May 21, 2025
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Low consumption causes grid failure, power outage in North Macedonia

A grid failure caused a brief power outage in North Macedonia in the early hours on Sunday, May 18. Disruptions at the affected 400/110 kV transformer stations were triggered by high voltage levels in the grid, caused by low consumption, typical for nighttime hours and weekends at this time of year, according to a statement by the country’s transmission system operator, MEPSO.

MEPSO said its teams restored normal electricity supply in about an hour and were working to fully normalize the stability of the power system.

According to the update, grid instability caused by low consumption at nighttime and on weekends is a problem shared by almost all transmission system operators in the region and around Europe.

Bulgaria’s energy minister: Bulgaria played the crucial role in stabilizing North Macedonia’s grid

At the same time, Bulgarian Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov said that a grid failure had affected several countries in Southeast Europe, though not Bulgaria. He added that his country’s balancing facilities were crucial in stabilizing North Macedonia’s grid, restoring supply, and preventing the crisis from spreading further. In Bulgaria, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) is responsible for the transmission network.

He claimed Serbia and Croatia have also experienced problems due to a lack of balancing facilities. “The colleagues from Serbia also had certain difficulties in the morning hours, and we managed to balance them out,” Stankov stated.

EMS has denied that any disruptions or outages occurred in Serbia

However, Serbia’s transmission system operator Elektromreža Srbije (EMS) told Balkan Green Energy news that the country’s grid did not experience any disruptions or outages and that there was no need for assistance from Bulgaria. EMS said it would not specifically comment on the Bulgarian minister’s statement because it was unclear what it was referring to.

In its reply to Balkan Green Energy News, EMS underscores that there were no consequences for the transmission system of the Republic of Serbia, explaining that EMS, at the request of MEPSO, to facilitate the repairs in North Macedonia, temporarily shut down the 400 kV transmission line between the Vranje 4 transformer station and the North Macedonian border.

Renewables had no share in the problem, according to Stankov

Stankov also stressed that solar power plants did not play a role in the crisis, unlike in Portugal and Spain in late April. The grid failure occurred in the early morning hours and amid low renewable energy generation, he said, adding that “renewable energy had no share in the problem.”

Bulgaria plans to build three new pumped storage hydropower plants

Bulgaria’s system remained stable thanks to its generating and balancing capacities, in Stankov’s view. He told the press that the country possesses 90% of all the reactive energy compensation capabilities in Southeast Europe.

Bulgaria is working with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to build at least three pumped storage hydropower plants in the Rhodope region, aimed at further enhancing regional grid resilience, Stankov pointed out. The minister vowed to keep the country’s grid on standby to support other regional networks in need of stabilization.

Stankov revealed that one such project is being developed for the Vacha dam. The other two pumped storage hydropower plants are planned to be built on the Dospat and Batak dams.

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May 16, 2025
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Weakness in Serbian energy system is no option

Serbia’s state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) is committed to its own and the country’s goals for green energy and emission cuts, but it is sustainable only if it doesn’t jeopardize energy security, Chief Executive Officer Dušan Živković said. Weakness in the energy system is not an option, he underscored.

The recent blackout in entire Spain and Portugal and the one last year in the Balkans have imposed the topic of large energy storage facilities which would support the integration of renewables, CEO of EPS Dušan Živković said at Belgrade Energy Forum (BEF 2025). The company is committed to its own and the country’s goals for green energy and emission cuts, he asserted.

“We will work on that, of course, believing in these objectives, but without compromising energy security and the energy sovereignty of the state of Serbia. It was proven to be the only sustainable path and that if we don’t follow it, it can result in situations that are not a good message toward consumers, and they are not a good message toward investors either. Weakness in the energy system is certainly not an option”, Živković stated.

In its Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (INECP or NECP), Serbia is targeting for 2030 a 45.2% share of renewable energy sources in electricity production and a decrease of greenhouse gases by 40.3% from the 1990 level.

Decarbonization is not easy without serious storage

Among its other activities, EPS is working on its small green energy projects on open cast coal mines, while the strategic partner, a consortium of UGT Renewables (UGTR) and Hyundai Engineering, is tasked with building a group of solar power plants of 1 GW in combined connection capacity alongside 200 MW of battery energy storage, and transfer them to Serbia’s government-controlled power utility, Živković noted. But the process of decarbonization with necessary renewable energy capacity won’t be easy “without serious storage,” he stressed.

Serbia hosts fossil fuel power plants of 4 GW in total

Big energy storage projects are financially challenging, only marginally cost effective, and they are not easy to build, EPS’s head claims. They are necessary to be able to draw enough baseload energy, and in Serbia they need to contribute replacing a large fossil fuel capacity – currently it amounts to 4 GW, Živković said.

Pumped storage hydropower project Bistrica, existing facility Bajina Bašta enable comfort for signing PPAs

EPS primarily focuses on the Bistrica pumped storage hydropower project and the possibility to develop the one for Đerdap 3, he added. That way conditions would be created for the facilities to provide new services in the market, so “the region feels safer, too,” Živković underscored.

Counting on Bistrica and the existing pumped storage hydropower plant, Bajina Bašta, EPS is in “a comfortable zone” for signing power purchase agreements (PPA) with companies for their green power plants, Živković explained. Bajina Bašta is undergoing the second half of reconstruction works.

Turning back to the April 28 collapse of the Iberian electricity system, Živković pointed to the adverse interest of private investors – get profit in the short term – and companies responsible for energy security. In his view, it is necessary to act “more intergenerationally responsibly” and very important to find balance in relation to profits.

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May 2, 2025
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US interested in pumped storage hydropower projects in Romania, Bulgaria

Minister of Energy of Romania Sebastian Burduja and Minister of Energy of Bulgaria Zhecho Stankov both met with United States Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and discussed bilateral cooperation in projects in their countries including for pumped storage hydropower plants and nuclear power plants. Burduja said studies would be conducted with American support for a string of pumped storage hydroelectric facilities throughout the Carpathians.

At the sidelines of the 2025 Three Seas Business Forum in Warsaw, Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja held a meeting with US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright about ongoing strategic projects in which American companies are involved. He revealed that state-owned power utility Hidroelectrica has signed a memorandum with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the United States on cooperation in pumped storage hydropower projects.

The initiative will put Romania “at the forefront of Europe” as it will store green energy throughout the Carpathian mountain range, according to Burduja. Prefeasibility and feasibility studies will be developed with American support, he added.

“In this era of energy transition, we need pragmatic and effective solutions that ensure secure, affordable, and clean energy – in that order of priorities. Romania and the United States share a vision for a common energy future, and our collaboration will significantly contribute to achieving this goal,” the minister stated.

Significant involvement of US companies in strategic energy projects in Romania

Burduja highlighted NuScale’s project for small modular reactors (SMRs) in Doicești and the contract signed with Fluor and Sargent and Lundy for units 3 and 4 at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant. Fluor is also participating in a project for a high-voltage direct current interconnector (HVDC), he pointed out.

The lack of interconnections is bolstering energy prices

The minister noted that American partners are involved in a project for mapping and utilizing geothermal sources for district heating in Bucharest, with support from the European Union’s Modernisation Fund. Namely, Electrocentrale Bucharest (ELCEN) has established cooperation with US-based SAGE Geosystems

Burduja recalled that American platform Transocean Barents is drilling for gas in the Neptun Deep project in the Black Sea.

The Romanian ministry said the two officials discussed the rise of energy prices, attributing it to the lack of interconnections and the challenge of closing coal-fired power plants without viable alternatives. They also touched upon the costs of carbon dioxide certificates and how they affect competitiveness, the announcement reads.

Stankov, Wright discuss possibility of building AI ‘gigafactories’

Bulgarian Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov separately met with US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. Bulgaria will be the first in Europe to deploy the American AP1000 technology, Stankov claimed.

The country is preparing to build two more units at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant, in a deal with Westinghouse Electric. State-owned Bulgarian Energy Holding is controlling the project.

The two officials discussed the possibility of building “artificial intelligence gigafactories” to complement the nuclear infrastructure and promote innovation and employment, the ministry said. In addition, Stankov and Wright spoke about projects for new pumped storage hydropower and the exploration of oil and natural gas in the Black Sea.

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April 29, 2025
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Episodes of negative power prices in Slovenia, Romania spread to workdays

Romania registered the first negative day-ahead electricity price for a workday. The phenomenon, which only used to occur on holidays and weekends, has emerged in Slovenia as well.

In spring and autumn, most of Europe occasionally faces periods of excessive power grid loads. The rapid rise in solar and wind power production and the lack of accompanying energy storage and flexibility capabilities are straining the system at times when demand is low. Advanced electricity markets countered the issue by introducing negative prices.

When prices hit zero or go below zero, the seller delivers electricity without compensation or even has to pay to the buyer, respectively. The phenomenon was normally reserved for holidays and weekends, but more day-ahead markets are now experiencing it for workdays as well.

Downward pressure in Romania from strong inflow of negatively priced electricity via Hungary

Romania saw its first such episode yesterday, on Sunday, in the session for today, Profit.ro reported. Prices in its day-ahead market are negative in five out of 24 periods of one hour, between 11:00 and 16:00.

The country is importing at almost 2 GW via Hungary and exporting at up to 1.5 GW to Bulgaria, the news website added. The article notes that renewable energy producers, especially in Germany, where prices are also negative, are exporting to other markets to ease the impact. They usually benefit from subsidies, so generating electricity isn’t necessarily unprofitable even when they sell at a loss.

In addition, shutting down and restarting power plants can be more costly than paying the other side to take excess output.

The level in Romania went to as low as EUR 6.18 per MWh below zero. But the daily average is EUR 76.54 per MWh. The peak, is EUR 198.16 per MWh, between 20:00 and 21:00, when there is no sunlight and prosumers only consume.

Negative prices turn Slovenia’s HSE into electricity consumer

Prices in Slovenia for today also came in negative between 11:00 and 16:oo, which is very rare for a workday, Naš stik reported. Among other factors, the two-day May 1 holiday shortens the current workweek. The lowest, between 14:00 and 15:00, is EUR 6.18 euros per MWh below zero.

In comparison, the lowest price for Sunday on the BSP Southpool exchange was EUR 104 per MWh under zero.

At one point during the Easter holiday, virtually all HSE’s production capacities were offline and the Avče pumped storage hydropower plant was storing electricity from the grid

“Last year, we had 219 hours in Slovenia when prices were negative. This year, we are already at number 72, and we have only just entered the critical period,” said Deputy Director of System Operations of ELES Aleš Donko. The company is Slovenia’s transmission and distribution system operator.

State-owned power utility Holding Slovenske elektrarne (HSE) found itself in an unusual situation during the Easter holidays because of negative prices.

“For a while, we were actually an energy consumer, not a producer, which is our core mission… Virtually all our power plants were shut down, and the Avče pumped storage hydropower plant was pumping water into the upper reservoir at full capacity,” Head of Operation Planning and Management Jernej Brglez said.

Portugal and Spain, which suffered major outages today together with France, both registered negative prices every day in the third week of April.

Also of note, Greece is preparing to introduce negative prices in the balancing market.

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April 25, 2025
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Terna Energy to make pumped storage, wind power hybrid in Amari in Crete

Greek renewable energy company Terna Energy, recently acquired by Masdar, made a step forward in its Amari hybrid power plant project in Crete.

The facility in the country’s largest island would comprise two wind farms with a total capacity of 81.6 MW and a pumped storage hydropower station, at the Amari dam reservoir, of 50 MW. The Ministry of Environment and Energy approved a construction site study, advancing the investment.

It should be noted that the project has been plagued by delays. The initial environmental license was published back in 2019. The total planned capacity has been reduced from 161.1 MW to 131.6 MW.

The pumped storage system would consist of two turbines and four pumps, the update shows. The sites for the wind farms are in the municipality of Sitia.

Terna Energy has said it would be the largest hybrid power plant in Europe, valuing the investment at EUR 280 million. Masdar’s subsidiary is also building its Amfilochia pumped storage hydropower plant in mainland Greece, which will have a capacity of 680 MW.

Investors mainly interested in standalone storage, not hybrids

Interest in hybrid power plants has been low in Greece, as there are only a few small investment proposals per licensing cycle.

But companies are keen on building standalone pumped hydropower units. In the April round, Freenergy submitted seven proposals of 80 MW apiece. It follows 14 applications in March by various groups, each for more than 100 MW.

Greek authorities are eager to facilitate the first standalone storage projects, including batteries. The country faced a grid overload issue during the Easter holiday, as electricity from photovoltaics far exceeded demand and it had to be heavily curtailed. The first storage installations are expected this year. The technology is seen gradually easing the curtailments and allowing further renewable energy penetration.

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April 7, 2025
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PPC plans EUR 5.8 billion makeover of Western Macedonia coal region, including data centers

Public Power Corp. (PPC) presented a EUR 5.8 billion investment plan for the coal region of Western Macedonia in northern Greece. It held the ceremony in the retired Kardia 2 lignite-fired power plant.

According to PPC’s chairman and CEO George Stassis, the endeavor consists of the decommissioning of old assets and the rollout of new energy technologies.

Stassis: Western Macedonia can reinvent itself

PPC, or DEI in Greek, said it would return to the government 8,000 hectares of coal land that it no longer needs, after completely restoring it. All equipment, such as 400 kilometers of lignite conveyor belts, cooling towers and excavators, are planned to be recycled up to 95%.

According to the decarbonization timeframe, Ptolemaida 5 will be the last coal plant in the country, continuing to operate until the end of 2026. It is set to be converted to a gas power plant with a capacity of 350 MW. PPC is also open to upgrading it to 500 MW or even 1 GW.

New photovoltaics, storage underway

“Western Macedonia can reinvent itself using new technology,” said the CEO.

The group aims to install a total of 2.1 GW in photovoltaics across the region. A 550 MW solar power plant in the former lignite mine of Ptolemaida is almost complete. It will be the biggest in the Balkans. Separately, a group of clusters of 940 MW is under construction within the Meton joint venture with German RWE.

Energy storage is another major segment in PPC’s investment plan. Within the next three years, it aims to funnel EUR 940 million for a total capacity of 860 MW. It includes two pumped storage hydropower projects. The one in Kardia is for 320 MW and an eight-hour storage duration, and the other in the South Lignite Field – 240 MW and a 12-hour duration. The projects are worth EUR 430 million and EUR 310 million, respectively.

Equally important, battery storage units of 300 MW altogether would be installed in Amyndaio, Akrini, Meliti and Kardia in the country’s main coal region. The other one is Megalopolis in the Peloponnese.

PPC plans a 50 MW hydrogen production facility together with Motor Oil, as Hellenic Hydrogen, and a cogeneration plant to cover district heating needs from the end of 2026.

Large 300 MW data center

Last but not least, the Greek group aims to create a 300 MW data center, as part of an investment of EUR 2.3 billion. A subsidiary in fiber optic cables would upgrade the telecommunication links with Thessaloniki and Igoumenitsa to improve data flow in Greece and abroad.

If conditions are favorable, PPC would further upgrade the data center to 1 GW, increasing its investment by EUR 5.4 billion.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said at the event that existing infrastructure in Western Macedonia is a great advantage.

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