October 8, 2025
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GridFlex to install standalone BESS in Serbia

GridFlex plans to install a standalone battery energy storage system with a capacity of 125 MWh near the city of Leskovac, in southern Serbia. The investment is estimated at EUR 17 million.

Serbia doesn’t have any utility-scale batteries, but many are in the project pipeline. GridFlex is one of 11 companies in the process of obtaining approvals from transmission system operator (TSO) Elektromreža Srbije (EMS) for the connection of planned standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) to the network.

Mayor of Leskovac Goran Cvetanović met with representatives of Turkish company GridFlex, which has an office in Belgrade.

Battery systems provide flexibility to the system

The company is developing a project for a BESS that would provide system flexibility, support the integration of renewable energy sources, and contribute to the local economy, the city authority said.

GridFlex plans to invest EUR 17 million in the installation of an energy storage facility in Leskovac, the update revealed.

Owner and CEO of GridFlex Alkin Yaman participated in the meeting.

The deadline for completing the construction is the end of 2026

The planning and technical documentation for the facility is under development. The deadline for completing the facility is the end of 2026, while commissioning is expected in early 2027, the city stressed.

The battery would be installed on 1.5 hectares of privately owned land that the firm purchased near the Leskovac 2 substation.

The city will provide assistance to GridFlex for project implementation.

Three co-owners

The investment will secure numerous benefits for the city – the possibility of new investments, weakened load and voltage fluctuations in the power system, and an increase in the capacity for connecting new local consumers and producers to the grid, the local authority stressed.

According to data from the Business Registers Agency, the owners of GridFlex are Alkin Sevket Yaman, Sirin Cem, and Denis Severinov Karamov.

Of note, investors in Serbia are in the process of obtaining approvals for connecting their planned BESS facilities of an overall 2,021 MW and 5,899 MWh to the grid. They would be standalone batteries and ones co-located with power plants.

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October 3, 2025
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Batteries totaling 5,899 MWh in grid connection procedure in Serbia

Investors in Serbia are obtaining approvals for connecting their planned battery energy storage systems of an overall 2,021 MW and 5,899 MWh to the grid. The projects are for standalone batteries and ones that would be co-located with power plants.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are rapidly expanding worldwide, and Southeast Europe is no exception. European Union member states in the region such as Bulgaria and Romania are making major strides, while the other countries are trying to catch up. For example, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

As of September 29, Serbia’s transmission system operator (TSO) Elektromreža Srbije (EMS) received a total of 12 applications for the development of connection studies for standalone BESS, Nebojša Vučinić, manager of the Development Division of EMS, told Balkan Green Energy News.

Two applications were submitted in January for the study development interval of March 1 to June 30, 2025, and ten more were received for the current interval, which lasts from September 1 to December 31. Out of the first two applications, the one from Green BESS KV is no longer valid, because the firm didn’t submit a bank guarantee.

EMS develops connection studies every year in two intervals.

The following companies are in the process of connecting standalone BESS:

  • MKBDP Energy
  • Green Land New Energy
  • Green Mountain New Energy
  • BP WPP
  • Blue BESS KV
  • Red BESS KV
  • Yellow BESS KV
  • ENLIGHTNES PV OPERATIONS
  • ENLIGHTNES PV PARK
  • Gridflex

As for the status of their applications, MKBDP Energy has submitted a bank guarantee, and the signing of the grid connection contract is expected.

For the other ten requests, the grid connection studies are underway. They are expected to be completed by December 31.

Standalone storage facilities are planned in Valjevo, Vranje, Subotica, Kovačica, Vršac, Leskovac, Kragujevac, Kruševac, Jagodina, and Ćuprija.

A total of 55 battery projects are in the connection procedure

The 11 standalone storage projects amount to 1,072.66 MW and 2,981.98 MWh altogether, Vučinić said.

The 44 storage facilities that would be co-located with power plants utilizing variable renewable energy sources would have 948.46 MW and 2,917.31 MWh, as stipulated in the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources.

All battery storage projects in the grid connection process amount to 2,021.12 MW and 5,899.29 MWh, Vučinić stressed.

MKBDP Energy’s project has advanced the most in the connection process

According to Vučinić, implementation of BESS projects depends on the progress that an investor achieves. Currently, MKBDP Energy’s investment has passed the most milestones in the connection process, he added.

EMS noted that the grid connection process for standalone battery storage is defined by the Law on Energy and bylaws.

The deployment of standalone batteries complements the integration of power plants running on variable renewable sources

The state-owned company sees no obstacles to integrating standalone BESS into the transmission system. The TSO expressed commitment to assisting investors while maintaining the safety of the entire power system’s operation.

EMS also called the increase in applications for standalone batteries a positive development.

The emergence of standalone batteries complements the integration of power plants utilizing variable renewable energy, and since a large number of such power plants are expected to be connected, the integration of standalone storage helps the power system’s flexibility and safety, Vučinić underlined.

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September 24, 2025
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Slovenia’s TSO ELES joins forces with army to develop hydrogen technologies

Slovenia’s transmission system operator ELES and the Ministry of Defence have signed a cooperation agreement for the Defence Resilience Hub Network in Europe – RESHUB project.

Last year, the Ministry of Defence of Slovenia initiated the Defence Resilience Hub Network in Europe (RESHUB) project, which aims to establish self-sufficient energy hubs in Slovenian military barracks.

As part of the initiative, the military barracks in Kranj will be transformed into a demonstration center for energy self-sufficiency, integrating military infrastructure with innovative solutions in renewable energy and hydrogen technologies.

Aleksander Mervar, CEO of ELES, and Marko Lovše, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, now signed the agreement, during the Slovenia-Japan Business Conference.

The deal outlines cooperation in the field of energy self-sufficiency and the development of hydrogen technologies, according to state-owned ELES.

The Kranj military barracks will be converted into a demonstration center for energy self-sufficiency

The project will turn the Kranj military barracks into a demonstration center for energy self-sufficiency by integrating military infrastructure with innovative technology for renewables and hydrogen.

ELES will contribute to the development of the RESHUB (Resilience Hub) pilot project concept, which focuses on the production, storage, and use of hydrogen, the country’s TSO noted.

The company will be involved in all phases of the project — from preparing expert studies and technical groundwork to providing professional support for documentation development.

ELES considers hydrogen a potential key energy carrier for storing surplus energy from low-carbon sources

“At ELES, we recognize hydrogen as a potentially key energy carrier for storing surplus energy from low-carbon sources, which can later be reused in the energy sector, transport, and industry,” according to the company.

ELES recalled that in 2024 it established a consortium to build a hydrogen ecosystem based on low-carbon sources.

Collaboration with Japanese partners, who have been actively developing and, in some cases, successfully deploying hydrogen technologies for decades, is essential for the company. ELES has already established several partnerships with Japanese companies and is now exploring new opportunities for deeper cooperation in the further development and application of hydrogen technologies.

In recognition of Mervar’s outstanding contribution to strengthening bilateral economic and technological ties, Japanese Ambassador to Slovenia Akiko Yoshida awarded him an honorary recognition at the business conference.

Akiko Yoshida and Aleksander Mervar (photo: ELES)
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September 16, 2025
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ELES, Hitachi Energy launch Next Generation Control System project

Slovenia’s transmission system operator ELES and Hitachi Energy have signed a strategic cooperation agreement for the implementation of their Next Generation Control System project.

ELES and Hitachi Energy plan to develop advanced digital solutions for transmission grid control centers, according to Slovenia’s TSO.

The Next Generation Control System project is a continuation of their cooperation within the internationally recognized and awarded NEDO project. The project has laid the foundation for collaboration between ELES and Hitachi, representing a key step in the said activities.

The companies will develop three key functionalities of the new generation

Within the project, the two companies intend to work on three core functionalities of the next generation.

An Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) is a software solution that connects various applications, enabling them to communicate and exchange data — even if they use different languages, protocols, or formats. In practice, it will be implemented for the system that determines operational limits.

Voltage Var Control is an upgrade to the existing voltage management system, introducing complex functions and advanced control methods.

The Common Information Model enhances the efficiency of network data models exchanged between different systems and organisations, particularly in the context of TSOs.

The project will last two years

The firms plan to implement and finance the two-year project by themselves. ELES would invest in improvements, while Hitachi Energy develops the agreed functions, to verify them together with the Slovenian state-owned company. Hitachi Energy intends to incorporate the new functionalities into its standard energy management system offering (Network Manager).

The agreement was signed by Aleksander Mervar, CEO of ELES, and Lars Wiklander, Business Operations Strategy & Planning Executive at Hitachi Energy. However, he was unable to attend the signing ceremony and conference.

The speakers at the event were Lazar Bizumić, Head of Product Management at Hitachi Energy; Jurij Klančnik, Transmission System Operation Director at ELES, and Janko Kosmač, Process Systems Manager at ELES, who is also the head of the technical part of the joint project.

Mervar: An important step in the digital transformation of the Slovenian electricity sector

Janko Kosmač, Aleksander Mervar and Lazar Bizumić (photo: ELES)

Aleksander Mervar highlighted the agreement as a significant step in the digital transformation of Slovenia’s electricity sector. At the same time, in his words, it reinforces the role of ELES and Slovenia as an innovative environment for developing advanced energy solutions.

“New digital solutions will enable better integration of various systems, smarter voltage management in the grid, and more efficient and transparent data exchange. This is a technologically advanced project that will significantly contribute to the safer, more efficient, and sustainable operation of the Slovenian electricity system. It is an important step in Slovenia’s green transition,” Mervar added.

Wiklander: The grid management software and systems ecosystem of the future must be built on a flexible, modular architecture

The grid management software and systems ecosystem of the future must be built on flexible, modular architecture to give TSOs and utilities the scale they need to manage a changing and dynamic grid, the flexibility to integrate proprietary and third-party applications, and the control and visibility necessary to manage and deliver a reliable, resilient power supply, Lars Wiklander asserted.

“This collaboration with ELES is an important proof point in our strategy to deliver the leading grid management ecosystem with Network Manager,” he pointed out.

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September 4, 2025
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Romanian prosumers propose measures to cut electricity bills by up to 60%

The Association of Energy Prosumers and Communities in Romania has called on the government to implement five measures that could swiftly reduce electricity bills.

The measures target both individual homes and multi-apartment buildings, and results could be visible in up to 12 months, according to the Association of Energy Prosumers and Communities (APCE).

The association pointed out that the measures are needed because consumers in Romania pay some of the highest energy prices in Europe.

The first measure is related to energy communities, as the country is lagging in implementing the relevant EU legislation. The association claims that the introduction of energy communities lowered energy bills in Spain by 60%.

The association called on the authorities to involve civil society in the lawmaking process

Such structures allow citizens to directly manage their energy production, distribution, and storage, achieving independence from traditional suppliers and producers, the APCE noted.

The association called on the authorities to involve civil society in the lawmaking process, and underlined that adoption could be completed in three months, with bill reductions within 3–12 months.

The second measure involves multi-apartment buildings. Through a simple legislative change, residents could become direct beneficiaries of solar energy produced on the roofs of their buildings, the APCE pointed out.

Romania could install up to 4,000 MW of rooftop solar on multi-apartment buildings

Romania, the association notes, could install up to 4,000 MW of solar power plants on 4,200 hectares of apartment building roofs. The proposed legislative changes could be adopted within three months, with results visible after 3–12 months.

Mini-PV systems for balconies have the potential to lower electricity bills by 60%, according to the APCE’s calculation. In Germany, over a million such systems have already been installed, leading to monthly bill reductions of more than 60%.

The association estimates that the legislation needed for their rollout could be adopted within 30 days, and results could be visible immediately after installation.

Tackling suppliers’ excessive profit margins

The regulation of the supply margin for energy produced by prosumers is the fourth proposed measure. The association said that in 2025, a surplus of almost 2 billion kWh of renewable energy would be injected into the grid by prosumers.

Romania’s regulator, ANRE, left it to suppliers to set their profit margins, resulting in high prices for electricity resold to consumers.

PACE calls for a clear regulation of the supply margin to ensure that electricity produced by prosumers reduces consumer bills.

Reducing transmission tariffs for the TSO

The estimated timeframe is up to three months for the measure to be adopted, with visible reductions in bills expected immediately after implementation.

The final measure is a reduction of transmission tariffs for the transmission system operator (TSO) Transelectrica.

Even though the TSO does not transport prosumers’ surplus electricity, it still charges them for the service. It collected over EUR 18 million in 2024, the APCE claims, adding that the figure for 2025 is estimated to be EUR 35 million.

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August 13, 2025
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Bulgaria to add batteries of up to 10,000 MWh in capacity within months – ESO

Bulgaria’s Electricity System Operator has received applications for the connection of batteries with 12 GW in total capability, according to the transmission system operator’s Executive Director Angelin Tsachev.

Bulgaria currently has 500 MW in battery energy storage systems (BESS), with a capacity of 1,300 MWh. The facilities are in private ownership.

Angelin Tsachev told Bulgarian National Radio that the Electricity System Operator (ESO) received applications for about 12,000 MW, with a capacity of 35,000 MWh.

The TSO’s technical council has considered each grid connection request. The operator issued its opinions on the possibilities for enabling network access to the batteries when the conditions are met, Tsachev pointed out.

BESS can now cover about 1.5% of the country’s daily consumption

BESS can now cover about 1.5% of the country’s daily consumption, he revealed. However, in the coming months, batteries with a combined capacity of 7,000 MWh to 10,000 MWh are expected to be installed, the official added. They would be a serious factor, Tsachev stressed.

No state-owned or private conventional power plants are currently equipped with energy storage systems, he asserted.

After the balancing methodology was changed, commercial developers of projects for intermittent power plants became more disciplined, and now there are no concerns about the balancing of the system, Tsachev said. Electricity exports in the first seven months of this year were higher than in the same period of 2024. Net exports reached almost 230,000 MWh, Tsachev noted.

Good investment opportunity

According to an earlier analysis by Rystad Energy, the best potential profits in battery storage in Europe in 2013 were in Greece and Bulgaria. The country’s city of Lovech, northeast of Sofia, hosts the strongest BESS in the Balkans.

The Ministry of Energy of Bulgaria is reportedly working on a public call for EUR 120 million in state aid for investments in battery energy storage systems of 1.5 GWh overall. In April, it granted EUR 587 million to 82 battery storage projects.

The pace of large photovoltaic projects in Bulgaria indicates that total capacity can reach 6 GW by the middle of next year.

However, the Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity (APSTE) warned that the government’s disproportionately high fees for solar panels and energy storage batteries are preventing the possibility of having permanently low electricity prices in Bulgaria.

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July 10, 2025
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Serbia’s power demand soars 20%

Electricity consumption in Serbia has increased by 15% to 20% over the past three weeks compared to the same period last year, according to Dragan Rakić, the head dispatcher of Serbia’s transmission system operator Elektromreža Srbije.

The main reason for the rise in electricity consumption is the increased use of air conditioning units due to the heat wave, which began as early as mid-June this summer.

Dragan Rakić, the head dispatcher of TSO Elektromreža Srbije (EMS), told public broadcaster RTS that the system remains stable despite high temperatures and the reduction of electricity production in hydropower plants.

The record high for summer electricity consumption was set on July 17 last year

Daily consumption in recent days has been 92 GWh to 95 GWh, with the peak of 98.5 GWh reached on June 26. Rakić recalled that the all-time summer consumption record was 105.8 GWh on July 17 last year.

The highest consumption occurs in major cities such as Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš. Air conditioners are on even at night, both at home and at work, he added.

Rakić stressed that the electricity supply situation is stable, although hydrological conditions are negatively affecting electricity production in hydropower plants, and partially coal-fired power plants, which require water for cooling.

He added that much of Europe was affected by the dry spell.

EMS is also prepared for extreme weather events

Meanwhile, European think tank Ember noted that record solar power production, backed by energy storage capacity, helped maintain the stability of the electricity system in Europe during the latest heatwave.

Temperatures across Europe jumped to more than 40 degrees Celsius, triggering an increase in electricity demand as the use of air conditioners soared. Daily electricity demand on July 1 was up to 6% higher in Germany, 9% in France, and 14% in Spain than on June 24.

Rakić claimed EMS is ready for extreme weather conditions as well as other emergencies. The company has emergency power line towers and crews on standby when a red weather alert is issued, he explained.

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June 20, 2025
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Virtual power plants: How they work and who can benefit from extra income

Virtual power plants, aggregators, and flexibility are gaining increasing attention, and not just within the energy sector. The growth and volatility of electricity prices have forced many businesses and institutions to install solar panels to cut costs. Virtual power plants – set up by aggregators to provide flexibility services – can generate additional income for new electricity producers and consumers capable of reducing or increasing consumption or storing energy.

The deployment of solar panels across Europe, including the Western Balkans, is experiencing remarkable growth, bringing numerous benefits to all who choose to produce electricity for self-consumption and become prosumers. Two of the four D’s of the energy transition are already underway – democratization and decentralization – resulting in increasing numbers of small energy producers and growing amounts of distributed (decentralized) production from renewable energy sources.

This has led to the emergence of aggregators – firms that connect multiple small producers, or even large-scale solar power plants or wind farms, with energy consumers capable of reducing or increasing consumption on demand, and with energy storage systems. The result is the virtual power plant, which functions like a real power plant thanks to software that connects and harmonizes all these actors.

Such a system can “iron out” the variability of renewable energy sources – solar or wind, and offer a more predictable energy delivery to the market as well as auxiliary services and on-demand flexibility to the system.

Naturally, this brings revenue, which is distributed among the members. For all this to work in practice, a lot of regulation is needed, and it is slowly being adopted in this region. Although they have not yet reached their full potential, there are already virtual power plants and aggregators in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary… But how does it all look in practice?

Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar joins virtual power plant KOER

By concluding an aggregation agreement, Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP) has joined the KOER virtual power plant. Specifically, EIHP made available its 50 kW solar power plant, installed on the roof of its office building, to KOER, an aggregator on the Croatian electricity market.

Minea Skok, head of the Scientific Council and senior researcher at EHIP, explains to Balkan Green Energy News that KOER has conducted preparations for including the EIHP solar power plant in the virtual power plant.

The aggregator has installed control and metering equipment that enables the reading of electricity production from the existing electricity meter, along with software that enables data aggregation and forwarding to the transmission system operator, real-time 24/7 monitoring and alerting, reporting to the operator and the owner, and cost calculation.

It also conducted internal tests of the EIHP solar power plant’s balancing energy.

KOER provides services to Croatia’s transmission system operator HOPS

KOER’s virtual power plant, along with eight other providers on the Croatian market (aggregators and network users), provides services to the Croatian Transmission System Operator (HOPS), which is responsible for organizing the balancing market throughout Croatia, Skok explains.

Currently, the service involves balancing through the activation of balancing energy from a contracted mFRR (manual frequency restoration reserve), and soon also from aFRR (automatic frequency restoration reserve), according to her.

These system services are essential for any country’s transmission system operator to maintain power system balance, ensuring that all consumers have enough electricity at all times. These services also provide flexibility, which is increasingly in demand due to the growing share of solar power plants and wind farms – energy sources that are not flexible, since they only generate electricity when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing.

KOER and EIHP split the earnings 50-50

As for EHIP’s compensation for providing these services, Skok revealed that the contract defines the compensation received by KOER, as the aggregator, is split 50-50 with EHIP.

For the provision of these services, HOPS organizes tenders in which KOER competes with other service providers.

Skok emphasizes that EHIP’s solar power plant is profitable on its own, as it brings savings through lower electricity bills, which means the service fee is additional income.

On top of all that, gaining practical experience is an added value for EIHP, says Skok.

EIHP will also install a heat pump and a battery

The 50 kW photovoltaic power plant, matching the maximum available roof space of the EIHP building, was put into operation nearly a year ago.

Its average annual output is about 50,000 kWh. The EIHP building’s electricity consumption used to be 186,539 kWh, but thanks to energy renovation and the option of working from home, it was reduced. As a result, in the first ten months of operation, the power plant covered 53% of EIHP’s electricity consumption.

Following the energy renovation and the installation of solar panels, EHIP now plans to install a heat pump and a battery.

With its solar power plant, EIHP makes an additional contribution to power system balancing. By adding flexibility on the consumption side through the planned installation of a battery system and a heat pump, and in cooperation with KOER, the aggregator, EIHP contributes to system stability and the integration of new renewable energy sources, according to Skok.

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June 3, 2025
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Third Regional Power Sector Exchange in Ohrid: Power grids at core of energy transition

The third Regional Power Sector Exchange of the Western Balkans in Ohrid in North Macedonia gathered over 80 energy professionals from the region to discuss the future of electricity decarbonization and the urgent need to modernize power infrastructure.

Organised under the framework of the Regional Climate Partnership between Germany and the Western Balkans, the conference brought together representatives of transmission and distribution system operators, energy regulators, and energy ministries to accelerate coordinated action toward a greener, more resilient power system.

“No grids, no glory. This slogan captures the challenge in front of us. Without investment in power grids, adaptable regulation, and skilled professionals, the renewable energy transition cannot succeed,” Project Manager at GIZ Nicolas Heger said in his welcoming remarks.

Oberhuber: The Western Balkans have the potential to become a major exporter of clean electricity

Opening addresses were delivered by David Oberhuber, GIZ Country Director in North Macedonia, Anca-Iulia Cimpeanu, European Commission (DG ENER), and Davor Bajs, Energy Community Secretariat.

In his keynote speech, Oberhuber stressed the region’s strategic importance in the Regional Climate Partnership.

The Western Balkans has the potential to become a major exporter of clean electricity to Western Europe and a hub for investment and innovation in renewable energy, he said.

North Macedonia is advancing its energy transition by expanding renewables – solar power capacity reached 506 MW in 2023 – and reducing coal dependency, although thermal power plants still accounted for 47.3% of total electricity production in early 2024.

In 2023, renewables made up 33.15% of electricity generation, with households, transport, and industry as the top energy consumers.

To accelerate the shift, tailored support projects were launched. The Energy, Water Services and Municipal Waste Management Services Regulatory Commission is tackling the surge in renewables applications. Distribution system operator (DSO) EVN is focusing on smart grids and energy quality, and transmission system operator (TSO) MEPSO is exploring options to reduce balancing costs through regional market mechanisms.

Six tailored support projects presented

The event included three sessions on tailored support projects.

Professor Nermin Suljanović presented the project Concept on Data Exchange Between System Operators in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The data platform enables automatic data exchange among all actors in the electricity market in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ensuring data interoperability and harmonized communication interfaces, according to Suljanović.

He also outlined the project Technical Specification and Requirements for Integration of Renewables into DSO Telecommunication Network.

E-mobility is not only related to energy but also to transportation, telecommunication, data security

A project titled Procedure for Handling RES Connection Requests to the Grid – Queue Management was presented by expert Miltos Aslanoglou, and the Roadmap for Creating a Legal and Regulatory Framework for EV Charging by expert Dejan Stojadinović.

“EU legislation on this matter is a good base for the Western Balkan countries to prepare relevant legal and regulatory frameworks. E-mobility is not only related to energy but also to transportation, telecommunication, data security, and other issues,” Stojadinović said.

Goran Majstrović, Deputy Director and Head of the Energy Transmission and Distribution Department at Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP), gave an insight into the project Feasibility Analysis and Funding Assessment for using Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) on the Kosovo* Transmission Grid.

Simplification of Procedures for Prosumer Connection to the Distribution Network in the Federation of BiH was the name of the project introduced by expert Goran Dobrić.

The need for regionally integrated networks has never been greater

Blackouts in both Southern and Southeastern Europe have highlighted vulnerabilities in grid infrastructure amidst growing shares of renewable energy. The need for modern, flexible, and regionally integrated networks has never been greater.

The event was part of a wider regional project implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German government, supporting the integration of renewables and enhancing energy security across the WB6.

In just two years, the project has supported over 30 institutions, trained more than 135 energy professionals, and facilitated the development of the Action Plan for Power Grids in the Western Balkans, in cooperation with the Energy Community Secretariat.

Network redesigns are lagging behind renewables by seven to ten years

Goran Majstrović from Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar presented the Action Plan for Power Grids in the Western Balkans.

“The path to integration of renewables is not just replacing power plants but redesigning the entire system to accommodate them. Network redesigns are lagging behind renewables by seven to ten years,” he asserted.

In the plan, the required grid investments by 2030 in the six countries of the Western Balkans (WB6) are estimated at EUR 10 billion to EUR 14 billion. Investments in primary equipment are seen at EUR 6 billion to EUR 8 billion. As for secondary equipment (digitalization), the forecasted tally is EUR 4 billion to EUR 6 billion.

Phase 2 of the project Green Agenda: Decarbonisation of the Electricity Sector in the Western Balkans is scheduled for completion in 2028. The Regional Power Sector Exchange will remain a key platform for cooperation, helping ensure the energy transition in the region is just and inclusive.

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* 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.
June 2, 2025
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Workshop on power grid development in Western Balkans held by GIZ, Energy Community Secretariat

The development of grid infrastructure in the Western Balkans is a crucial step in the region’s energy transition. In support of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, GIZ, in cooperation with the Energy Community Secretariat, organized a Strategic Workshop on Power Grids, with a focus on a concrete action plan for the entire region.

Without the development of grid infrastructure, large-scale electrification based on clean energy sources is not possible. The process requires significant investments and new solutions for operating the grid. Existing power lines will need to be reinforced, while new infrastructure, especially on low and medium voltage levels, as well as interconnectors, must be built over the next ten years.

The recent large-scale power outage in Southern Europe, and the one in the Western Balkans in 2024, are a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring system stability amid the growing use of renewables and the need for preventive safety measures. A functional and reliable electricity supply is key to gaining broad public support for alternative energy sources and green policies.

The Strategic Workshop on Power Grids, organized by GIZ in Vienna as part of the project Green Agenda: Decarbonization of the Electricity Sector in the Western Balkans, in cooperation with the Energy Community Secretariat, brought together representatives from transmission and distribution system operators, along with experts from the Hrvoje Požar Energy Institute (EIHP), intending to develop the Action Plan for Power Grids in the Western Balkans.

The action plan provides a clear roadmap for grid development in the Western Balkans

Electricity networks in Western Balkan countries were not designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Although the countries in the region have adopted very ambitious decarbonization and renewable energy integration targets, around two thirds of electricity generation comes from coal-fired power plants, according to Goran Majstrović, Deputy Director and Head of the Energy Transmission and Distribution Department at EIHP.

“Regional power networks remain constrained by outdated assets, insufficiently utilized interconnection capacities, administrative bottlenecks, and inadequate digitalization. Without urgent and coordinated action, the power network in the Western Balkans will become a serious bottleneck to secure operation and progress rather than a platform for transformation and development,” Majstrović explains.

Without urgent and coordinated action, the electricity network in the Western Balkans could become a serious obstacle to secure operation and progress, instead of being a platform for transformation and development, he warned.

The Western Balkan Action Plan for Power Grids directly addresses the root causes of recent blackouts, including extreme weather events, aging infrastructure, and the growing share of variable renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar, as their output is sensitive to any changes in weather conditions.

By focusing on grid modernization, regional coordination, and system resilience, the plan offers a concrete roadmap for preventing future outages. It also promotes investment in smart grid technologies, cross-border interconnectors, and digital system monitoring, all of which are essential for adapting to growing demand and fluctuations in electricity production.

The action plan is a strong expression of regional cooperation in the power sector

Crucially, the plan strengthens operational cooperation among system operators across the Western Balkans region, enabling a more flexible and integrated regional grid. In doing so, it lays the foundation for a stable and secure energy transition based on renewables, helping the region become a reliable supplier of clean electricity to Europe.

According to Goran Majstrović, the Action Plan for Western Balkans Grids provides a forward-looking and regionally harmonized strategy to address the challenges. It is built on the vision of the European Union’s Action Plan for Grids and aligns closely with the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, the Energy Community framework, and each country’s national energy and climate plan (NECP).

The document is a strong expression of collaboration of the Western Balkans power sector in a matter of high mutual interest – mobilizing attention, human and financial resources for a rapid energy transition, enabled by sustainable, interconnected, and resilient power infrastructure.

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