July 11, 2025
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Solar beats nuclear in June, becoming EU’s biggest electricity source for first time

Solar became the EU’s largest source of electricity for the first time in June 2025. National records for both photovoltaics and wind rolled in in May and June, pushing coal to an all-time low.

Solar was the largest source of electricity in the European Union for the first time last month, with multiple countries producing record amounts of solar power, Ember found. Wind power achieved the highest ever generation for the months of May and June, the think tank said.

Solar power generated 22.1% of EU electricity (45.4 TWh) in June, more than any other power source. It was a year-over-year increase of 22%. In second place was nuclear, with 21.8% (44.7 TWh), followed by wind, with 15.8% (32.4 TWh).

The big opportunity now comes from adding battery storage and flexibility to extend the use of renewable power into mornings and evenings, where fossil fuels still set high power prices, according to Ember’s Senior Energy analyst Chris Rosslowe.

At least thirteen EU countries set monthly solar records

At least thirteen countries recorded their highest-ever month of solar generation, amid an ongoing surge in photovoltaic installations. Among them were Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Slovenia and Romania, all the EU countries in the region that Balkan Green Energy News is focused on except Cyprus, for which there was no data for June.

Wind power reached an all-time high shares of 16.6% (33.7 TWh) and 15.8% (32.4 TWh) in May and June, respectively

Strong photovoltaic output helped the power system to handle higher levels of demand resulting from heatwaves that gripped the continent towards the end of the month, according to the report.

Wind farms generated 16.6% (33.7 TWh) and 15.8% (32.4 TWh) of EU electricity in May and June, respectively. It was an all-time high for both months. Notably, at the start of the year, wind conditions were relatively poor. They improved, and they were the main driver, though capacity has been continuously growing over the past year. Several large offshore wind farms were commissioned.

Coal falls to record low

As a result of high renewables generation in June, coal had the lowest-ever share of EU electricity. Total fossil generation was also low, but it grew in the entire first half of the year on an annual basis.

Coal generated just 6.1% (12.6 TWh) of EU electricity in June, down from the 8.8% registered in the same month of last year.

The two countries that account for the vast majority of EU coal power (79% in June) both saw record lows in June. Namely, Germany generated just 12.4% (4.8 TWh) of its power from coal, and Poland 42.9% (5.1 TWh). Four other countries recorded their lowest-ever month of coal generation in June: Czechia (17.9%), Bulgaria (16.7%), Denmark (3.3%) and Spain (0.6%), which is approaching its coal phaseout.

Fossil fuels generated 23.6% (48.5 TWh) of EU electricity in June, just above the record low of 22.9% in May 2024. Nevertheless, fossil generation in the first half of 2025 was 13% higher (by 45.7 TWh) than in the first half of 2024, mainly due to a jump in gas generation by 19% or 35.5 TWh. Lower hydropower (due to drought) and wind generation than last year, and increasing demand marked the period.

Electricity demand continued on an upward trajectory. In the first half of 2025, the EU consumed 1.31 PWh of electricity or 2.2% more than in the same period of last year.

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July 11, 2025
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Cyprus curtails as much renewable electricity in first half of 2025 as whole last year

According to data compiled by the CyprusGrid tracking platform, the island country curtailed more than 167 GWh of renewable electricity in the first six months of 2025. It was equivalent to last year’s entire cuts. On average, two thirds of the potential green energy production was lost per day in March.

In addition to being the only European Union member state without an interconnection with another power system, Cyprus only has oil-fired generators, a surging solar power capacity, wind parks and some biomass-fired facilities. Other countries, like Greece, also must curtail renewable electricity units, but maintaining system stability requires more drastic cuts in the isolated island nation. Notably, it still lacks energy storage, while the conventional power plants lack flexibility.

According to a statistical report from a few months ago, Cyprus hosted almost 850 MW of solar power, of which less than 400 MW was in commercial photovoltaic plants. Prosumers operated the rest. Licensed projects amounted to 2.8 GW. Wind power amounts to 155 MW.

Rapid growth of solar power capacity brings more episodes of overloads, when grid operators have to curtail photovoltaic and wind power production. At the same time, sudden weather changes can push production to a critically low level, which can also cause outages before conventional facilities step in to cover the deficit.

Curtailments to double this year

Founder of the CyprusGrid tracking platform Andreas Procopiou said on LinkedIn that more than 167 GWh of renewable energy was curtailed in the first half of the year. It’s how much was lost whole last year, he pointed out.

The conventional power plants in Cyprus aren’t able to lower or boost production fast enough to balance the changes in renewables

The cuts will almost certainly exceed 300 GWh in 2025, doubling the all-time high in just one year, Procopiou estimated. The average monthly growth rate has actually more than doubled from 2024, according to the developer of the electricity generation tracker.

Cuts boost emission costs by EUR 8 million

Curtailments erased 20.8 GWh in June alone. The daily average was 29.3% of total renewables output. It compares to May’s 33.9 GWh and 50.3%, respectively, after 37.9 GWh and 61.4% in April. March was the worst, with 38.2 GWh lost, or a whopping 67.9% of potential production, CyprusGrid data shows.

“Solar energy that could reduce costs and pollutants ends up being lost. For 2025 alone, the cuts already amount to more than 100,000 tons of additional CO₂ emissions and an additional burden of around EUR 8 million for emission allowances. A cost that we all ultimately pay,” Procopiou stressed.

Without storage, flexibility and serious planning, the energy transition remains just an empty slogan, the renewable energy expert pointed out.

Nevertheless, French giant TotalEnergies isn’t intimidated by the curtailments. It won the environmental approval a month ago for a photovoltaic park of 100 MW in peak capacity. But the company is planning to include energy storage.

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July 9, 2025
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WindEurope seeks next CEO as Giles Dickson to depart

Chief Executive Officer of WindEurope Giles Dickson has decided to step down after 10 years, to become a school teacher. The Board of Directors of WindEurope has initiated the process of finding his successor.

Giles Dickson has been instrumental in the expansion of wind energy in Europe – onshore and offshore – and played a key role in the development of Europe’s ambitious renewable energy plans, the organization said. The board established a nomination committee to find the new CEO. The current chief executive of WindEurope is remaining in his post throughout this process, until he steps down during the second half of 2025, the update adds.

“I’m incredibly proud of the progress wind energy has made in Europe in the past 10 years. I thank everyone at WindEurope for their engagement and support and the many people who have helped take wind energy forward during my tenure. Having spent most of my working life outside the UK, I look forward to going home and trying to put something back into the society I came from. But wind is a fantastic industry that it is a privilege to serve,” Giles Dickson said.

The number of jobs in the wind industry is expected to reach 600,000 in 2030

Chair of the Board of Directors Henrik Andersen praised the outgoing CEO for his contribution to WindEurope and the expansion of wind across the continent.

“It is a testament to Giles’ passion for and dedication to the energy transition that he will now help ensure a smooth succession and leave a stronger WindEurope than when he arrived. Europe is facing a generational challenge of becoming competitive and secure again, which wind energy plays a key role in, and I’m therefore very pleased we’ll have a wind energy champion like Giles to educate our future generations,” he stated.

Wind energy accounts for 20% of the electricity Europe consumes, and thanks to wind, the European Union avoids 100 billion cubic meters of fossil fuel imports, WindEurope pointed out.

The industry provides 370,000 jobs and the number is projected to reach 600,000 in 2030. The wind power sector contributes EUR 52 billion to Europe’s gross domestic product, the organization added. On average, each new wind turbine adds EUR 16 million to the European economy and the industry’s 250+ factories are all over Europe, including in economically-deprived regions, it stressed.

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July 8, 2025
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Heatwave strains European grid, brings profit to energy storage operators

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Record EU solar generation helps keep power supply stable

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

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

Outages limited but still posing concern

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

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

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

Sun brings power alongside heat

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

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

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

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

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

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July 8, 2025
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Montenegro determines quota, maximum price for solar power auction

At the forthcoming auction for market premiums for electricity from solar power plants in Montenegro, the participants will bid for state support for 250 MW in total capacity. The maximum price to compete for is EUR 65 per MWh and the contracts will last 12 years.

The Government of Montenegro adopted the decisions and directives necessary for issuing a public call to auction for solar power projects of at least 400 kW. The lowest bids will win, and the maximum price is EUR 65 per MWh. Market premiums will be awarded, via 12-year contracts for difference (CfDs).

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).

The sum consists of EUR 110 million in grants via the Western Balkans Investment Framework and highly concessional loans, as the EU calls them. WBIF would provide EUR 95 million and the remainder is for the state treasury.

The commission responsible for the auction will extend the quota by up to 50 MW if it fits in one or more eligible projects in their entirety

The country plans solar and wind power auctions for 400 MW in total capacity. The quota for the first auction for the rights to market premiums, only for photovoltaic projects, is 250 MW.

However, the quota can be extended, by a maximum of 20%. The government said the extra 50 MW is available for the inclusion of an entire eligible project that entered the quota only partially, or more such projects, in case the bids for them were equal. But if the part of the capacity outside of the quota is larger than the possible extension, the commission would award a market premium only for the part that did fit the quota.

Conversely, in case a share of the quota isn’t awarded, it can be switched to the next auction.

Under a CfD, the operator of a renewable electricity plant 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, they are reimbursed.

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July 7, 2025
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Open call for green hydrogen high-efficiency CHP pilot plant in northern Greece

Greece’s Alternate Minister of Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis has launched an open call for the installation and operation of a high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) unit using fuel cells powered by green hydrogen. The site for the pilot project is in the Western Macedonia coal region in the country’s north. It is part of the government’s Just Development Transition Programme 2021–2027.

Western Macedonia is Greece’s main coal region, and the other one is Megalopolis in the Peloponnese. The country is transforming the economies of the two areas toward clean and smart technologies, largely with funding from the European Union and aiming at a just transition.

The open call signed by Alternate Minister Nikos Papathanasis for the installation and operation of a pilot unit for high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) facility, running on fuel cells, has a total budget of EUR 7.87 million. The facility would utilize green hydrogen produced in electrolyzers powered by renewable electricity.

The energy would be used to provide 24/7 power and heat to the Bodosakeio General Hospital of Ptolemaida, the Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute (CPERI) in the same city and the Daycare Center for People with Disabilities in the municipality of Eordaia.

The deadline for proposal submission is October 31

The deadline for the submission of proposals is October 31, with immediate evaluation of applications.

The project is for the construction of a pilot CHP unit and a photovoltaic park on municipal land in Eordaia.

According to the announcement from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the flagship initiative aims to showcase and implement cutting-edge energy and environmental technologies, contributing to the region’s energy transition and decarbonization efforts.

In April, Public Power Corp. (PPC) announced a EUR 5.8 billion investment plan to support the transition of Western Macedonia. The endeavor consists of the decommissioning of old assets and the rollout of new energy technologies.

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.

The plan also includes: 2.1 GW of solar PV capacity, with one 550 MW project nearing completion in a former lignite mine, 860 MW of energy storage, including pumped hydro and battery systems, and a 300 MW data center, planned to be scaled up to 1 GW.

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July 7, 2025
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Foreign renewable energy investors remain committed to Romania as large plants coming online

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

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

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

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

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

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

Engie praises renewable energy potential in Romania

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

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

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

Rezolv building one of largest wind power plants in Europe

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

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

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

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

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

Enery from Austria lining up renewable electricity plants in Romania

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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July 4, 2025
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IHA: Turkey’s 2024 hydropower additions highest in Europe again

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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July 4, 2025
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YEO’s Defic Globe buys projects for 219 MW in Romania amid rebranding

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

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

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

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

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

New brand CALL Energy investing up to USD 1 billion

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

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

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

Projects for 1.5 GW in ten countries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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July 4, 2025
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HELLENiQ Energy buys ABO Energy Hellas, adding 1.5 GW in renewables projects

With the acquisition of ABO Energy Hellas, HELLENiQ Energy strengthened its project pipeline for renewables and energy storage by a third, to 6 GW.

Amid a consolidation in the renewables sector in Greece, HELLENiQ Energy Holdings said it completed, through its HELLENiQ Renewables subsidiary, the acquisition of ABO Energy Hellas. The transaction includes six affiliated entities with a portfolio of 22 renewable energy project clusters.

Total capacity under development in Greece amounts to 1.5 GW. ABO Energy Hellas, part of Germany-based ABO Energy, also brings its renewable energy project development and construction platform, according to the update. HELLENiQ Energy pointed out that the portfolio comprises all renewables technologies.

It includes 340 MW of photovoltaic projects under development, classified under priority category B, and 550 MW in projects for battery energy storage systems (BESS) eligible for participation in the process of obtaining priority connection terms.

At the end of March, HELLENiQ Energy operated renewable electricity plants of an overall 494 MW

With ABO Energy Hellas, the company expanded its renewables pipeline to more than 6 GW. It accelerates the strategic objective to achieve at least 2 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, it said.

Purchase price to grow if projects reach milestones

The two sides didn’t disclose the purchase price. If projects from the 1.5 gigawatt pipeline achieve certain milestones, additional consideration will become due, ABO Energy revealed.  “The sale of the Greek subsidiary improves our chances of success, reduces complexity of the ABO Energy group, and helps to further focus our business,” said Managing Director Karsten Schlageter.

Between 2019 and 2023, ABO Energy developed and sold five solar parks in Greece with a total capacity of more than 100 MW. The largest one is Margariti in Epirus, of 50 MW. The company connected four of them to the grid on a turnkey basis.

ABO Energy stressed it would remain active in Greece as a service provider and continue to provide commercial and technical management for the solar parks already built.

Photo: Margariti solar park (ABO Energy)

HELLENiQ Energy had almost 500 MW in operation at end of March alongside just as much in mature projects

HELLENiQ Energy, formerly Hellenic Petroleum, produces fossil fuels and petrochemicals and operates service stations. The company is rapidly expanding in the green energy segment as well. Notably, it won state support for its projects at Greece’s BESS auctions.

At the end of March, HELLENiQ Energy operated renewable electricity plants of 494 MW altogether. Photovoltaics made up 59%, while the rest was in wind turbines. At the time, the company had half a gigawatt under construction or in the ready-to-build stage.

It is about to complete the purchase of the remaining 50% of Elpedison, its joint venture in Greece with Italy-based Edison. They operate two gas-fired combined cycle power plants.

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