September 10, 2025
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Turkey launches solar, wind power auctions with November deadlines

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey issued a public call for solar and wind power auctions for 2 GW in total. It will receive the applications on November 4 and November 18, respectively. One competitive bidding process is for a floating solar power project of 35 MW.

Following the successful auctions for renewable energy projects that were completed early this year, Turkey kicked off another round. It is also for 2 GW of overall connection capacity, in light of the country’s ambition to grow its combined solar and wind power capacity to 120 GW by 2035. The two technologies reached 37.1 GW together a month ago, out of 120.2 GW in total.

Auctions are held under the Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) state support mechanism. The scheme is better known by its Turkish acronym YEKA.

Ten solar power areas in eight provinces

The upcoming solar energy auctions, REZ SPP 2025 (YEKA GES 2025), are for 850 MW altogether. There are ten areas in eight provinces designated for bidding: Kahramanmaraş, Mardin and Van, with 40 MW each, Bolu and Elazığ (50 MW each), Erzurum 1-3 (100 MW, 150 MW and 85 MW), Eskişehir (260 MW) and Demirköprü in Manisa province, with 35 MW.

The upcoming solar power auctions will include Turkey’s first bidding for a floating photovoltaic plant

Notably, the last one is for a planned floating solar power plant on the reservoir of the Demirköprü hydropower plant. The facility on the Gediz river, east of Izmir, is owned by state-owned Electricity Generation Corp. (EÜAŞ). Turkey now hosts only two small floating photovoltaic units, and the auction will be the first of its kind.

Applications will be received on November 4, the ministry said and added it would subsequently publish a schedule for bidding.

Wind power capacity quota is 1.15 GW

Participants can apply on November 18 for the wind energy round of auctions, REZ WPP 2025 (YEKA RES 2025). It is for an overall 1.15 GW in six areas.

Investors will compete for 500 MW in Sivas province, a 140 MW project in Aydın and Denizli, 120 MW in Kütahya and three areas in Balıkesir – 160 MW, 120 MW and 110 MW.

Winners to submit guarantees of EUR 75,000 per MW for PV projects, EUR 100,000 per MW for wind

Potential bidders will pay a fee of EUR 1,550 for each auction they apply for. They must submit letters of guarantee lasting one year and worth EUR 15,000 per MW for photovoltaics and EUR 20,000 per MW for wind power. Winners will submit 10-year guarantees before signing their contracts: EUR 75,000 per MW and EUR 100,000 per MW, respectively.

The ceiling or starting price is EUR 55 per MWh and the floor prices are EUR 32.5 per MWh for solar power and EUR 35 per MWh for wind. If bids hit the floor, another auction will be held between the competitors, like in the previous round. It is for a so-called contribution share that they are ready to pay. The minimum is EUR 10,000 per MW of planned capacity and the highest bid wins.

Successful participants can sell electricity on the free market for five years in the case of solar power plants, while the period lasts six years for wind. After that, both categories enter a 20-year scheme with a guaranteed price.

Turkey tops 120 GW in total electricity capacity

At the end of July, electricity capacity in Turkey totaled 120.2 GW, the ministry revealed. Hydropower accounted for 26.9% or 32.3 GW, compared to 23.4 GW in photovoltaics (19.5%) and 13.7 GW of wind power, translating to 11.4%.

The share of biofuel and waste was 1.9%, with 2.34 GW, and geothermal power plants had 1.73 GW altogether, which is 1.4%. Gas power plants in Turkey had 24.7 GW in combined capacity (20.6%). The remainder is coal: 21.9 GW or 18.3%.

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September 10, 2025
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Romania preparing to include biomethane in gas grid

Romania has drafted a directive that would regulate the production, transportation and distribution of biomethane and its inclusion into the gas network. The change is aimed at limiting the increase in the prices of gas for household heating, expected from the upcoming introduction of the ETS 2 carbon allowance scheme in the European Union. Delaying the shift would also affect the costs of industrial production and for other non-household consumers of gas.

Biomethane produced from sustainable sources is carbon neutral under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), making it appropriate for buildings and transportation, the Romanian Ministry of Energy said in a new draft emergency ordinance. With the executive order, it intends to pave the way for utilizing the renewable fuel in the natural gas network, Profit.ro reported.

The document is set to amend several acts and regulate the production, transportation and distribution of biomethane. It would counter, to an extent, the increase in gas prices for households, which is expected from the expansion of the EU’s carbon pricing scheme to buildings and transportation, the ministry explained. Namely, ETS 2 is scheduled to be introduced in 2027.

Biomethane is usually obtained by processing biogas to get methane of the same purity as in fossil gas

Any delay in allowing biomethane in the existing grid draws a risk of increasing the costs of natural gas consumption, both for non-household and household customers, the accompanying note reads.

Biomethane is usually obtained by processing biogas to get methane of the same purity as in fossil gas. The gaseous biofuel can also be produced from clean hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The EU allows incentives for biomethane facilities. Some countries in Southeastern Europe, like Greece, are developing the legal framework for embracing the technology within their energy transition.

Share in gas network planned to reach 10% by 2050

Romania is planning a 5% share of biomethane in its natural gas network in 2030 and to double it by mid-century. The sectors of waste management and agriculture can produce an estimated 501,000 tons of oil equivalent in 2050.

The EU is imposing strict requirements on the removal of biodegradable organic matter from wastewater and the reduction of food waste, the ministry noted. Together with agricultural and organic municipal waste, they are the main raw materials for the production of biogas.

According to the proposal, publicly announced business plans can secure a share of renewable gases in the grid up to 1.5%. However, without an urgent legislative intervention, the investments can’t materialize, the Ministry of Energy warned. The draft directive would update the definitions of guarantees of origin, biogas, biomethane, natural gas, renewable gases and biomethane producers.

BSOG Energy, Engie Romania at forefront of upcoming biomethane investment wave

As for other developments in the segment, BSOG Energy (BSOGE), a subsidiary of Black Sea Oil and Gas, recently hired industrial services provider Bilfinger for a biomethane facility in Alba county in Transylvania.

Earlier, BSOGE said it would invest EUR 30 million in the construction of a biomethane plant. It has signed deals with milk producer DN Agrar Group for up to 15 MW in capacity, with the possibility of exceeding 20 MW in later stages.

In April, the firm partnered with Unigrains Trading in a project for a biomethane and organic fertilizer facility. They estimated the investment at EUR 65 million, for 57 MW of biomethane capacity and over 250,000 tons of organic fertilizers per year. Parent company BSOG is controlled by controlled by investment firm Carlyle.

Engie Romania launched plans a year ago with Heineken to build a biodigester for brewery waste

Last November, French-owned Engie Romania obtained the first license in the country for biogas and biomethane supply. Earlier it established a partnership with Heineken for decarbonization projects in three breweries in Romania, including heat pumps and one biodigestion system.

The firm is the largest supplier and distributor of natural gas in the country, as well as an electricity producer and supplier.

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September 5, 2025
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Šahmanović: Masdar ready for new investments in Montenegro’s energy sector

Montenegrin Minister of Energy and Mining Admir Šahmanović has met with Mohamed Jamel al-Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, a United Arab Emirates state-owned renewable energy company. During the meeting in Abu Dhabi, Šahmanović highlighted the energy sector as Montenegro’s biggest development opportunity, while Masdar’s top man confirmed the company’s readiness to expand its operations in Southeast Europe.

As part of his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Minister Admir Šahmanović held talks with representatives of Masdar, one of the global leaders in renewable energy.

“Montenegro undeniably has the potential and natural resources, but we are equally aware of our financial limitations. Investments in capital energy infrastructure projects are measured in hundreds of millions of euros, which requires strong partnerships and the pooling of resources,” Šahmanović said at the meeting.

Šahmanović: Energy is Montenegro’s greatest development opportunity

According to him, Montenegro sees the energy sector as the greatest development opportunity, which can trigger economic growth, create new jobs, and ensure long-term stability.

“To achieve this, we choose strategic partners carefully – those who share our vision and are ready to invest in a sustainable and strong energy sector,” he said.

The Montenegrin minister and Masdar representatives discussed opportunities to further strengthen cooperation and develop new projects. Šahmanović stressed that cooperation with Masdar so far – on the Krnovo wind farm – provides a solid foundation for even more ambitious projects.

Masdar is looking to expand its business in Eastern Europe

Masdar’s CEO confirmed that the company has the capital, know-how, and interest for significant business expansion in Eastern Europe, with Montenegro taking priority in its investment plans.

Šahmanović emphasized that the Government of Montenegro is committed to creating a favorable business environment – through clear procedures, a stable regulatory framework, and more efficient administration – to ensure security and predictability for investors.

That, he noted, is not only a prerequisite for attracting new investments but also a guarantee that the energy sector will become a pillar of the country’s economic growth and energy independence.

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August 28, 2025
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Bulgaria opens public consultation on subsidies for 1.9 GWh of battery projects

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Energy has launched a public consultation on a new round of its subsidy program for battery energy storage projects, aimed at facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources. The plan is to support the deployment of 1.9 GWh of new battery capacity with around EUR 118 million.

In the first round of the National Infrastructure for Storage of Electricity from Renewable Sources (RESTORE) program, Bulgaria approved EUR 587 million in subsidies for 82 battery energy storage system (BESS) projects totaling 9.71 GWh, with another 30 applicants falling below the threshold.

Draft application and implementation documents for RESTORE 2 will be available for comments and proposals until September 15, while a tentative date for inviting applications for grants is September 18.

The BESS systems are expected to be deployed throughout the country and connected to the transmission network or the distribution grid. A BESS system must have a minimum nominal AC capacity of 10 MW to qualify for the program.

The minimum required capacity is 10 MW

The maximum support is 50% of the eligible project costs, but not more than BGN 156,466 (EUR 80,000) per 1 MWh of usable energy capacity, according to the documents. In the previous round, the maximum support per 1 MWh was BGN 148,600 (around EUR 76,000), Economic.bg recalled.

The deadline to build and commission the BESS capacities is July 31, 2026. The battery systems selected in the first part of the program must come online by the end of March 2026.

The new round of RESTORE aims to finance projects in more advanced stages

Another difference from the previous call is that proposed projects must be in a much more advanced stage. In addition to a connection agreement, applicants must already have a construction permit or installation permit issued, a signed supply contract or orders and payments made for the equipment for the storage system, as well as secured financing for the investment, according to the draft documents.

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August 27, 2025
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ENNA measures even higher temperatures at its Zagocha geothermal well

ENNA Geo completed additional production testing of the well at the site of the planned geothermal power plant GTE Zagocha in northeastern Croatia. It found even higher temperatures at the reservoir than before. In addition, drilling of the exploratory well Babina Greda GT-1 for another geothermal power plant began this week.

ENNA Geo, a member of the ENNA Group, said the additional production testing in Čađavica near Slatina was successful. It is the well for its planned 20 MW geothermal power plant GTE Zagocha. Furthermore, so-called rigless testing at the site, in northeastern Croatia, was carried out earlier this month on the well called Podravska Slatina GT-6beta (PSGT-6beta), said GTE Zagocha’s Project Manager Boris Vidoš.

The primary objective was to collect water samples from the geothermal reservoir at a depth of 4,582 metres and to measure additional production parameters essential for the development of the power plant project.

“Two downhole samples of geothermal water were collected under dynamic conditions, along with several surface samples of water and gas, which have been sent for detailed analysis to several internationally recognised geothermal laboratories (New Zealand, France, Turkey and Croatia). We are particularly pleased that the geothermal reservoir itself, only a few months after completion of the well, is showing higher measured temperature values both at reservoir level (well bottom) and at the surface,” he asserted.

Slatina 2 field’s significant potential confirmed

A maximum temperature of 211 degrees Celsius was recorded at the bottom of the PSGT-6beta well, versus 180 degrees at the surface, Vidoš said.

He explained that all downhole and surface flow measurements, geochemical analyses of water, and gas analyses would provide a broader picture of the geothermal potential of the Slatina 2 field, enabling the ENNA Geo team to begin concrete discussions with suppliers of the process equipment for the geothermal power plant.

The drilling of the well was completed in March, followed by initial production testing, which confirmed the significant geothermal potential of the Slatina 2 field. The additional rigless testing – planned petroleum engineering operations – was successfully carried out, Vidoš added.

Waiting for market premium tender for almost two years

Croatia has considerable geothermal potential, but currently not a single operational geothermal power plant. Namely, the Velika 1 facility in Ciglena near Bjelovar has been long offline due to an ownership dispute.

GTE Zagocha is the most advanced geothermal power plant project in Croatia to date. It depends on the launch of a public tender for the allocation of a market premium.

ENNA Group noted that Germany subsidizes geothermal power plants over a 20-year period with a guaranteed price of EUR 252 per MWh, and that Italy offers a guaranteed price of EUR 200 per MWh over 25 years.

The Zagocha project has been prepared for a public call since November 2023, but the Croatian Energy Market Operator (HROTE) has not issued a public call for three years, the company said in its update.

Drilling starts at Babina Greda 2 field for 15 MW geothermal power plant

ENNA Geo, through the project company Geo Power Babina Greda, is also developing a geothermal power plant project in Babina Greda in Croatia’s northeast, planning 15 MW. On the geothermal exploration field Babina Greda 2, drilling of the exploratory well Babina Greda GT-1 (BaGGT-1) began this week.

The plan is to drill the deep geothermal well Babina Greda 1 and conduct production testing over the next 110 days. Additionally, the company revealed it expects surface flow of 110 liters per second of geothermal water of 170 degrees Celsius.

ENNA Solar agreed in April to take over an 87.5 MW ready-to-build photovoltaic project in Romania from Austria-based Kraftfeld Energy.

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August 27, 2025
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Dozens of airports in Southeastern Europe invest in solar power, energy efficiency

Airports in Istanbul and Athens are becoming completely self-reliant with their large solar power projects. Many other airports in Southeastern Europe are investing in photovoltaics as well. Together with energy efficiency, electric mobility and waste and wastewater management projects, they aim to decarbonize their operations and reduce their environmental impact.

Surfaces around infrastructure such as railways and motorways are convenient for solar power as there are few alternatives for their use and the technology can directly provide them with electricity. Airports, too, have embraced the global trend of introducing photovoltaics and electrifying operations, and Southeastern Europe is no exception, with several notable investments.

The largest ones in Istanbul and Athens are about to switch 100% to solar power, which would make them some of the first in the world. In addition, airports in the region are increasing energy efficiency and rolling out electric vehicle fleets. They are introducing resource, waste and wastewater management systems to decarbonize their operations and reduce their environmental impact.

Airport operator in Albania expanding to solar power market

In other recent news, the operator of Kukës International Airport Zayed in Albania’s northeast is in the process of obtaining a license to generate and trade electricity. Namely, the company, Global Technical Mechanics, received a concession five months ago in consortium with local construction firm Bami to build and operate a 12 MW solar power plant.

The location at the village of Shtiqen is in the municipality of Kukës. The airport, built with investments by Emaar Properties from the United Arab Emirates, was inaugurated in 2021. However, it ceased operations in the meantime as Wizz Air withdrew from the facility.

The entire Vlora International Airport, which is under construction, will be covered with solar panels, Albanian officials said earlier. The PV project is for 5.2 MW. A consortium led by Swiss-based Mabco Constructions is building and financing the construction. The firm is part of Mabetex Group, controlled by Behgjet Pacolli, Kosovar businessman and former president, deputy prime minister and foreign minister.

Zagreb Airport starts with small PV unit

Zagreb Airport, which installed a 250 kW photovoltaic unit this year, said it plans to expand it soon. In addition, it switched to 100% renewable energy supply.

Like other airports in the region, the main one in Croatia replaced conventional, halogen lighting with LED. The operator has committed to cutting its emissions in accordance with the recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Zagreb Airport is renovating its buildings and increasingly using solar energy for heating water. Interestingly, it plans to switch from diesel-fueled generators to hydrogen-ready systems.

Athens to integrate strong battery with its arrays

Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos commissioned an 8.05 MW solar park in 2011, followed by another one in 2023, with 15.8 MW in peak capacity.

This year two more units with a combined peak capacity of 35.5 MW are coming online, together with a battery energy storage system (BESS) of 82 MWh.

The operator of Turkey’s largest airport is completing a photovoltaic park of nearly 200 MW and aiming to cover almost all its energy needs from renewable sources by the end of the decade

IGA Istanbul Airport reported that its greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 were 10.5% lower than its goal. Moreover, its operator increased its 2030 renewable energy target from 50% to 90%.

Namely, it expects its Eskişehir solar farm of a whopping 199.3 MW to begin operations before the end of the year. The location spans 300 hectares and the investment amounts to EUR 212 million. The PV park will generate an estimated 340 GWh per year.

Dalaman Airport hosts world’s largest rooftop solar power plant among airport terminals

Several other airports in Turkey are also decarbonizing their electricity systems. TAV Airports Holding (TAV Havalimanları Holding), part of Groupe ADP, completed a solar power plant 6.7 MW in peak capacity at its Milas-Bodrum Airport in the country’s southwest. Within the same project for setting up PV systems at parking areas, the Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is getting a 5.9 MW unit.

The Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is getting a 5.9 MW solar power system at parking areas

Dalaman Airport, near Bodrum, operates a solar power plant of 8.3 MW in peak capacity. It is the world’s largest on the roof of an airport terminal building.

The facility now covers more than 55% of its consumption from solar energy. The investment was worth EUR 5.4 million. The operator, YDA Airport Investment and Management, has vowed to reach 100% in phase two. The airport has completely switched to electric vehicles.

In 2023, airports Milas-Bodrum, Gaziantep, Erzurum and Ordu-Giresun all commissioned smaller PV systems.

Romanian operators leaning on EU funds

Iași International Airport is about to expand its 1 MW solar power plant, installed in 2023. It was the first in Romania in the sector. The management intends to add 5 MW and a 2 MW energy storage unit.

The investment will reportedly be supported with a grant from the European Union’s Modernisation Fund. The hybrid power plant is supposed to cover a fifth of the electricity consumption of the facility in Romania’s far northeast.

Maramureş International Airport (AIM) is also seeking funding, for a system of 2.6 MW in peak capacity on parking canopies. It would include battery storage.

The PV unit would feature 25 inverters of 100 kW each. The project, worth EUR 12.1 million, should be complete by the end of next year, the management said. The facility is in Romania’s northwest, near the border with Ukraine and Hungary.

Cluj International Airport Avram Iancu said in December that it would install a PV system with batteries. It claimed it would make it energy independent in 2026. According to the facility’s website, the solar power project is for 2 MW.

Bacau International Airport George Enescu is another one that applied for funds. The management envisages a 1.25 MW solar power unit and a BESS of 2.1 MWh in capacity, to fully cover electricity consumption.

Sibiu International Airport is developing a project for a ground-mounted unit of 1.7 MW in peak capacity. The site is two kilometers from the terminal.

The management is expecting to cover the costs mainly with a grant via the Modernisation Fund. It said the PV park would be completed within a year and a half and suggested that it would introduce electric cars and buses and charging stations.

Notably, National Company Bucharest Airports (CNAB) has a geotermal energy project.

Hermes Airports equipped its two facilities with PV systems in 2023

Hermes Airports commissioned two solar power plants in Cyprus two years ago. The unit at Larnaka International Airport has 3.5 MW in peak capacity and the one at Pafos International Airport has 1.1 MW. They cover 25% and 30%, respectively, of the facilities’ electricity needs.

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport in Serbia commissioned a PV system of 1 MW in peak capacity in 2022. The facility’s concessionaire, Vinci Airports, has also set up solar-powered LED lighting.

International airports in Sarajevo and Tuzla in Bosnia and Herzegovina unveiled plans for PV systems a few years ago.

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August 27, 2025
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Agios Efstratios becomes Greece’s first energy-autonomous island

A hybrid energy project transforming Agios Efstratios into the first energy-autonomous island in Greece is in trial operation. The system consists of a wind turbine, solar power plant, batteries, electric boilers and a district heating network.

It is a benchmark for the non-interconnected islands that won’t be connected to the mainland grid with undersea power cables.

Agios Efstratios is no longer renowned only for its history and natural beauty. It is an example of energy autonomy and sustainability. The island, also known as Ai Stratis, became the first non-interconnected Greek island with a 100% electricity supply from renewables. And more.

A pioneering energy complex is in trial operation. Agios Efstratios, which has only some 250 permanent residents, is in a group of small islands undergoing transformation through projects launched at the national level and benefiting from European Union funding.

Terna Energy completed hybrid energy system in Agios Efstratios

The Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES or KAPE), an independent public entity, is responsible for the endeavor, on behalf of the Municipality of Agios Efstratios. Terna Energy, owned by Masdar, is the contractor for the works in the small North Aegean island.

The new hybrid energy system includes a 900 kW Enercon E44 wind turbine and a solar power unit of 225 kW. Their combined annual output is estimated at above 3 GWh.

Excess electricity is stored. One unit is a Tesla Megapack battery energy storage system (BESS) of 1.25 MW in operating power and a two-hour duration. It means the capacity is 2.5 MWh. There is also an electric boiler facility of 1 MW with hot water storage tanks that can hold 500 cubic meters of water at 120 degrees Celsius. It corresponds to 25 MWh.

The district heating network in Agios Efstratios is four kilometers long. It will be tested in the winter.

An oil-fired generator operated by state-controlled Public Power Corp. (PPC) remains as backup. It can work alongside the hybrid power plant.

Greece is connecting many islands to mainland power grid

The solutions from Agios Efstratios can be applied in other islands or in microgrids, CRES noted and said residents are getting cheaper energy.

The government launched its Islands Decarbonization Fund last year, with financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB). Together they aim to provide at least EUR 1.6 billion, and mobilize total investments of EUR 3 billion to EUR 5 billion.

In the hot summer months, there are many non-interconnected islands that can’t meet their power demand, especially because of the tourist season. Some are also struggling with water supply, prompting the need for desalination, which requires electricity. They rely on fuel oil generators.

The country’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO or, in Greek, Admie) is investing in major interconnection projects. A link to the mainland grid has improved the living conditions in the Cyclades islands of Syros, Paros and Mykonos. Together with a project for the western part of the archipelago, the transmission system operator is planning subsea cables to the Dodecanese and the Northeast Aegean.

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August 21, 2025
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Prosumers in Romania are neck and neck with commercial PV plants in capacity

The latest data showed that prosumers in Romania don’t have a much larger total capacity anymore than commercial solar power plants, a segment accelerating in expansion. The share of units for self-consumption that include energy storage reached 5.8% in the first half of the year, compared to 1.2% six months earlier.

Total number of prosumers in Romania increased by 8,950 in June, to 237,252, Profit.ro reported. The installed capacity, consisting overwhelmingly of photovoltaic panels, rose by 95 MW, to 2.82 GW, the media outlet added, citing data from the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE).

Total installed capacity of large, commercial solar parks is 2.77 GW, according to the article. Both segments are expanding strongly, but the latter has lately accelerated, with new utility-scale PV facilities coming online week after week. Of note, wind power and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are catching up.

On that note, 5.8% of prosumers also had batteries integrated with their self-consumption units on June 30. It compares to 1.2% at the end of last year.

Prosumers have led the energy transition for the past two years. Their overall capacity surpassed 2 GW just a year ago, translating to 37% growth in ten months.

Output in the segment amounted to 434 GWh in the first half of the year, where net domestic consumption declined 1% and net energy production surged 10%. Namely, as the duration of the daily solar radiation interval rose, prosumers in Romania drew less power from the grid and consumed more of what they generated themselves.

At the end of the first half of 2025, 210,714 households were prosumers, versus 26,538 legal entities. They had 1.34 GW and 1.48 GW installed, respectively.

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August 20, 2025
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University in Antalya signs deal for 50.4 MW solar power plant

Akdeniz University in Antalya established a partnership with Kopuz Group, which will build and operate a solar power plant of 50.4 MW in peak capacity. The company is completely covering the cost for the facility, which they expect to meet the university’s entire electricity needs.

Municipal authorities in Turkey are emerging as a pillar of the country’s energy transition. They are not only covering public buildings with solar panels, but also investing in larger ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. The trend has also spread to sports venues, particularly football stadiums, alongside educational institutions, infrastructure and transportation including railways, and a range of other social, industrial and commercial activities. Akdeniz University in Antalya particularly stands out with its new deal.

Rector Özlenen Özkan said the aim of the project for a solar power plant of 50.4 MW is to meet the entire electricity demand at the complex home to some 100,000 people. Antalya, located on the Mediterranean coast, was one of the first cities in Turkey that introduced solar power for their own needs.

Akdeniz University to offtake 24% of PV plant’s output

A partnership was launched with Kopuz Group and Kopuz Energy, selected through a tender. The company will build the facility in Yeşiloba in the Korkuteli district. The cooperation works under a build-operate-transfer model, for 25 years.

The private partner bears all the costs of construction and commissioning, estimated at EUR 52.6 million. The company has two years to complete the PV plant, by far the biggest among all universities in Turkey. It is also the largest public-private partnership involving a university, in the solar power segment, Rector Özkan stressed.

The solar power plant will save EUR 2.3 million in electricity costs

In her words, the facility will generate 100 GWh per year, of which Akdeniz University would offtake 24%. The deal will lower its electricity costs by 31%, Özkan added and pointed out that it translates to EUR 2.3 million. The electricity bill of the university hospital in July amounted to almost EUR 650,000, she revealed.

The site for the PV plant is in a mountainous area and on non-agricultural land, Özkan pointed out.

Antalya is in Turkey’s top league in energy transition

As for the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, it has almost 15 MW in peak capacity in 22 PV units in operation or under construction. They include a 5 MW ground-mounted solar farm.

The facilities cover more than half of the electricity needs of the local authority. Notably, it uses solar power to assist farmers, produce drinking water and treat wastewater.

According to the city government, Antalya is the first in Turkey to generate and store its own electricity. Moreover, it produces energy from waste and biomass.

A major solar cell factory located just outside the city is undergoing expansion and the complex will also make PV panels. Turkey hosts more than 23 GW of solar power capacity.

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August 20, 2025
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CWP Europe invests in rooftop solar plant for Henkel Serbia

In partnership with Resalta, CWP Europe led the investment in a rooftop photovoltaic system of 6 MW in peak capacity in Kruševac in Serbia. They completed the project under an innovative ESCO model, contributing to the decarbonization efforts of the manufacturer of detergents and other chemical products.

CWP Europe has successfully completed and commissioned a rooftop solar power plant for Henkel Serbia’s facility in Kruševac. The facility has 6 MW in peak capacity. Developed in partnership with Resalta and financed by UniCreditBank, the project was realized under an innovative ESCO (energy services company) model, with CWP Europe as the key investor.

Now fully operational, the photovoltaic plant is producing an estimated 6,278 MWh of green electricity annually, meeting 21% of the facility’s total energy consumption. The solar power plant will ensure optimal performance for the next 15 years.

The new PV system’s operations prevent an equivalent of 5,857 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, according to the update.

Special investment in distributed generation segment

While CWP Europe’s core focus remains on large-scale renewable energy assets across the region, this rooftop project represents a targeted engagement in the distributed generation space – undertaken to support a leading industrial partner in advancing its decarbonization and sustainability objectives.

With a proven track record in developing impactful renewable energy projects, the company is proud to have brought its expertise and investment capacity to a project that sets a new benchmark for industrial decarbonization in Serbia, the statement reads.

CWP Europe has more than 10 GW in its project pipeline

CWP Europe is a leading renewable energy project development company in Southeast Europe. Over the past 17 years, CWP has invested in sustainable development and the energy transition, successfully developing the largest wind farms in the region including the largest wind farm in Europe – the 600 MW Fântânele-Cogealac project in Romania.

It is currently developing over 10 GW of renewable energy project capacity. CWP Europe is a joint venture between CWP Global, a leading global renewable energy company, and Mercuria Energy Trading, one of the world’s largest independent energy traders, with over USD 140 billion in revenue.

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