December 27, 2025
by in News

North Macedonia’s ESM secures loans for investments in solar, hydro

North Macedonia’s power utility Elektrani na Severna Makedonija has secured EUR 97 million for the installation of the Bitola 3 solar power plant and revitalization of hydropower plants.

Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM) said today it signed the contracts for a state guarantee and loans totaling EUR 97 million for two major energy projects.

This is an important step in strengthening North Macedonia’s energy transition, ESM added.

The company received EUR 87 million for the construction of the largest photovoltaic plant, Bitola 3. KfW allocated EUR 50 million, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approved EUR 37 million.

The Hydropower Plants Revitalization Project is estimated at EUR 47.3 million

Another EUR 10 million from KfW will support the revitalization of ESM’s hydropower plants (HPPs), ESM explained.

According to the utility, the Hydropower Plants Revitalization Project, estimated at EUR 47.3 million and supported by a EUR 10 million EU grant, will increase annual hydropower generation by 50 GWh.

The agreements were signed by Minister of Finance Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska, EBRD representative Fatih Türkmenoğlu, KfW’s director for Kosovo* and North Macedonia Moritz Remé, and ESM CEO Lazo Uzunchev.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Božinovska.

Uzunčev: We will increase domestic renewable capacity by over 200 MW

“With these capital investments, together with ESM, we are strengthening domestic energy production, ensuring stable electricity supply, and fostering sustainable economic development,” Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska underscored.

According to ESM CEO Lazo Uzunčev, the company’s strategic goals are being implemented with strong momentum.

“With ongoing solar and wind projects, including Bitola 3, we will increase domestic renewable capacity by over 200 MW in the next two to three years, while reducing CO₂ emissions by more than 260,000 tons annually,” he stressed.

Petra Drexler, Ambassador of Germany to North Macedonia, recalled that over the last years, Germany and the EU have continuously supported North Macedonia on its path toward a sustainable and resilient energy future.

Post Views:65
* 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.
December 27, 2025
by in News

North Macedonia’s first annual construction plan for energy projects envisages EUR 1.4 billion in investments

The annual construction plan for energy projects for 2025 envisages the installation of power plants with a capacity of 1,265 MW, according to Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Božinovska.

North Macedonia has introduced an annual construction plan for the energy projects with the new Law on Energy, adopted this year. The goal is to bring order to the approval and construction of new power plants.

According to the new regulation, October 1 was the deadline for investors to submit the documentation for their projects for the first annual plan. The review of all documents is in the final phase, according to Božinovska.

The construction of the power plants from the annual plan represents investments of around EUR 1.4 billion, Sanja Božinovska stressed, local media reported.

Solar power plants in the plan have the largest capacity – 812 MW, followed by wind farms  with 426 MW, biomass power plants with 11 MW, and hydropower plants with 15 MW.

Investors have submitted applications for the construction of energy facilities with a capacity of 10,950 MW

She recalled that for the first time, requests were received for the installation of standalone batteries and ones that would be co-located with power plants. The capacity of the standalone battery systems is 675 MW, and of the co-located is 93 MW, Božinovska added.

North Macedonia has received requests for the construction of energy facilities with a total capacity of 10,950 MW.

Investors submitted photovoltaic projects with a capacity of 4,758 MW and wind farms with a capacity of 1,697 MW. Investors were also interested in building gas-fired power plants.

Requests were also submitted for standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a capacity of 2,573 MW and co-located with a capacity of 1,405 MW.

The annual plan should be adopted by January 31, 2026

Božinovska pointed out that 10,950 MW represents a large capacity. The transmission system operator (TSO) MEPSO will have to make a plan to strengthen the grid, she underlined.

The Government of North Macedonia should adopt the annual plan for the construction of energy facilities by January 31, 2026.

The minister recalled that the regulation for the construction of energy facilities has also been adopted. It precisely defines what every potential investor must submit, starting with a feasibility study, regardless of the type of facility, Bozinovska explained.

She said that the adoption of the law on renewable energy sources is expected in the first quarter of next year.

Post Views:58
December 27, 2025
by in News

Bislimoski urges ESM to pivot toward market procurement of electricity

State-owned power utility Elektrani na Severna Makedonija should make the most of the opportunities when prices on the power market are lower than its production costs, according to Marko Bislimoski, President of the Energy, Water Services and Municipal Waste Management Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of North Macedonia (ERC or RKE).

​Marko Bislimoski doesn’t see the future of Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM) only in production. He expressed the belief it should also be much more active in the wholesale and retail markets.

The mindset that ESM should only produce power should be abandoned, in his view.

In times when the price of electricity in the domestic and regional market is lower than its production price, it is much more logical for the company to buy it on the market, Bislimoski underlined.

This is going to reduce costs, he added.

ESM should purchase electricity when prices are lower than its costs as well as when the level is below the one at which it sells the energy to universal supplier EVN Home, Bislimoski pointed out. The firm is responsible for all households, among other categories.

North Macedonia’s solar power capacity has reached 1,200 MW

He recalled that solar power plants with a total capacity of 1,200 MW are installed in the country.

Their owners sell electricity on the market to other suppliers and traders, who then resell it to consumers.

If ESM offers them a fair price, it would have a stable and predictable cost structure in terms of purchasing and producing electricity, Bislimoski pointed out.

He noted that ESM imports coal and mixes it with domestic coal, which has caused an increase in its power production costs. In Bislimoski’s view the company can offer a fair price over a longer period, five to 10 years.

Solar power would save water in hydropower plant reservoirs and coal for thermal power plants

It would enable, especially in the summer and spring months, the purchase of electricity from domestic photovoltaic plants at a price that should be lower than EUR 65 per MWh, avoiding losses, according to Bislimoski.

Of note, the company has offered to supply electricity to EVN Home at a rate of EUR 65 per MWh for 2026.

Purchasing electricity from photovoltaic plants would allow saving water in hydropower plant reservoirs, and only one unit in the REK Bitola coal power would be required to work during some daily hours, Bislimoski concluded.

Post Views:45
December 19, 2025
by in News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Post Views:32
December 19, 2025
by in News

EPCG Solar Gradnja installs 36 MW of solar power in 2025

So far this year, EPCG Solar Gradnja has installed solar power plants with an overall capacity of 36 MW.

EPCG Solar Gradnja, a subsidiary of state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG), specializes in the procurement, design, installation, and maintenance of photovoltaic systems.

Its main role is the installation of solar panels within the programs Solari 3,000+, Solari 500+, and Solari 5,000+.

The programs were launched by EPCG to enable households and businesses to install solar panels under favorable conditions and become prosumers.

EPCG Solar Gradnja pointed out that the results it achieved by December 1 have exceeded the plan for 2025.

The plan for 2025 was 30 MW

“Instead of the planned 30 MW, a total of 36 MW of photovoltaic systems was installed in the first 11 months,” the Board of Directors said after its sixth regular meeting.

The management added that it expects to end the year with a positive financial result.

Of note, EPCG said that since the establishment of EPCG Solar Gradnja in late 2021, the firm installed a total of 75 MW of solar power capacity by August this year. Montenegro currently doesn’t have any large PV plants, so the vast majority of the capacity is in very small PV systems.

The Board of Directors has reappointed Sanja Žugić as acting CEO for a period of six months, or until a competition or the selection of a CEO. The management highlighted good results as the main reason for its decision.

The priority is the implementation of large ground-mounted solar power plants

Due to the increased volume of work and further project development, the board adopted a new rulebook on the organization and the classification of jobs. It brings adjustments to the organization and redistribution of work tasks, EPCG Solar Gradnja said.

In the coming months, the firm’s priority will be the implementation of ground-mounted solar power plants. Two units of 40 MW each are in the pipeline, together with the installation of rooftop solar on an even larger scale, it added.

So far, EPCG Solar Gradnja has installed PV plants on nearly 9,000 roofs.

The board’s meeting was attended by the representatives of the unions. Procedures recommended by the Montenegro State Audit Institution were adopted at the meeting.

Post Views:48
December 19, 2025
by in News

New round of talks between Montenegro and Masdar on strategic partnership

Representatives of the Government of Montenegro and Masdar discussed potential joint projects in the energy sector. The focus of the meeting was on solar energy, energy storage, and hydropower.

Minister of Energy and Mining of Montenegro Admir Šahmanović and the Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović met today at Villa Gorica in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica with Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi and his team.

It was the second meeting between Al Ramahi and Šahmanović in a short period. They met in early September.

The discussions now continued on top priority projects for the Government of Montenegro, ones that could be of mutual interest, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mining.

Priority should be given to projects that are the most technically advanced

Discussions will be intensified to define collaboration models, potential investments, and the selection of first projects to be implemented, the update reads.

Solar projects, including for floating solar power plants, alongside battery energy storage systems (BESS) and hydropower plants, have been identified as segments of special interest. These are also the areas where Masdar has significant engineering and technical experience, the ministry said.

montenegro masdar sahmanovic
Al Ramahi and Šahmanović (photo: Government of Montenegro/Saša Matić)

The two sides agreed to focus on projects that are the most technically advanced, environmentally sustainable, and aligned with the development of the power grid, to ensure their sustainable and efficient implementation.

Šahmanović: Montenegro’s strategic and long-term goal is to establish itself as a reliable and competitive player in the European energy market

Minister Šahmanović pointed out that the country’s strategic and long-term goal is to establish itself as a reliable and competitive player in the European energy market. He underscored that the development of energy infrastructure and renewable energy sources are among the government’s key priorities.

Officials participating in the meeting praised the planned construction of a second submarine cable line with Italy. It is an extremely wise and strategic investment that ensures Montenegro a stronger and more stable position in the European electricity market, they added.
Montenegro’s vision as an energy hub is fully aligned with the government’s development plans, Šahmanović stressed.

Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović highlighted the extensive experience of the United Arab Emirates in energy and infrastructure development in the public sector. It is of great importance for Montenegro’s activities in increasing renewable energy capacities, she added.

Masdar’s expert teams will continue technical talks with the management of EPCG and CGES

Masdar’s representatives have expressed readiness to continue technical discussions with the management of power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) and transmission system operator (TSO) Crnogorski Elektroprenosni Sistem (CGES).

The company’s expert teams will aim to identify priority and mature projects for joint implementation, the ministry said.

EPCG’s CEO Zdravko Dragaš and Ivan Mrvaljević, Executive Officer of EPCG’s Directorate for Development and Engineering, pointed out that the development of green energy is the company’s top priority.

A total of 200 MW in renewable energy projects are currently in development, they added.

Ivan Asanović, CEO of CGES, presented projects that are in the final stages of implementation.

Post Views:52
December 10, 2025
by in News

Montenegro launches second BESS tender but for drastically smaller capacity

Power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore has launched its second battery energy storage system procurement tender. The required capacity is drastically lower than in the first call.

The initial public procurement was canceled because state-owned energy company Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) didn’t obtain approval from the Government of Montenegro to take a loan for a EUR 58 million project.

The new tender envisages the procurement of a battery between 100 kW and 130 kW, with 200 kWh to 260 kWh in capacity. This is a pilot project, and the procurement is valued at EUR 75,000.

The canceled purchase was for two battery energy storage systems (BESS), at 30 MW and 120 MWh each.

The battery will be used on the distribution network

Potential locations include hydropower plant (HPP) Perućica, EPCG’s steel mill Željezara Nikšić, and the Pljevlja thermal power plant.

In the new call, the winning bidder will be obliged to secure a location for installing and testing the pilot BESS, according to the documentation.

EPCG explained that over the previous three years, its projects Solari 3000+, 500+, and 5000+ enabled a strong pace of the addition of prosumer solar power plants to the low-voltage, distribution network in Montenegro.

Although distributed generation has clear financial and ecological benefits, its rapid growth simultaneously brings a string of technical challenges for the distribution network, which was historically developed solely for supplying consumers and for unidirectional energy flow, according to the tender’s documentation.

EPCG sees the installation of batteries in substations as a solution to technical challenges caused by prosumers

The company sees the installation of BESS units within 10/0.4 kV substations as the solution for these challenges.

These batteries would be charged during the hours when photovoltaic facilities have high output in order to reduce and prevent reverse power flow. The idea is to discharge BESS units during hours of peak consumption and low voltage.

The main goal is to minimize voltage deviations in areas that the substations cover, during periods of production and consumption fluctuations. It would increase the hosting capacity for new prosumers, and enhance the stability of the distribution grid under an increased PV plant integration.

Scalability of the battery is one of the conditions for the bidders set by EPCG.

Post Views:22
December 3, 2025
by in News

Slovenian company Talum to install solar power plants on waste landfills

Aluminium producer Talum plans to install solar power plants of up to 60 MW overall. The project could boost utility-scale solar in Slovenia, where small PV facilities installed by firms and households account for almost the entire operating capacity of 1.5 GW.

Currently the largest solar power plant in Slovenia has a capacity of 7.1 MW. Located near the village of Krvavi Potok, it started operating in July.

Notably, the expansion of the Prapretno photovoltaic plant is underway – from 6 MW to 9.8 MW. The largest project is for the Družmirje floating solar plant, for 140 MW.

Talum told state news agency STA it is developing a project to install large solar power plants on the area of its two closed waste landfills in Kidričevo that have valid environmental permits, public broadcaster RTV SLO reported. The endeavor is in accordance with the Law on the Introduction of Devices for the Production of Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources as well as with sustainable policies, it added.

Talum is awaiting response from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning

The company’s project design envisages the installation of solar power plants with a total capacity of up to 60 MW at the landfills.

The company initiated a project approval procedure in July at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, including additional studies. It said it would proceed with preparing the necessary documentation and other activities for the construction, after receiving a response.

It isn’t the first solar project for Talum. In 2023, it installed solar panels of 3.78 MW altogether on five buildings. Additionally, the company hosts two battery energy storage systems (BESS) on its land. NGEN commissioned a 15 MW / 30 MWh unit in 2020, and GEN-I inaugurated a 12 MW / 24 MWh facility a month ago. NGEN has also announced it would install a 70 MW BESS on the site.

Red sludge danger

Local NGO Gibanje za Kidričevo has objected to the project in a letter to Prime Minister Robert Golob and the European Commission.

Solar power plants shouldn’t be built on such sites, according to the group.

It recalled that in 2014, the European Commission classified red mud as hazardous mining waste, following an accident in Hungary four years earlier.

Talum responded that the red mud landfill has a valid environmental permit as a non-hazardous waste landfill.

The project design for the solar power plants envisages the implementation of additional measures on the closed landfills aimed at improving the state of the environment, the company explained.

Of note, Talum used to produce aluminum, but after closing its electrolysis facility, it switched to recycled aluminum products.

Post Views:45
November 10, 2025
by in News

Serbia’s power utility EPS adopts Decarbonization Action Plan

Power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije has developed its Decarbonization Action Plan, said Executive Director for Investments and Development Aleksandar Jakovljević.

The Decarbonization Action Plan of Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) involves the gradual reduction of electricity production from coal, the construction of pumped storage hydropower plants, and over 20 GW of new capacity from renewable energy sources, Aleksandar Jakovljević explained.

For EPS, the energy transition is not only a challenge but also a great opportunity to improve the company in the process of Serbia’s industrial and technological transformation, in Jakovljević’s view.

The energy transition isn’t just a matter of adaptation and transformation of one company, but the entire energy sector, the economy, as well as society, he said at the Power Plants 2025 conference, organized by the Society of Thermal Engineers of Serbia.

Jakovljević: It is important to analyze the experiences of other countries that started the energy transition before us

Jakovljević noted that it is important to analyze the experiences of countries that started the energy transition before Serbia, to apply proven solutions and avoid mistakes. However, in his words, it is also necessary to consider the characteristics of Serbia’s power sector.

Photo: EPS/Danilo Mijatović

​The decarbonization of EPS is already underway with various projects, he asserted and added that by the end of the year, the company’s green portfolio would increase by 76 MW.

The 10 MW Petka solar power plant has been completed, and soon the trial operation of EPS’s first wind farm – Kostolac, with a capacity of 66 MW, will kick off.

Jakovljević recalled that the company is preparing to build pumped storage hydropower plant Bistrica, with a capacity of 650 MW, saying it is a key facility for the integration of renewable sources and for energy stability. He added it is also developing photovoltaic projects, including one for 1 GW and a 200 MW battery energy storage system (BESS).

From 2026, every ton of CO2 produced in EPS’s plants will be priced

EPS is developing renewable energy projects at locations near mines and coal power plants, where existing infrastructure can be utilized, and connections to transmission and distribution networks are available, Jakovljević explained.

He noted that Europe has set the climate neutrality goal for 2050, and that Serbia has committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by at least 33% and to produce 45% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

From 2026, every ton of CO2 produced in EPS plants will be priced, exposing coal production to additional challenges, Jakovljević stressed.

However, in his words, EPS’s goal remains clear – reliable and sustainable energy for Serbia and a profitable EPS as a secure support for consumers, and energy independence in the future.

Post Views:71
November 8, 2025
by in News

Sunotec, Shell join forces to develop BESS in Europe

Sofia-based Sunotec signed an agreement with oil and gas major Shell on the development of battery energy storage systems in Central Eastern Europe.

Sunotec is developing projects for large solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Europe while Shell is one of the leading oil and gas companies in the world.

Sunotec said it signed a cross-border agreement with Shell Energy Europe B.V. It marks a milestone in advancing innovative financial mechanisms for the development of battery energy storage systems in Central Eastern Europe, the Bulgaria-based company added.

The five-year agreement is linked to a 600 MW BESS project owned by Sunotec. The battery is under development and expected to enter commercial operation by Q2 2026, the update reads.

The deal helps Shell to diversify its wider power portfolio in the region

“The agreement provides long-term price stability for the project, supporting its financial viability. For Shell, the deal helps to diversify its wider power portfolio in the region. The agreement was facilitated by Enery Portfolio Optimisation,” Sunotec said.

The transaction is among the first of its kind in Central Eastern Europe and it helps to establish battery project development in the region, according to the renewables developer.

Kaloyan Velichkov, Sunotec founder and CEO, stressed that agreements like the one with Shell highlight the company’s commitment to working with leading energy players who share its vision for a sustainable and forward-looking energy future.

Velichkov: The agreement demonstrates the power of collaboration in advancing flexibility and renewable-energy driven independence

“This pioneering agreement demonstrates the power of collaboration in advancing flexibility and renewable-energy driven independence. By uniting technical expertise with financial ingenuity, we are helping to build a more resilient and integrated energy system,” he underlined.

The transaction demonstrates how cross-border cooperation and forward-looking financial mechanisms can enhance regional energy market integration and facilitate the deployment of large-scale renewable energy assets, in Kaloyan’s view.

Of note, Sunotec has been very active in the market over the last few months.

In October, the firm secured financing for a portfolio of seven projects in Bulgaria.

Three months prior, it signed an agreement with Sungrow on installing 2.4 GWh of BESS in Europe.

Post Views:68