February 5, 2026
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Wind and solar investors set up renewable energy association RES Montenegro

Wind and solar developers in Montenegro have launched a renewable energy association, called RES Montenegro, to facilitate and attract investments in the country’s renewables sector. The group was set up with the support of the European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

RES Montenegro, founded by Alcazar Energy, Qair Group, and Simes Inženjering, will serve as a unified voice for renewable energy investors in the country, according to a statement from the EBRD.

Its work is aligned with the commitments from Montenegro’s Reform Agenda, under the European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, including the publication of the three-year auction plan for at least 400 MW of new renewable capacity by 2027, the lender said.

The association aims to facilitate public-private dialogue, help shape a stable and transparent regulatory environment, and support the unlocking of Montenegro’s full renewable energy potential. It will also seek to raise awareness of the importance of renewable energy and strengthen the country’s visibility abroad to attract further private investment.

RES Montenegro will help renewables investors tackle key challenges, such as grid connection and balancing

RES Montenegro was created in October 2025 and officially started work last week. It will help renewable energy investors navigate key challenges, such as grid connection, balancing, taxation, and environmental procedures, and administrative requirements.

Remon Zakaria, EBRD Head of Montenegro, noted that the launch of the RES Montenegro follows recent improvements to the country’s renewable energy framework, including the passage of the new Law on Renewable Energy Sources and the introduction of renewables auctions.

Montenegrin Minister of Energy and Mining Admir Šahmanović stressed that the stable regulatory framework and partnership with investors and international financial institutions, along with the launch of RES Montenegro, sends a signal that the country is a serious investment destination for renewables.

Radulović: Montenegro is at a turning point in its energy transition

The president of RES Montenegro is Marko Radulović, Alcazar Energy’s General Manager for Montenegro. In his words, the association brings together credible investors committed to working with government and communities to unlock the country’s exceptional renewable potential and deliver long-lasting value.

Radulović also noted that Montenegro is at a turning point in its energy transition, adding that the closure of the Pljevlja thermal power plant, the rising electricity consumption, and the EU climate commitments call for swift but carefully planned solutions.

 

January 22, 2026
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Motor Oil’s MORE completes three battery systems in Greece

MORE, standing for Motor Oil Renewable Energy, built three standalone battery energy storage systems in Greece. The company won government support for the projects two years ago at an auction.

Oil refiner Motor Oil Hellas said its green energy arm has installed 72 MW in BESS capability, with 144 MWh in total capacity. The three standalone facilities are in Phocis (Fokida), Florina, and Boeotia (Viotia).

MORE, which is an acronym of Motor Oil Renewable Energy, completed the battery systems in just three months, the update reveals. The company pointed out they are among the first of such a scale in Greece.

“The operation of these energy storage systems will lead to a substantial further reduction in electricity prices for consumers by utilizing renewable energy that is currently being curtailed. At the same time, they will contribute to grid stability and enhance the country’s energy security,” Motor Oil added.

The three projects were selected during the second competitive process of the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAAEY or RAEWW) for energy storage systems. It was held in 2024. The investments are funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0 and the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, under the NextGenerationEU program.

According to recent reports, new BESS facilities of 300 MW in combined operating power were waiting for approvals in Greece to be able to start operating.

Athens International Airport (AIA) Eleftherios Venizelos inaugurated a large solar-BESS hybrid power plant last month. Government-controlled Public Power Corp. – PPC Group is building three standalone battery storage systems at its coal plants.

Motor Oil is also involved in hydrogen projects, wind power and carbon capture and storage.

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January 22, 2026
by in News

Motor Oil’s MORE completes three battery systems in Greece

MORE, standing for Motor Oil Renewable Energy, built three standalone battery energy storage systems in Greece. The company won government support for the projects two years ago at an auction.

Oil refiner Motor Oil Hellas said its green energy arm has installed 72 MW in BESS capability, with 144 MWh in total capacity. The three standalone facilities are in Phocis (Fokida), Florina, and Boeotia (Viotia).

MORE, which is an acronym of Motor Oil Renewable Energy, completed the battery systems in just three months, the update reveals. The company pointed out they are among the first of such a scale in Greece.

“The operation of these energy storage systems will lead to a substantial further reduction in electricity prices for consumers by utilizing renewable energy that is currently being curtailed. At the same time, they will contribute to grid stability and enhance the country’s energy security,” Motor Oil added.

The three projects were selected during the second competitive process of the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAAEY or RAEWW) for energy storage systems. It was held in 2024. The investments are funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0 and the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, under the NextGenerationEU program.

According to recent reports, new BESS facilities of 300 MW in combined operating power were waiting for approvals in Greece to be able to start operating.

Athens International Airport (AIA) Eleftherios Venizelos inaugurated a large solar-BESS hybrid power plant last month. Government-controlled Public Power Corp. – PPC Group is building three standalone battery storage systems at its coal plants.

Motor Oil is also involved in hydrogen projects, wind power and carbon capture and storage.

Post Views:53
January 16, 2026
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Montenegro to renew first solar power auction call as soon as possible

After rejecting all bids within its first auction for market premiums for solar power projects, the Ministry of Energy and Mining of Montenegro vowed to tackle the shortcomings in the conditions for participation and renew the public call as soon as possible. The country intends to hold the competitive bidding process by the end of the first quarter, followed by a wind power auction in the third quarter.

Montenegro’s Ministry of Energy and Mining declined, in mid-December, all four bids in the country’s first solar power auction, for a quota of 250 MW. A report that the government adopted three weeks ago revealed that 11 entities have expressed interest by purchasing the tender documentation.

The failures in fulfilling the conditions included submitting documents that were too old and not meeting the requirements for spatial planning and grid connections, the ministry said. On the other hand, it acknowledged shortcomings regarding the auction qualification terms, vowing to tackle them and issue another call as soon as possible.

Namely, the main obligatory documents can’t be older than the public call itself. They are the urban planning and technical conditions, which the government issues, and the grid connection contract, but they are signed only once, becoming acquired legal rights.

Winners can sign 12-year CfDs

The call to auction was published in July. Under Montenegro’s legal framework, auction participants compete for market premiums in the form of 12-year contracts for difference (CfDs) for their projects.

The beneficiary has a guaranteed price, approved through the auction. When the firm sells electricity in the market at a higher price, it must return the difference. And vice versa: when the beneficiary gets less per megawatt-hour than the contract price, it is reimbursed.

Eligible projects don’t or didn’t benefit from government incentives. They can participate if construction works haven’t begun and the developers haven’t secured financing for their completion.

The lowest bids win, and the maximum allowed price was EUR 65 per MWh.

First successful projects from auctions seen for completion in 2028

Per the official plan, the solar power auction needs to be held in the first quarter of this year, followed by a wind power round, for 200 MW. Minister Admir Šahmanović earlier said that he expected the power plants to come online from 2028 to 2030.

Conducting renewable electricity auctions is one of the commitments toward the European Union that were defined by the Reform Agenda of Montenegro 2024-2027. It contains the conditions for the approval of up to EUR 383 million from the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the Reform and Growth Facility (RGF).

Post Views:82
January 15, 2026
by in News

Montenegro to renew first solar power auction call as soon as possible

After rejecting all bids within its first auction for market premiums for solar power projects, the Ministry of Energy and Mining of Montenegro vowed to tackle the shortcomings in the conditions for participation and renew the public call as soon as possible. The country intends to hold the competitive bidding process by the end of the first quarter, followed by a wind power auction in the third quarter.

Montenegro’s Ministry of Energy and Mining declined, in mid-December, all four bids in the country’s first solar power auction, for a quota of 250 MW. A report that the government adopted three weeks ago revealed that 11 entities have expressed interest by purchasing the tender documentation.

The failures in fulfilling the conditions included submitting documents that were too old and not meeting the requirements for spatial planning and grid connections, the ministry said. On the other hand, it acknowledged shortcomings regarding the auction qualification terms, vowing to tackle them and issue another call as soon as possible.

Namely, the main obligatory documents can’t be older than the public call itself. They are the urban planning and technical conditions, which the government issues, and the grid connection contract, but they are signed only once, becoming acquired legal rights.

Winners can sign 12-year CfDs

The call to auction was published in July. Under Montenegro’s legal framework, auction participants compete for market premiums in the form of 12-year contracts for difference (CfDs) for their projects.

The beneficiary has a guaranteed price, approved through the auction. When the firm sells electricity in the market at a higher price, it must return the difference. And vice versa: when the beneficiary gets less per megawatt-hour than the contract price, it is reimbursed.

Eligible projects don’t or didn’t benefit from government incentives. They can participate if construction works haven’t begun and the developers haven’t secured financing for their completion.

The lowest bids win, and the maximum allowed price was EUR 65 per MWh.

First successful projects from auctions seen for completion in 2028

Per the official plan, the solar power auction needs to be held in the first quarter of this year, followed by a wind power round, for 200 MW. Minister Admir Šahmanović earlier said that he expected the power plants to come online from 2028 to 2030.

Conducting renewable electricity auctions is one of the commitments toward the European Union that were defined by the Reform Agenda of Montenegro 2024-2027. It contains the conditions for the approval of up to EUR 383 million from the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the Reform and Growth Facility (RGF).

Post Views:54
January 9, 2026
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New auction announced in Greece for 600 MW for electricity for vulnerable households

The Greek government specified terms and conditions for participation in a new kind of renewable energy auction, covering both wind and solar energy.

The auction comes as part of the Apollo initiative, aimed at reducing energy costs for vulnerable households across the country and fighting energy poverty. In total, 200 MW of solar plus batteries and 400 MW of wind will be auctioned.

Wind power projects of at least 60 kW may participate, with no limit set for photovoltaics. All applicants must have final connection terms from the distribution or transmission operator. Their remuneration will be based on a contract for difference (CfD). Investors can also gain a grant from European Union programs, the National Development Plan or other sources, according to the decree.

This will be a single-step static auction, with the offer price ceiling set at EUR 80 per MWh for wind projects and EUR 75 per MWh for photovoltaics with battery storage.

Equally important, the competition level is 40%, meaning that 60% of the offered capacity will be awarded up to a maximum of 600 MW. On top of that, at least three projects from different investors must participate in the process. Furthermore, no participant can apply for more than 25% of the total offered capacity, to ensure a level playing field.

Steep timeframe for selected projects

Concerning next steps, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAEWW or RAAEY) is expected to officially proclaim the auction in the next few weeks, before the end of January. The regulator will also specify the letter of guarantee investors will have to submit, as well as the rest of the details. The submission of offers is expected to last by the end of February.

The ministry said the construction of solar farms with batteries must be completed by the end of 2027, while wind farms need to come online by September 2028.

Consumers who will benefit from cheaper renewable electricity will be notified via their power suppliers about their eligibility.

Post Views:56
January 9, 2026
by in News

New auction announced in Greece for 600 MW for electricity for vulnerable households

The Greek government specified terms and conditions for participation in a new kind of renewable energy auction, covering both wind and solar energy.

The auction comes as part of the Apollo initiative, aimed at reducing energy costs for vulnerable households across the country and fighting energy poverty. In total, 200 MW of solar plus batteries and 400 MW of wind will be auctioned.

Wind power projects of at least 60 kW may participate, with no limit set for photovoltaics. All applicants must have final connection terms from the distribution or transmission operator. Their remuneration will be based on a contract for difference (CfD). Investors can also gain a grant from European Union programs, the National Development Plan or other sources, according to the decree.

This will be a single-step static auction, with the offer price ceiling set at EUR 80 per MWh for wind projects and EUR 75 per MWh for photovoltaics with battery storage.

Equally important, the competition level is 40%, meaning that 60% of the offered capacity will be awarded up to a maximum of 600 MW. On top of that, at least three projects from different investors must participate in the process. Furthermore, no participant can apply for more than 25% of the total offered capacity, to ensure a level playing field.

Steep timeframe for selected projects

Concerning next steps, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAEWW or RAAEY) is expected to officially proclaim the auction in the next few weeks, before the end of January. The regulator will also specify the letter of guarantee investors will have to submit, as well as the rest of the details. The submission of offers is expected to last by the end of February.

The ministry said the construction of solar farms with batteries must be completed by the end of 2027, while wind farms need to come online by September 2028.

Consumers who will benefit from cheaper renewable electricity will be notified via their power suppliers about their eligibility.

Post Views:52
January 4, 2026
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Greece reboots Apollo program against energy poverty

The Greek government has redesigned and rebooted the Apollo self-consumption program, aimed at reducing energy costs for vulnerable consumers.

Initially, Apollo was introduced to support households, municipalities, water utilities and local irrigation organizations. Each of Greece’s 13 regions, also known as peripheries, would have a green power plant, and eligible consumers who join a local energy community get discounted electricity bills.

However, the first part, which included households, was not realized in time to draw EUR 100 million from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). It expires in June 2026.

Tsafos: Both segments set for completion

“Apollo was one of the plans that we could not carry out in time, therefore we excluded it from RRF and increased funding to other initiatives, such as energy efficiency in houses,” Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Nikos Tsafos explained earlier in December.

Now the government announced that the first phase would be continued using different funding sources, according to the new joint ministerial decree. In fact, the number of beneficiaries is higher than in the original version. A second phase would follow to support remaining consumer categories, based on a different decree.

“Our goal remains to complete both segments and we are trying to find new funding tools”, Tsafos added.

New auctions and deadlines

Based on the new plan, auctions will take place for 400 MW in wind farms and 200 MW in solar farms, with the second category being combined with battery storage. Selected wind power projects must be completed by September 30, 2028, and the ones for photovoltaics have until the end of 2027.

The decree also stipulates that auction participants may not be selected for more than 25% of total capacity offered in each auction. Every project must be mature, with final connection terms from a network operator.

Last but not least, solar farms without storage may also participate in the auction, as long as they include a battery afterwards in their license.

Post Views:88
January 1, 2026
by in News

Greece reboots Apollo program against energy poverty

The Greek government has redesigned and rebooted the Apollo self-consumption program, aimed at reducing energy costs for vulnerable consumers.

Initially, Apollo was introduced to support households, municipalities, water utilities and local irrigation organizations. Each of Greece’s 13 regions, also known as peripheries, would have a green power plant, and eligible consumers who join a local energy community get discounted electricity bills.

However, the first part, which included households, was not realized in time to draw EUR 100 million from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). It expires in June 2026.

Tsafos: Both segments set for completion

“Apollo was one of the plans that we could not carry out in time, therefore we excluded it from RRF and increased funding to other initiatives, such as energy efficiency in houses,” Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Nikos Tsafos explained earlier in December.

Now the government announced that the first phase would be continued using different funding sources, according to the new joint ministerial decree. In fact, the number of beneficiaries is higher than in the original version. A second phase would follow to support remaining consumer categories, based on a different decree.

“Our goal remains to complete both segments and we are trying to find new funding tools”, Tsafos added.

New auctions and deadlines

Based on the new plan, auctions will take place for 400 MW in wind farms and 200 MW in solar farms, with the second category being combined with battery storage. Selected wind power projects must be completed by September 30, 2028, and the ones for photovoltaics have until the end of 2027.

The decree also stipulates that auction participants may not be selected for more than 25% of total capacity offered in each auction. Every project must be mature, with final connection terms from a network operator.

Last but not least, solar farms without storage may also participate in the auction, as long as they include a battery afterwards in their license.

Post Views:51
December 19, 2025
by in News

Applications open for first wind power auction in Kosovo*

The Ministry of Economy of Kosovo* invited the three prequalified entities to submit bids for a wind power auction for a targeted capacity of up to 100 MW. The authorities didn’t declare any deadline.

Eight months after the prequalifications process was completed, when Minister of Economy Artane Rizvanolli said the next phase would start soon, eligible bidders can now submit proposals within the first wind power auction in Kosovo*. They are France-based Akuo Energy, consortium of Notus Energy from Germany and domestic firm Stublla Energy, and a consortium led by Güri̇ş, headquartered in Turkey.

The prequalifications call was launched one whole year ago. The Ministry of Economy said it intends to award up to 100 MW. According to earlier updates, the plan is to support 150 MW in total in two rounds. Participants will bid for 15-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) and contracts for difference (CfDs).

Maximum bidding price is EUR 80.2 per MWh

Interestingly, no deadline was published in the announcement. Rizvanolli earlier said the request for proposals would last half a year.

The lowest price per megawatt-hour wins and the upper limit is EUR 80.2 per MWh.

Investments envisaged as public-private partnerships

Wind projects would be run by special purpose vehicles (SPVs), firms where the government would have a share of up to 49%, as per initial documentation. The Ministry of Economy intended to use the funds from the International Monetary Fund’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) in the development of the 150 MW.

The purpose of the public-private partnership scheme is to reduce risk for the private investors. They will be obligated to design, build, operate, maintain and decommission wind parks.

Balancing responsibility is limited to imbalance volumes greater than 10%. Curtailment is subject to financial compensation.

Funded by Germany, International Finance Corp. – IFC, which is part of World Bank Group, has provided support for organizing the first wind power auction in Kosovo*, alongside the now defunct United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency – LuxDev, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Kosovo* hosts just three wind power facilities: Selac, also known as Bajgora (104.1 MW), Kitka (32.4 MW) and Golesh (1.35 MW).

The first solar power auction was held last year.

Post Views:19
* 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.