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 7, 2025
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EU’s Modernisation Fund disburses EUR 3.66 billion for clean energy projects in nine countries

Energy modernization projects in nine member states of the European Union will receive a total of EUR 3.66 billion from the Modernisation Fund, in the largest disbursement to date from the facility financed by carbon pricing revenues, according to a press release from the European Commission. The selected projects focus on renewable energy, grid upgrades, energy storage, and energy efficiency.

The largest beneficiary of the latest disbursement is Poland, which will receive EUR 1.33 billion for its projects, followed by the Czech Republic, with EUR 1.05 billion, and Romania, with EUR 712.3 million. Hungary will get EUR 181.3 million, Croatia EUR 170 million, and Greece EUR 113.6 million. The rest will go to Latvia (EUR 40 million), Lithuania (EUR 37 million), and Slovenia (EUR 19.7 million).

Croatia will finance renewable heat production and zero-emission transportation, and Slovenia will upgrade power grid to integrate renewables

In Croatia, EUR 80 million will be used for the production and use of heat from renewable energy sources and energy efficiency improvement in heating and cooling systems. The rest will go to investments in zero-emission transportation. In Slovenia, the funding will facilitate renewables integration through the modernization and development of the electricity transmission and distribution network.

Greece, which became a Modernisation Fund beneficiary in January 2024, intends to replace urban diesel buses with new electric buses, improve energy efficiency in municipal swimming pools, and switch the heating and cooling systems in its greenhouse infrastructure to renewables.

In Romania, the funding will help improve the energy efficiency of facilities covered by the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), support the contract-for-difference (CfD) scheme for onshore wind and solar, and finance the installation of solar and wind power plants for self-consumption in the agricultural and food sectors and public institutions. It is also intended for investments in new solar, wind, and hydropower capacities and to support the modernization and rehabilitation of the district heating network.

In the Czech Republic and Lihtuania, the funding will support energy storage projects

Other example projects include investments in storage capacity for renewable electricity in the Czech Republic, investments in large-scale energy storage capacities in Lithuania, and a clean air program in Poland that focuses on energy efficiency improvements and heat source replacements in single-family houses, according to the press release.

The investments will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the energy, industry, and transportation sectors, improve energy efficiency, and help the beneficiary states meet climate and energy targets, the commission said.

The projects will also help improve people’s everyday lives, by reducing bills, improving public services, creating jobs, and making the energy transition real, fair, and beneficial for all, according to Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.

With this latest round of funding, the total disbursements from the Modernisation Fund since January 2021 have climbed to EUR 19.1 billion. The fund is financed by revenues from the auctioning of emission allowances under the EU ETS.

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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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July 3, 2025
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Solaris Holding launches production at large hybrid renewable energy park in Bulgaria

The new Selanovtsi solar farm of 59.8 MW in peak capacity near Vratsa was installed alongside a battery energy storage system of 107.3 MWh in capacity. The hybrid energy park, owned by Solaris Holding, is now accumulating the midday output and releasing it into the grid at hours of increased demand.

Engineering, supply and construction company Solaris Holding, a joint venture of the Bulgarian-German Sunotec and the main shareholders of Eurohold Bulgaria (Evrohold), launched the operation of a hybrid power plant in the municipality of Oryahovo in Vratsa district. The project in the country’s northwest is financed by United Bulgarian Bank (UBB or OBB) and the German Varengold Bank.

The Selanovtsi solar power plant’s peak capacity is 59.8 MW. It is integrated with a new battery energy storage system (BESS) of 107.3 MWh. Annual output is estimated at 79.9 GWh. It is equivalent to the energy needs of more than 22,000 households and it saves more than a million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, according to the developer.

Electrohold Trade, part of Electrohold Group and Eurohold, is responsible for the sale of electricity.

Hybrid power plant generating 79.9 GWh per year

The Selanovtsi facility, located near an eponymous village, spans 37.9 hectares. It consists of 103,116 solar modules. A team of 250 people built the hybrid renewable energy park, which features lithium-ion-phosphate (LFP) batteries, according to the update.

During the hours of lower consumption, the integrated system stores the green energy and delivers it to the grid around the daily demand peaks. It ensures a more balanced load on the electricity system, increases its stability and efficiency, and contributes to a more reliable integration of renewable sources into the national grid, the statement adds.

Solaris has four even larger projects underway

Solaris plans to commission four more battery-powered photovoltaic plants, even larger in size. In September, it inaugurated a hybrid solar power and storage facility in Pernik.

BESS has become a standard element of PV projects in Bulgaria. In addition, the country’s battery manufacturing capacity is growing and the government has completed its tenders for state support to BESS combined with renewable energy plants, and for standalone units. But even before the subsidies, there are facilities under construction.

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July 2, 2025
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Vatopedi monastery on Mt. Athos gets largest grid-forming BESS in Greece

A grid-forming battery energy storage system of 3 MW was put into trial operation at the Vatopedi monastery on Mount Athos. The project is part of the green energy transition of the monastic republic in northern Greece.

The Sacred Patriarchal and Stavopegial Monastery of Vatopedi, founded in the 10th century, has a microgrid. Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor ENGAIA said it installed the largest grid-forming battery energy storage system (BESS) in Greece at the site. The facility with 3 MW in operating power and a capacity of 6 MWh is also the largest in the country, according to the company.

The Monastic Republic of Mount Athos of 20 monasteries in the Chalkidiki peninsula in northern Greece isn’t connected to the national electricity network. Reliant until recently only on diesel-fired generators and solid fuel, the self-governing area is shifting to solar power with storage.

Not long ago, Mount Athos relied on diesel-fired generators and solid fuel for its energy needs

ENGAIA, a Greek member of the London-based ECOERA group of companies, is also adding a 1.1 MW photovoltaic unit. It said it would enable it to commission the battery facility fully.

The company stressed that the independent microgrid with a virtual synchronous generator (VSG) at Vatopedi, enabling energy autonomy, is also the largest in the country and one of the largest in Europe. The new BESS is the first large-scale deployment of Huawei’s equipment in the sector in Greece.

Mount Athos is also known as Agion Oros – Holy Mountain. Three years ago, European funds were approved for 21 autonomous photovoltaic stations, with a total capacity of 2.64 MW, in combination with energy storage systems. Mytilineos, now called Metlen, won the contract for the installation of the facilities.

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July 2, 2025
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Danish Eurowind Energy to build 220 MW solar park in Romania

Denmark-based renewable energy company Eurowind Energy has announced plans to develop a 220 MW solar park in Romania in an investment valued at EUR 174.8 million. It would be its largest solar park in Romania and one of the biggest in the country. In addition, the company ordered wind turbines from Vestas for its three projects in Romania.

Eurowind’s future solar park, located in Vișina in Dâmbovița County, will span 345 hectares, comprising over 400,000 photovoltaic panels. Its projected annual electricity output is 400 GWh, equivalent to the consumption of around 150,000 Romanian households.

The Vișina solar park is the fifth photovoltaic project developed by Eurowind in Romania, following those in Hălchiu, Măgurele, Pufești, and Teiuș. By the end of 2025, the company plans to operate a local portfolio of 124 MW, alongside a pipeline of about 7.5 GW of solar, wind, hybrid, and storage solutions, according to its website.

Vișina is Eurowind’s fifth solar project in Romania

The Teiuș Solar Park, with a capacity of 60.2 MW, was commissioned in April this year. The EUR 55 million project was developed in collaboration with local firm Teiuș Solar. Its planned annual production is 103.59 GWh of electricity.

Also in April, Eurowind signed a 12-year virtual power purchase agreement (PPA) in Romania for the supply of electricity from its Pecineaga wind park. The contract was signed with Sweden-based automotive manufacturer Autoliv.

Eurowind has ordered 143 MW of Vestas wind turbines for its wind farms in Romania

Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas said yesterday that Eurowind Energy has placed a 143 MW order for its Frumușița, Vector, and Pecineaga Northeast (NordEst) wind power projects in Romania. The contract includes the supply and installation of 23 wind turbines from the EnVentus platform, Vestas added.

In addition to wind and solar, Eurowind Energy’s portfolio includes hydrogen, biogas, power-to-heat, and battery storage projects. It operates in 16 markets across Europe and the United States, according to the Danish company’s website.

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July 2, 2025
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Turkey selects first hydropower reservoir for YEKA floating solar power auction

The reservoir of state-owned Electricity Generation Corp.’s Demirköprü hydropower plant is the first proposed area for Turkey’s planned floating solar power auction. The YEKA support mechanism provides grid permits for several decades and a period with guaranteed prices.

Within its ambition to grow the solar and wind power capacity to 120 GW in total by 2035, the Turkish government is counting on floating photovoltaics as well. The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources proposed the reservoir of the Demirköprü hydropower plant for the first dedicated auction for the technology.

Detailed studies of the area are underway under the framework for the Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) state support mechanism, the announcement revealed. The scheme is better known by its Turkish acronym YEKA.

Demirköprü is on the Gediz river, east of Izmir, in Manisa province. Its owner is state-owned Electricity Generation Corp. (Elektrik Üretim A.Ş. – EÜAŞ). The 69 MW hydropower plant’s dam holds a reservoir with a regular surface of just under 48 square kilometers.

The Demirköprü hydropower plant’s reservoir spans almost 48 square kilometers under regular conditions

The country’s second floating solar power plant came online early this year. The only other such facilities in the region that Balkan Green Energy News covers are in Romania and Albania.

Turkey held auctions for 7.85 GW in total for wind and solar power, of which 3.8 GW for PV projects. Winners get grid permits for several decades and a period with guaranteed prices.

The country’s total electricity production capacity reached 119.3 GW by the end of May, of which 72.5 GW ran on renewable sources. Solar power accounted for 22.6 GW, compared to 20.4 GW in mid-February.

The ministry selected the first offshore wind power zones in August 2023.

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July 1, 2025
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Montenegro publishes NECP for public consultation – sole coal plant planned for shutdown in 2041

State institutions, companies, organizations, and individuals have until August 6 to deliver their suggestions and comments about the draft National Energy and Climate Plan of Montenegro. It sets the provisional date for taking the Pljevlja coal power plant, the only one in the country, at 2041, but the authors pointed out that it primarily depends on a just transition and the security of electricity supply.

Montenegro’s long-awaited draft National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) sets out the key 2030 targets for greenhouse gas emission cuts, share of renewable energy sources in gross final energy consumption, and energy efficiency.

The document, also known for its acronym INECP, in which the first letter stands for integrated, was published for the public consultation phase. It lasts until August 6. The Ministry of Energy and Mining called on the interested public – local authorities and other state institutions, the expert and scientific communities, associations, organizations, companies and individuals, to send their comments and suggestions.

“The energy and climate policy isn’t just a task for the government – it is a joint responsibility. That is why I am inviting all stakeholders, and especially nongovernmental organizations, to use this opportunity and contribute to the creation of a realistic, ambitious and just plan,” Minister Admir Šahmanović stated.

Renewables target can be surpassed

National goals match the ones adopted within the Energy Community. The targeted primary energy consumption in 2030 amounts to 0.92 million tons of oil equivalent. Under the business-as-usual scenario (with existing measures – WEM), the benchmark is expected to land at 1.04 million. With additional measures (WEM), the trajectory moves closer to the objective, projected at 0.97 million tons of oil equivalent.

The goal for final energy consumption is 0.73 million tons of oil equivalent. Existing measures result in 0.82 million, and added ones in 0.77 million tons of oil equivalent.

The share of renewable sources in transportation could reach 24.4% instead of only 7.2%

Montenegro fares better with its expected share of renewables in gross final energy consumption, against the 50% target. In the WEM scenario, it reaches 42.5%, and the WAM projection is 53.3%.

Without additional measures, renewable sources have a 66.3% share in electricity production. The document’s authors calculated that it could grow to 79.4%. As for transportation, the range is from 7.2% to 24.4%. In heating and cooling, the possible progress from the results of current measures is only 0.4 percentage points, reaching 49.2%.

The targeted reduction in emissions is 55%, the same as in the European Union. It translates to 2.42 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in the final year of the current decade. With existing measures, the curve touches 3.06 million in 2030, and with added ones the result is 2.4 million tons of CO2 equivalent.

Retirement of Pljevlja coal plant depends on socio-economic situation in northern region

Oil derivatives, which are all imported, participated in the 2022 final energy consumption with 47.3%, followed by electricity, 33.3%. Wood fuel is the next item, with 18.7%. The share of coal is only 0.7%, because almost the entire output goes to thermal power plant Pljevlja, the only such facility in Montenegro.

The overall electricity production capacity at the end of 2023 was 1.07 GW. The Pljevlja coal plant, which is currently under reconstruction, has 225 MW.

According to the projection, the Pljevlja coal plant is in cold reserve after 2040

The provisional date for its shutdown is 2041, but it primarily depends on the success of the just transition process and maintaining the security of electricity supply, the NECP reads. It also shows the Pljevlja coal plant in cold reserve after 2040.

In addition, taking it offline requires supplying end consumers under favorable conditions, while minding the overall socio-economic situation in the country’s northern region, where the coal mines and the power plant are, the authors explained. They noted as well that an energy storage pilot project is under consideration for the site of the Pljevlja facility.

Electricity sector’s self-sufficiency varying due to dependence on hydrological conditions

The country’s two large hydropower plants Piva and Perućica have 342 MW and 307 MW in capacity, respectively.

There are 38 other hydroelectric units in Montenegro, of which the smallest one is 200 kW. The biggest facility, Vrbnica (6.75 MW), is owned by a firm with the same name, registered in the capital Podgorica.

The high share of hydropower plants in electricity production, implying dependence on hydrology, is the main reason of the variability of the level of self-sufficiency of the national energy balance year after year, the NECP says.

There are two wind power plants on the grid: Krnovo (72 MW) and Možura (46 MW), while the third one, called Gvozd, is under construction. The project envisages 54.6 MW in the first phase.

There are only five independent solar power plants. The biggest one, Čevo, has 4.4 MW in nominal capacity and a 3.25 MW connection. Nevertheless, units operated by prosumers reached 75 MW altogether, according to one entry, though the numbers are lower in other parts of the NECP.

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July 1, 2025
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LONGi ignites Romania’s energy transition with 54.1 MW BC technology triumph

A solar power plant in Romania’s northwest is on schedule to be connected to the grid in the fourth quarter of this year. The 54.1 MW facility in Chișineu-Criș features LONGi Solar’s back contact or BC modules, with an efficiency of 24.8%. It is the largest solar installation for retail infrastructure in the country.

LONGi Solar, a global leader in solar technology, has deployed 54.1 MW of its Hi-MO 9 back contact (BC) modules at the CEF Chișineu-Criș solar park in Romania’s Arad county. Developed for NEPI Rockcastle and its subsidiary Solpower Energy, and engineered by engineering, purchase and construction (EPC) partner Enevo Group, this utility-scale project – Romania’s largest solar installation for retail infrastructure – will positively impact the direct pathway for decarbonization at NEPI Rockcastle’s property portfolio in Romania, showcasing BC technology’s pivotal role in grid-scale renewable transitions.

The Chișineu-Criș facility, features 84,000 Hi-MO 9 modules, strategically deployed to maximize energy autonomy for NEPI Rockcastle’s retail assets in Romania. The plant, located in the country’s northwest, has been in full ownership of the leading owner and developer of shopping centers across Central and Eastern Europe since last year.

Hi-MO 9 has unmatched performance

Construction started in January 2025, and it remains on schedule for a grid connection in the fourth quarter. The project exemplifies BC technology’s scalability, with Hi-MO 9’s 24.8% module efficiency and -0.26%/°C temperature coefficient, ensuring optimal performance in Romania’s continental climate.

“This project exemplifies how BC technology transforms utility-scale solar into a reliable backbone for major infrastructure. Hi-MO 9’s unmatched performance ensures NEPI Rockcastle’s portfolio achieves energy stability,” stated Mirel Jarnea, Country Manager Utility Scale Business Unit of LONGi.

Faced with Romania’s grid limitations and land efficiency demands, Hi-MO 9’s back contact architecture eliminated front-grid shading losses to achieve 8% higher yield versus TOPCon products. Its PID/LID resistance guarantees 30-year performance stability – critical for NEPI Rockcastle’s long-term asset strategy – while minimizing maintenance costs across the 54.1 MW site.

Eduard Meiloiu, Executive Director Renewables BU of ENEVO, said: “Our collaboration with LONGi has been seamless from start to finish, reflecting a truly efficient and aligned partnership. BC technology brought clear engineering advantages – from higher efficiency and improved thermal performance to long-term reliability. Our engineering team greatly appreciated the precision and flexibility of the solution, which enabled us to deliver a robust project tailored to local conditions and fully aligned with Romania’s sustainability goals.”

Project to create over one hundred local jobs

This project is expected to generate around 70,171 MWh of clean electricity each year, which is enough to power approximately 29,300 Romanian homes. In doing so, it will also help avoid around 21,100 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, as contribution to climate goals.

Beyond environmental benefits, the project will create over 100 local jobs and give priority to regional contractors, boosting the local economy. By aligning climate mitigation with local economic development, this utility-scale solar initiative highlights how renewable infrastructure can meaningfully contribute to emissions reduction and socio-economic resilience.

Radu: NEPI Rockcastle’s photovoltaic project pipeline will enable it to generate 6% of its portfolio’s electricity needs

“NEPI Rockcastle’s green energy program is advancing through three major stages, reflecting our long-term commitment to sustainability and decarbonization. We’re investing EUR 110 million in new photovoltaic projects, including solar panel installations across 23 properties in CEE and greenfield developments in Romania totaling 159 MW in capacity. These efforts already enable us to generate 6% of our portfolio’s electricity needs and will help us reach our target of 84% renewable electricity usage. As part of this program, we partnered with LONGi specifically for the Chișineu-Criș solar project, where their high-efficiency photovoltaic modules are helping us deliver a flagship utility-scale development in Romania. This collaboration supports our strategic goal of enhancing the use of electricity from renewable sources and energy autonomy of our retail assets,” concluded Andrei Radu, Group Development Director at NEPI Rockcastle.

As Eastern Europe’s premier solar portfolio directly powering retail infrastructure, CEF Chișineu-Criș establishes a replicable model for large-scale renewable integration. With NEPI Rockcastle planning expansion across its property network, LONGi’s BC technology stands ready to accelerate Europe’s utility-scale revolution.

About NEPI Rockcastle

NEPI Rockcastle is Europe’s third-largest listed retail real estate company by investment portfolio value and the largest owner, operator, and developer of shopping centers in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The company’s EUR 8 billion portfolio is located across eight CEE countries and includes 60 properties. It is a market leader in Romania and Poland (NEPI Rockcastle’s two largest markets) and has shopping centers in Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania.

About LONGi

Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world’s leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation.

Under its mission of “making the best of solar energy to build a green world,” LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established several business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers, cells and modules, commercial and industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has, more recently, also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero-carbon development.

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