approvals and key permits, and have applied for grid connection, ContourGlobal stressed.

Although Greece is a relatively small power market in Europe with 24 GW of installed capacity, it is the second-largest in the Balkan region and is experiencing rapid growth in renewables, the company added.

“While historically dominated by lignite and gas, the country is accelerating renewable development, with solar and wind capacity projected to reach around 60 GW by 2060. At the end of the current decade, nearly 70% of installed capacity and electricity generation are expected to come from renewable sources, increasing the need for flexible, grid-scale storage. Moreover, the country is projected to become a net exporter of electricity from 2026,” the update reads.

Expansion ambitions for Greece, Europe

The company said it is assessing further development opportunities in Greece as part of its long-term growth strategy in renewables and battery storage.

ContourGlobal underscored that the new transactions are strengthening its European platform for further growth in renewables and battery storage, building on its established presence in Italy, Spain and Austria.

As for Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria is booming with BESS throughout, Romania is gaining momentum, while Greece is taking a long jump approach, with some administrative hurdles continuing. Turkey is commissioning its first hybrid power plants.

Of note, ContourGlobal was involved in a coal power project in Kosovo* but eventually decided to quit, citing political issues.

Post Views:43
* This designation is without prejudice to positions onstatus and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
January 15, 2026
by in News

Greece’s IPTO mulls capital increase with existing shareholders

Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy is reportedly nearing a final decision regarding a capital increase for Independent Power Transmission Operator. The state-controlled transmission system operator (TSO) needs EUR 1.1 billion to continue its investment projects. The government is said to be in favor of existing shareholders providing the funds. There were rumors earlier that the government was going to sell a stake, where it would become a minority co-owner but remain in the driver’s seat, like it did before with Public Power Corp.

Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) needs a capital injection of some EUR 1.1 billion to keep the ten-year core growth plan worth EUR 7.8 billion on track, according to Greek media reports. The government holds a 51% stake through two entities, and the only other major shareholder is State Grid Corp. of China. It acquired 24% in 2017.

The company, also known for its Greek acronym Admie, is said to require an urgent capital increase as it can’t get loans anymore. The last one amounted to EUR 300 million, from the National Bank of Greece.

Greece aiming to keep 51% stake amid geopolitical uncertainty

Energypress learned, citing unnamed sources in the Ministry of Environment and Energy, that the government is about to make a decision. The latest unofficial information was that, due to unprecedented geopolitical uncertainty, Greece wants to keep its majority stake and raise the capital in tandem with other existing shareholders.

China’s State Grid holds 24% of IPTO since 2017

Earlier reports have indicated that the government was considering a sale of a stake and a stock market listing. It would keep some 34%, allowing it to continue running the Independent Power Transmission Operator, like it did in 2021 with Public Power Corp. – PPC Group.

Major tender already underway for Dodecanese Interconnection

Most of the capital expenditure through 2034 is scheduled for before the end of the decade, EUR 6.5 billion. The biggest projects on the current ten-year list, updated in September, are the Dodecanese Interconnection, North Aegean Interconnection and the one for the second line to Italy. They amount to EUR 5.2 billion in total. All three are for submarine cables.

Last month the TSO published a tender for a bidirectional undersea link between the mainland grid, in Corinth, and the Dodecanese island of Kos. The cable system would be 1,290 kilometers long and have 1 GW in total transmission capacity. The budget is EUR 1.35 billion.

Notably, the company froze another major tender last year after receiving the bids in April.

Interconnections with Egypt and Saudi Arabia are planned in the longer term. The Crete-Cyprus link, part of the Great Sea Interconnector endeavor, is also separate.

BlackRock, Meridiam, Fortress, Fidelity, KKR and Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. (TAQA) were rumored to have expressed interest in entering ownership, among others.

Post Views:83
January 15, 2026
by in News

ContourGlobal installs 500 MWh standalone BESS facility in Bulgaria

A standalone battery energy storage system of 202 MW and 500 MWh is fully operational and actively participating in Bulgaria’s day-ahead and intraday electricity markets. ContourGlobal built it at its Maritsa East 3 coal plant, using the grid connection of one of its former units. Acting Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov, who attended the inauguration, said the country added 5 GWh last year and estimated that the overall BESS capacity would hit 15 GWh by mid-2026.

Bulgaria is, with the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany, in the group of only European Union member states in which more than a fifth of electricity is still generated from coal. But the situation is rapidly changing. One of the biggest standalone battery storage installations in Eastern Europe and among the first in Bulgaria recently came online. Located within the ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3 (Maritsa iztok 3) coal power plant, the facility uses the grid connection of a former unit.

Two remained in operation, supplying electricity during periods of peak demand.

The BESS has 202 MW in operating power and a duration of 2.5 hours, translating to 500 MWh, the company said. It inaugurated the battery system in the presence of Acting Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov.

Stankov: New BESS creates sustainable pathway for evolution of Maritsa East coal complex

The new facility is actively participating in both the day-ahead and intraday national electricity markets, supporting optimized power dispatch and improved balancing of electricity supply and demand, the update adds.

Such projects signify how innovation and existing industrial infrastructure can work together to strengthen grid stability, improve flexibility, and accelerate the integration of renewable energy sources, Stankov stressed. The investment enhances energy security, supports market-based operation, and creates a sustainable pathway for the evolution of traditional energy hubs such as Maritsa East, in his words.

According to the acting minister, Bulgaria added 5 GWh of BESS capacity last year, nearly matching the Chaira pumped storage hydropower plant. He recalled that the overall level is set to reach 15 GWh by mid-2026.

Project materialized in under nine months

The project in Maritsa East 3 received just under EUR 30 million in support through the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the Bulgarian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The company participated with EUR 44.7 million.

Spanning 2.5 hectares, the installation is part of ContourGlobal’s 3 GWh operational BESS portfolio. The company is owned by KKR.

BYD supplied the 110 battery skids for the battery system, which also includes 28 power conversion system (PCS) and transformer units. ContourGlobal progressed from the final investment decision (FID) to commercial operation date (COD) in less than nine months.

The company is developing a second BESS on the same site, with a matching capability. It has a project for a battery in combination with a solar power plant as well.

Battery energy systems allow for the storage of electricity generated from various sources, including photovoltaic and wind power plants, during periods of low demand and its release back to the grid during peak demand, which helps balance production and consumption and the stable operation of the electricity transmission system.

Coal plants switching to energy storage

AES Corp. is interested in replacing one of the boilers in its AES Maritsa East 1 (AES Maritsa iztok 1) coal plant with a molten salt reactor.

Greece’s government-controlled Public Power Corp. (PPC Group) is already building BESS facilities at its coal plants.

German utility Uniper is planning to build a battery energy storage system at its Heyden coal power plant site in western Germany with Slovenia-based energy solutions provider NGEN.

Thre months ago, International Power Supply (IPS) opened its Factory X1, with a capacity of 3 GWh per year. It is the first gigafactory in Bulgaria for battery energy storage systems. The same company is building another manufacturing facility.

Post Views:120
January 13, 2026
by in News

Greece’s IPTO mulls capital increase with existing shareholders

Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy is reportedly nearing a final decision regarding a capital increase for Independent Power Transmission Operator. The state-controlled transmission system operator (TSO) needs EUR 1.1 billion to continue its investment projects. The government is said to be in favor of existing shareholders providing the funds. There were rumors earlier that the government was going to sell a stake, where it would become a minority co-owner but remain in the driver’s seat, like it did before with Public Power Corp.

Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) needs a capital injection of some EUR 1.1 billion to keep the ten-year core growth plan worth EUR 7.8 billion on track, according to Greek media reports. The government holds a 51% stake through two entities, and the only other major shareholder is State Grid Corp. of China. It acquired 24% in 2017.

The company, also known for its Greek acronym Admie, is said to require an urgent capital increase as it can’t get loans anymore. The last one amounted to EUR 300 million, from the National Bank of Greece.

Greece aiming to keep 51% stake amid geopolitical uncertainty

Energypress learned, citing unnamed sources in the Ministry of Environment and Energy, that the government is about to make a decision. The latest unofficial information was that, due to unprecedented geopolitical uncertainty, Greece wants to keep its majority stake and raise the capital in tandem with other existing shareholders.

China’s State Grid holds 24% of IPTO since 2017

Earlier reports have indicated that the government was considering a sale of a stake and a stock market listing. It would keep some 34%, allowing it to continue running the Independent Power Transmission Operator, like it did in 2021 with Public Power Corp. – PPC Group.

Major tender already underway for Dodecanese Interconnection

Most of the capital expenditure through 2034 is scheduled for before the end of the decade, EUR 6.5 billion. The biggest projects on the current ten-year list, updated in September, are the Dodecanese Interconnection, North Aegean Interconnection and the one for the second line to Italy. They amount to EUR 5.2 billion in total. All three are for submarine cables.

Last month the TSO published a tender for a bidirectional undersea link between the mainland grid, in Corinth, and the Dodecanese island of Kos. The cable system would be 1,290 kilometers long and have 1 GW in total transmission capacity. The budget is EUR 1.35 billion.

Notably, the company froze another major tender last year after receiving the bids in April.

Interconnections with Egypt and Saudi Arabia are planned in the longer term. The Crete-Cyprus link, part of the Great Sea Interconnector endeavor, is also separate.

BlackRock, Meridiam, Fortress, Fidelity, KKR and Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. (TAQA) were rumored to have expressed interest in entering ownership, among others.

Post Views:48
January 12, 2026
by in News

ContourGlobal installs 500 MWh standalone BESS facility in Bulgaria

A standalone battery energy storage system of 202 MW and 500 MWh is fully operational and actively participating in Bulgaria’s day-ahead and intraday electricity markets. ContourGlobal built it at its Maritsa East 3 coal plant, using the grid connection of one of its former units. Acting Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov, who attended the inauguration, said the country added 5 GWh last year and estimated that the overall BESS capacity would hit 15 GWh by mid-2026.

One of the biggest standalone battery storage installations in Eastern Europe and among the first in Bulgaria recently came online. Located within the ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3 (Maritsa iztok 3) coal power plant, the facility uses the grid connection of a former unit. Two remained in operation, supplying electricity during periods of peak demand.

The BESS has 202 MW in operating power and a duration of 2.5 hours, translating to 500 MWh, the company said. It inaugurated the battery system in the presence of Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov.

Stankov: New BESS creates sustainable pathway for evolution of Maritsa East

The new facility is actively participating in both the day-ahead and intraday national electricity markets, supporting optimized power dispatch, improved balancing of electricity supply and demand, and the integration of renewable energy sources, while enhancing overall system stability and flexibility, the update adds.

Such projects signify how innovation and existing industrial infrastructure can work together to strengthen grid stability, improve flexibility, and accelerate the integration of renewable energy sources, Stankov stressed. The investment enhances energy security, supports market-based operation, and creates a sustainable pathway for the evolution of traditional energy hubs such as Maritsa East, in his words.

According to the acting minister, Bulgaria added 5 GWh of BESS capacity last year, nearly matching the Chaira pumped storage hydropower plant. He recalled that the overall level is set to reach 15 GWh by mid-2026.

Project materialized in under nine months

The project in Maritsa East 3 received support through the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the Bulgarian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). Spanning 2.5 hectares, the installation is part of the company’s 3 GWh operational BESS portfolio. ContourGlobal is owned by KKR.

BYD supplied the 110 battery skids for the battery system, which also includes 28 power conversion system (PCS) and transformer units. ContourGlobal progressed from the final investment decision (FID) to commercial operation date (COD) in less than nine months.

The company is developing a second BESS on the same site, with a matching capability. It has a battery project in combination with a solar power plant as well.

Battery energy systems allow for the storage of electricity generated from various sources, including photovoltaic and wind power plants, during periods of low demand and its release back to the grid during peak demand, which helps balance production and consumption and the stable operation of the electricity transmission system.

Three months ago, International Power Supply (IPS) opened its Factory X1, with a capacity of 3 GWh per year. It is the first gigafactory in Bulgaria for battery energy storage systems. The same company is building another manufacturing facility.

Post Views:53
December 19, 2025
by in News

Engie Romania to double its renewables capacity with 253.1 MW wind farm project

Engie Romania, a subsidiary of French energy giant Engie, has bought a 253.1 MW wind farm project in Ialomiţa County. The wind farm, currently under construction, will double the company’s renewable energy portfolio in Romania to over 500 MW.

The Ialomiţa Nord wind farm project was acquired from the Romanian subsidiary of Portugal-based Greenvolt, owned by US investment fund KKR. The value of the transaction was not disclosed. According to earlier reports, the project is valued at EUR 400 million.

With 42 turbines, Ialomiţa Nord will be among the largest wind farms in Romania. It is expected to become fully operational in 2027, local media reported, and sell electricity through a 15-year contract for difference (CfD).

The project will benefit from a 15-year contract for difference

Engie Romania currently owns and operates a total of 248 MW of renewable energy facilities – three wind farms, with a total capacity of 178 MW, and six solar power plants, totaling 70 MW. Ialomiţa Nord will increase its total renewables generation capacity in the country to 501.1 MW.

“With this acquisition, Engie continues to make significant progress in achieving its development plans in Romania, doubling its installed capacity for renewable energy production and consolidating its position in a market with remarkable potential,” said Cristian Buzan, Executive Vice President of Engie Romania.

The company has also secured CfDs for two other projects – one wind farm and one solar park – with a combined capacity of 224 MW. Earlier this year, it completed the acquisition of a 54 MW wind power project. The site is in Mereni in central Romania.

Engie plans to boost its renewables production and energy storage capacity in Romania to 1 GW

Engie’s objective is to increase its renewable energy production and storage capacity in Romania to 1 GW by 2030. The company supplies natural gas and electricity to over 2.3 million customers in Romania.

Post Views:32
December 8, 2025
by in News

Greenvolt orders GE Vernova wind turbines for its 250 MW project in Romania

GE Vernova said it would start the delivery in 2026 of 42 of its 6.1 MW-158m wind turbines to Greenvolt for the Gurbănești project near Bucharest. Together with the recent order for the nearby Ialomiţa wind farm, the Portugal-based firm secured half a gigawatt in capacity.

Greenvolt is nearing the launch of construction of two wind farms in Romania. Soon after acknowledging an order for 42 of its 6.1 MW-158m wind turbines, GE Vernova said it would deliver another identical batch for the Gurbănești project.

The site is just east from Bucharest, in Călărași county. Domestic company Renovatio developed the project through special purpose vehicle Gura Ialomiței Solar, backed by Portuguese investment fund RNVQ FCR.

Greenvolt is a subsidiary of KKR. In Southeastern Europe, it is also active in Greece, Croatia, Bulgaria and Serbia.

As for the wind turbine model, its nameplate capacity is 4.8 MW to 6.1 MW, and the 158 meters is the rotor diameter.

The previous order, in October, was for Greenvolt’s Ialomița Nord project. It received final authorization in June from the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) of Romania for 246.4 MW. Notably, GE Vernova said the capacity of its turbines would be 252 MW.

Located in neighboring Ialomița county, the wind turbines would be in three groups in the communities of Țăndărei, Gheorghe Lazăr, Grivița and Ograda. The project firm is called Țăndărei Solar.

Both wind farms will benefit from state support for 125 MW each. The developers won contracts for difference at Romania’s first wind power auction, a year ago. Gurbănești has a contract for EUR 64.98 per MWh, compared to Ialomița Nord’s EUR 67.89 per MWh.

GE Vernova has agreed to supply and install all units and commission both wind parks. It said they would amount to 500 MW in total. Deliveries are set to begin next year, for completion in 2027.

The wind turbine manufacturer said the annual output would be sufficient for more than 110,000 Romanian households.

Post Views:48
August 12, 2025
by in News

Wind power takes lead in new renewables investment wave in Romania

The rising number of maturing wind power projects and the ones under construction in Romania has highlighted the increasing role of the technology for the country’s energy transition. The recent updates are for three locations in the country’s east.

Investments in wind power in Romania are rebounding from a long lull. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the country hosted nearly 3.1 GW in wind power capacity at the end of 2024. It achieved a peak of 3.24 GW a decade before. Investors are maturing an increasing number of projects or beginning construction, alongside significant acquisition activity.

Together with a wave of investments in battery storage, the wind power segment is making the domestic renewable energy market more balanced. It was dominated by photovoltaics for several years – primarily by the meteoric rise in the number of prosumers. Of note, there were 228,302 at the end of May, operating 2.73 GW in capacity.

New Minister of Energy Bogdan Ivan recently estimated that another 3.2 GW of solar and wind power combined would come online in Romania by the end of 2026.

Wind park of over 250 MW in Ialomița to be completed in 2027

The administration of Ialomița County in the country’s east announced that KKR, its subsidiary Greenvolt and Renovatio would build a wind park of more than 250 MW. It would consist of three power plants in the area around Țăndărei, Gheorghe Lazăr, Grivița and Ograda.

According to the regional authority, the Ialomița wind farm project east of Bucharest is worth more than EUR 400 million. Its completion is expected in 2027.

Greenvolt has won support for more than half of capacity in its Ialomița Nord wind power project at the government’s first wind and solar power auction, through a contract for difference (CfD). Total investment is for 246.4 MW.

Greek renewables giant to start construction of two wind power plants

HELLENiQ Renewables Romania, operating under Greece-based HELLENiQ Energy, acquired Ansthall Green Energy from OX2. The project firm owns a ready-to-build wind project in Scânteiesti in Galaţi in eastern Romania, with a licensed capacity of 96 MW.

The Greek parent company said construction is starting immediately through a deal with OX2 Construction. It expects to put the facility into operation in 2027.

It has a 12-year virtual power purchase agreement (PPA) with Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize, for 158 GWh per year. The company operates supermarket chains. Total annual output is estimated at 309 GWh.

HELLENiQ Energy revealed that it has bought two ready-to-build projects of 282 MW in total

HELLENiQ Energy’s Romanian company also signed a contract to take over Helios and Wind Energy, a special purpose vehicle owning a ready-to-build wind project in the nearby Vaslui region. The licensed capacity is 186 MW and there is an option to add a battery energy storage system (BESS). It would have 186 MW in operational power as well and a duration of one hour, translating to 186 MWh.

Regulators in Romania must approve the agreement before the transaction.

In addition, the company completed the purchase of a ready-to-build PV project of 123 MW in peak capacity. The location is in Haskovo region in southern Bulgaria, which marks HELLENiQ’s entry into the country. The solar power plant can include a BESS facility of 90 MW and 180 MWh.

The company previously known as Hellenic Petroleum (HELPE) intends to start the construction of two BESS in its home market. They would have 50 MW and 200 MWh altogether. The two endeavors in Florina were among the winners in the third auction for battery storage in Greece.

Turkish company, Romanian footbal star’s daughter advance joint project

The third recent update is for one of the biggest planned wind farms in Romania, also in the east. The location for the Dăeni project is in Tulcea county. It has received the grid connection approval from Transelectrica and an environmental permit from the National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA or, in Romanian, ANPM).

Project documentation for the wind power plant of 56 turbines of 7.2 MW each shows the facility should be commissioned by the end of 2031, Profit.ro reported. It translates to 403.2 MW in nominal capacity. Dăeni would have a connection to the transmission grid of over 394 MW.

Oxigen Delta is 50% owned by a subsidiary of Turkey-based Sanko Enerji

The developer is Oxigen Delta, in which 50% is owned by a subsidiary of Turkey-based Sanko Enerji, part of Sanko Holding. Milana-Maria Ilie, daughter of famous former Romanian football player Adrian Ilie, is among the main shareholders, the article adds. The investment was valued at some EUR 800 million last year.

Eximprod, which installed the first wind turbine in Romania more than two decades ago, has delivered the first megawatt-hours to the grid from its new wind farm in the country’s east. Rezolv secured a financing package for the second phase of its giant Vifor wind farm in Buzău county

Eurowind Energy built the turbines earlier this year at its Pecineaga wind park. Greece-based Public Power Corp. (PPC) is supposed to connect its Deleni facility to the grid before the end of the year.

OX2 is constructing the Green Breeze wind farm as the turnkey contractor for the investor, Nala Renewables.

Post Views:102
August 4, 2025
by in News

KKR to provide Greenvolt with EUR 150 million capital boost

Greenvolt Group said its majority owner KKR fully subscribed to a EUR 150 million share capital increase. The transaction will especially support investments in battery storage.

In two tranches, KKR will increase the capital of its subsidiary Greenvolt by EUR 150 million. The injection is particularly aimed for the segment of utility-scale battery energy storage systems. The transaction reflects continued confidence in Greenvolt’s execution capabilities and long-term growth potential, the statement adds.

The update revealed the first phase of the capital increase, totaling EUR 100 million, would be completed in the coming days, and that the rest is expected to be completed by September 30. The Portuguese firm’s core business segments are sustainable biomass, utility scale, and distributed generation.

Greenvolt sold renewable energy assets for EUR 528.3 million in the first half of the year

It tends to sell 70% to 80% of its large-scale projects at the ready-to-build (RtB) or commercial operation date (COD) phases. Greenvolt said two months ago that it held a 13.2 GW pipeline across 18 countries, aiming to bring at least 5.3 GW to RTB by the end of the year. The renewable energy company has a probability-weighted pipeline of 4.3 GW in BESS across nine countries, with projects under construction in Poland, the United Kingdom and Hungary.

Greenvolt said its asset rotation sales in the first half of the year reinforced its capacity to finance the next investment cycle in Europe, North America and Asia.

“This capital increase is part of the path we’ve been building alongside our shareholder and once again demonstrates its commitment to Greenvolt’s strategy,” Chief Executive Officer João Manso Neto stated.

In early June, the company said it has agreed to sell a 231 MW portfolio of wind and solar projects in Spain, through its partnership with Green Mind Ventures, to Transiziona. The deal was worth EUR 195 million. Earlier this year, Greenvolt divested of EUR 333.3 million worth of utility-scale assets in Poland, mostly wind power.

Post Views:80
April 3, 2025
by in News

Renewables equipment factory to contribute to just transition of coal region in Romania

Monsson Group is preparing to build a manufacturing facility in Petrila for renewable energy equipment, including robots that clean solar panels. The project received funding to contribute to the just transition of Romania’s coal region Jiu valley – Hunedoara.

An investment of nearly EUR 10 million in the first phase is underway in Transylvania, in the town of Petrila, economically devastated after the closure of a coal mine. The project is aimed at reviving the area with a factory for renewable energy equipment such as enclosures for battery energy storage systems, wiring and robots that clean photovoltaic panels.

Monsson Group revealed its facility would also manufacture gear for monitoring environmental parameters and tracking fauna in the area. The Sweden-based company has said 70% of the investment would be covered from Romania’s Just Transition Program which is in turn part of the European Union’s Just Transition Facility.

Romania is planning to prolong the operation of its coal power plants and mines for a smoother switch to renewable sources, in terms of electricity supply. However, such facilities are becoming less financially viable by the day all across the EU. Coal regions are facing economic blows from early shutdowns of power plants and mines.

First major private investment in Petrila

According to Monsson, the new factory would employ more than fifty people in the first phase. It expects to begin construction mid-year.

It is the first major private investment in Petrila, Mayor Vasile Jurca said. He said the project enables reskilling and sustainable development. The local authority provided the land for the factory. Romania has earmarked substantial funding for the construction of renewable energy equipment plants.

The second part of the plan is to install a 20 MWh battery energy storage system to provide system services to the national grid, followed by a 50 MWh unit.

Reskilling program underway

The group, which includes Wind Power Energy and its RenewAcad network of renewable energy training centers, established cooperation with the University of Petroșani in getting skilled workers. Monsson is one of the biggest renewable energy investors in the country.

Petrila is part of the Jiu Valley in Hunedoara county, Romania’s main coal region. It is located near Oltenia, the other coal complex, in the counties of Gorj and Dolj.

Notably, the Maritsa East 3 coal power plant in neighboring Bulgaria ceased operations yesterday again after it was briefly brought back online to maintain energy security.

Post Views:48