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Unveiling its Clean Industrial Deal initiative, the European Commission vowed to raise as much as EUR 100 billion within ten years for its Industrial Decarbonization Bank scheme. It would also mobilize over EUR 100 billion in the short term to support domestic clean manufacturing. Proposed measures from one of the deal’s pillars, the Action Plan for Affordable Energy, could bring annual savings estimated at up to EUR 260 billion by 2040.

Following the European Green Deal, the NextGenerationEU investment package and the Green Deal Industrial Plan from the first mandate, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched the first major legislative push since her reelection. The Clean Industrial Deal is aimed at providing the means for reindustrialization in parallel to faster decarbonization, supporting competitiveness and resilience and retaining talent.

The first batch of proposals involves the simplification of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and sustainability reporting rules including delays to relieve businesses.

Member states are responsible for electricity affordability action

Another pillar is the new Action Plan for Affordable Energy. It is a set of short-term measures to lower energy costs, complete the Energy Union, attract investments and be better prepared for potential energy crises. Outlining the proposal, the European Commission estimated potential annual savings for households and companies at up to EUR 260 billion by 2040.

However, for now the only tangible move is a call to member states to lower electricity taxes and network charges. At the same time, hundreds of billions of euros are required to strengthen and expand the grid.

The EU is preparing a EUR 500 million pilot program for financial guarantees for offtakers in PPAs

In line with an existing strategy, the plan should help ensure that retail electricity bills are not dictated by high and volatile gas prices thanks to a broader uptake of long-term contracts for clean power. On that note, a EUR 500 million pilot program is in the works for financial guarantees for offtakers in power purchase agreements (PPAs). The focus is on small and medium-sized enterprises and energy-intensive industry.

New rules would ensure that consumers can utilize the flexibility that demand response enables. In short, electricity needs to be used when it is cheaper, while consumption should be adjusted when power supply is weak.

In cooperation with the European Investment Bank, the commission will explore setting up a guarantee scheme to support financing models that alleviate initial costs for energy efficiency services.

Von der Leyen: We must turn the tide

In the short term, the Clean Industrial Deal will mobilize over EUR 100 billion to support clean manufacturing in the European Union, according to the announcement.

“We know all too well that production costs have increased, specifically for energy-intensive industries. The demand for clean products has dipped, and some investments have moved to other regions. So, we must turn the tide. And this is the central goal of the Clean Industrial Deal,” Von der Leyen stated.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector fell almost 10% last year while energy consumption grew by 1%, she noted. “We are on track to achieve our 55% emission reduction target for 2030. And this gives you the predictability you need to plan your investments,” said the chief of the EU’s executive arm.

More than 50% of steel, iron, zinc and platinum in the EU are made from scrap

Europe is home to 30% of all innovative companies in electrolyzer technologies, 20% for carbon capture and storage and 40% for wind and heat pump technology, she stressed. “This is where we can really beat global competition,” Von der Leyen added.

One of the segments of the Clean Industrial Deal is circularity. More than 50% of steel, iron, zinc and platinum in the EU are made from scrap, Von der Leyen pointed out. It covers more than 25% of European consumption, she asserted.

“But we need to go faster and further. For instance, China controls 80% of the global battery recycling capacity. And we still send huge volumes of precious waste back to China. Instead, end-of-life batteries could provide almost 15% of the lithium we need already in 2030. That is enough to produce two million batteries for electric vehicles,” Von der Leyen said.

The European Commission said it would soon present action plans for the automotive industry and steel and other metals. The chemicals and clean technology industries would follow.

Industrial Decarbonization Bank concept is based upon European Hydrogen Bank

The Clean Industrial Deal includes the Industrial Decarbonization Bank project. The idea is to operate it like the European Hydrogen Bank.

European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra said the new instrument could raise up to EUR 100 billion in the next ten years. Funding would come from the Innovation Fund, parts of the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and a revision of the InvestEU program.

“But then if you leverage that, if you put private sector money next to that you could easily add up to EUR 400 billion. With this plan, we are aiming to decrease industrial emissions by up to 30%,” Hoekstra asserted.

Adding sustainability, resilience, European preference to public procurement criteria

The European Commission’s Executive Vice President Stéphane Séjourné, in charge of prosperity and industrial strategy, warned there is not enough demand for materials such as clean steel and clean cement. The low carbon market needs stimulation on that side, he argued.

The plan is to reshape public procurement away from just the price criterion, the top official added. EU is adding sustainability, resilience and European preference, he recalled.

“Over the years we have created many new obligations. Sometimes in silos. Sometimes redundant. Sometimes, without taking into account the daily life of companies. This has blurred the objectives,” Séjourné acknowledged.

Among the 2030 goals highlighted in the presentation of the Clean Industrial Deal are increasing the economy-wide electrification rate to 32% from 21.3% and installing 100 GW of renewable electricity capacity every year. The EU is also aiming for the largest possible share of the global market for clean technologies. It valued it at USD 2 trillion in 2035.

Unveiling its Clean Industrial Deal initiative, the European Commission vowed to raise as much as EUR 100 billion within ten years for its Industrial Decarbonization Bank scheme. It would also mobilize over EUR 100 billion in the short term to support domestic clean manufacturing. Proposed measures from one of the deal’s pillars, the Action Plan for Affordable Energy, could bring annual savings estimated at up to EUR 260 billion by 2040.

Following the European Green Deal, the NextGenerationEU investment package and the Green Deal Industrial Plan from the first mandate, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched the first major legislative push since her reelection. The Clean Industrial Deal is aimed at providing the means for reindustrialization in parallel to faster decarbonization, supporting competitiveness and resilience and retaining talent.

The first batch of proposals involves the simplification of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and sustainability reporting rules including delays to relieve businesses.

Member states are responsible for electricity affordability action

Another pillar is the new Action Plan for Affordable Energy. It is a set of short-term measures to lower energy costs, complete the Energy Union, attract investments and be better prepared for potential energy crises. Outlining the proposal, the European Commission estimated potential annual savings for households and companies at up to EUR 260 billion by 2040.

However, for now the only tangible move is a call to member states to lower electricity taxes and network charges. At the same time, hundreds of billions of euros are required to strengthen and expand the grid.

The EU is preparing a EUR 500 million pilot program for financial guarantees for offtakers in PPAs

In line with an existing strategy, the plan should help ensure that retail electricity bills are not dictated by high and volatile gas prices thanks to a broader uptake of long-term contracts for clean power. On that note, a EUR 500 million pilot program is in the works for financial guarantees for offtakers in power purchase agreements (PPAs). The focus is on small and medium-sized enterprises and energy-intensive industry.

New rules would ensure that consumers can utilize the flexibility that demand response enables. In short, electricity needs to be used when it is cheaper, while consumption should be adjusted when power supply is weak.

In cooperation with the European Investment Bank, the commission will explore setting up a guarantee scheme to support financing models that alleviate initial costs for energy efficiency services.

Von der Leyen: We must turn the tide

In the short term, the Clean Industrial Deal will mobilize over EUR 100 billion to support clean manufacturing in the European Union, according to the announcement.

“We know all too well that production costs have increased, specifically for energy-intensive industries. The demand for clean products has dipped, and some investments have moved to other regions. So, we must turn the tide. And this is the central goal of the Clean Industrial Deal,” Von der Leyen stated.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector fell almost 10% last year while energy consumption grew by 1%, she noted. “We are on track to achieve our 55% emission reduction target for 2030. And this gives you the predictability you need to plan your investments,” said the chief of the EU’s executive arm.

More than 50% of steel, iron, zinc and platinum in the EU are made from scrap

Europe is home to 30% of all innovative companies in electrolyzer technologies, 20% for carbon capture and storage and 40% for wind and heat pump technology, she stressed. “This is where we can really beat global competition,” Von der Leyen added.

One of the segments of the Clean Industrial Deal is circularity. More than 50% of steel, iron, zinc and platinum in the EU are made from scrap, Von der Leyen pointed out. It covers more than 25% of European consumption, she asserted.

“But we need to go faster and further. For instance, China controls 80% of the global battery recycling capacity. And we still send huge volumes of precious waste back to China. Instead, end-of-life batteries could provide almost 15% of the lithium we need already in 2030. That is enough to produce two million batteries for electric vehicles,” Von der Leyen said.

The European Commission said it would soon present action plans for the automotive industry and steel and other metals. The chemicals and clean technology industries would follow.

Industrial Decarbonization Bank concept is based upon European Hydrogen Bank

The Clean Industrial Deal includes the Industrial Decarbonization Bank project. The idea is to operate it like the European Hydrogen Bank.

European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra said the new instrument could raise up to EUR 100 billion in the next ten years. Funding would come from the Innovation Fund, parts of the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and a revision of the InvestEU program.

“But then if you leverage that, if you put private sector money next to that you could easily add up to EUR 400 billion. With this plan, we are aiming to decrease industrial emissions by up to 30%,” Hoekstra asserted.

Adding sustainability, resilience, European preference to public procurement criteria

The European Commission’s Executive Vice President Stéphane Séjourné, in charge of prosperity and industrial strategy, warned there is not enough demand for materials such as clean steel and clean cement. The low carbon market needs stimulation on that side, he argued.

The plan is to reshape public procurement away from just the price criterion, the top official added. EU is adding sustainability, resilience and European preference, he recalled.

“Over the years we have created many new obligations. Sometimes in silos. Sometimes redundant. Sometimes, without taking into account the daily life of companies. This has blurred the objectives,” Séjourné acknowledged.

Among the 2030 goals highlighted in the presentation of the Clean Industrial Deal are increasing the economy-wide electrification rate to 32% from 21.3% and installing 100 GW of renewable electricity capacity every year. The EU is also aiming for the largest possible share of the global market for clean technologies. It valued it at USD 2 trillion in 2035.

During 2024, a total of 64 boiler rooms burning fuel oil, heating oil, or coal were shut down in Serbia’s municipalities of Apatin, Odžaci, and Šid. As part of a public-private partnership project with Negawatt Solutions and B&S Immobilien, members of the EnergyNet group, boiler rooms using high-emission energy sources switched to a cleaner energy source – natural gas – greatly contributing to lower emissions, better air quality, and improved efficiency in the heating systems of public buildings in these municipalities.

The collaboration with the consortium of Negawatt Solutions and B&S Immobilien (members of the EnergyNet group) resulted in the implementation of a major project to improve energy efficiency and decarbonize heating systems at public buildings in the municipalities of Apatin, Odžaci, and Šid.

Over just 14 months, as many as 64 boiler rooms that were using fuel oil, heating oil, or coal were shut down, and new heating systems fueled by a much cleaner energy source – natural gas – were introduced at 29 elementary and high schools, 8 kindergartens, as well as other important public institutions, such as libraries, cultural centers, sports halls, and local community centers.

In just 14 months, 64 boiler rooms that used fuel oil, heating oil, and coal were shut down

Representatives of Negawatt Solutions and EnergyNet, the companies that implemented the project in partnership with the three municipalities, stated: “Thanks to the synergy we achieved by recognizing the importance of this project, obtaining more than 450 permits for connecting all these facilities to the gas distribution network and installing gas boilers was not an impossible mission. On the contrary, through our joint efforts, we accomplished it in just 14 months, sending 64 heating oil and coal boilers into history and making both society and the environment a better place.”

The project to boost energy efficiency and decarbonization was implemented through three separate public-private partnership projects with each of these municipalities. As the private partner in the projects, the Negawatt Solutions – Energy Net consortium undertook the financing, design, and construction of the infrastructure, including installing the gas generators and connecting the facilities to the gas network.

The private partner is responsible for implementing all agreed energy efficiency measures

Ankica Barbulov, co-founder and director of Negawatt Solutions, explains that in addition to financing and performing the works, the private partner also had the obligation to prepare all project and technical documentation, as well as to carry out all the procedures for obtaining the necessary permits and approvals, which numbered in the hundreds given the nature and scope of the project.

Barbulov stated: “That is one of the advantages of a public-private partnership. While the private partner assumes full responsibility for the implementation of all agreed energy efficiency measures, municipalities, as the public partner, can more easily focus on their other strategic goals.”

The private partner will be responsible for the long-term management of the project

After the first phase of the project’s implementation, the private partner will be responsible for the long-term management of the project. This includes handling fuel procurement, producing thermal energy, and supplying public buildings with thermal energy based on the public partner’s needs over the next 15 years, which is the duration of the contract. During this period, the private partner will also be fully responsible for the proper functioning of the gas generators and related equipment.

Vladimir Nikolić, co-founder and technical director at Negawatt Solutions, described the undertaking as “a project to improve energy efficiency and conserve energy, which has helped save as much as 20% of energy in each of these three municipalities. This is particularly significant in terms of conserving natural resources. However, what is perhaps even more important for the local community is its contribution to environmental protection and cleaner air.”

Local contribution to national goals

One of the key benefits of this project is its contribution to achieving both local and national climate goals. According to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – targets for reducing harmful emissions submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) every five years – Serbia aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33.33% compared to the 1990 levels. Undoubtedly, the results of this project support the UN Sustainable Development Goals within the 2030 Agenda and serve as a good example to be followed.

The shutdown of heating oil boilers reduces emissions of CO2 and other harmful gases

Thanks to this project, CO2 emissions have been reduced by about 15% (116 tons per year) in public facilities in the municipality of Apatin, by about 36% (540 tons per year) in facilities in the municipality of Odžaci, and by about 13% (83 tons per year) in facilities in the municipality of Šid. In addition to cutting CO2 emissions, the shutdown of heating oil boilers has also led to reduced emissions of other harmful gases (NOx by 27% and SOx by 100%), as well as lower emissions of PM10 particles, by 85%, and PM2.5 particles, by 85%, in all three municipalities.

Negawatt Solutions supports efficient energy production for clients

Negawatt Solutions is an energy service company (ESCO) established in 2021, which aims to utilize its expertise and commitment to contribute to more efficient and sustainable energy generation and consumption for its clients. By applying innovative ESCO and PPP financing models, the company stands out as a leader in the development of energy efficiency projects. To date, Negawatt Solutions has helped numerous clients cut their energy costs, decarbonize operations, deploy renewable energy sources, and significantly reduce their environmental footprint, while offering a full range of consulting and engineering services.

EnergyNet provides the market with top-quality equipment

EnergyNet is a company with more than 30 years of experience, boasting a line of top-quality, energy-efficient equipment for heating, cooling, ventilation, electric charging, and energy storage. With reliable products and comprehensive solutions, the company offers tailor-made systems for heating, cooling, ventilation, and energy generation from renewable sources, catering to both homes and businesses. In addition to offering consulting and installation services, EnergyNet handles the commissioning of equipment and provides support through preventive maintenance and repairs, ensuring maximum efficiency and long-term customer satisfaction.

Benefits of public-private partnerships

A public-private partnership is an exceptional opportunity for municipalities to mobilize private capital for the development of public infrastructure and investments of public interest. In addition to private capital, this model brings valuable know-how and experience of private-sector employees, making them available to the public sector. While preventing additional public debt, this concept also addresses the shortage of sufficiently qualified professional staff by facilitating continuous education for the involved parties and the exchange of know-how.

This project confirms that good teamwork is key to success: public-private partnerships and companies like EnergyNet and Negawatt Solutions offer an innovative financing model, where the private partner finances the entire investment, which is then repaid over the contractual period from savings on the cost of the new energy source compared to the previous, more expensive one. This financing model is therefore not treated as public debt, making it a particularly attractive way of addressing financing challenges, with all debt to the private partner repaid from achieved savings.

During 2024, a total of 64 boiler rooms burning fuel oil, heating oil, or coal were shut down in Serbia’s municipalities of Apatin, Odžaci, and Šid. As part of a public-private partnership project with Negawatt Solutions and B&S Immobilien, members of the EnergyNet group, boiler rooms using high-emission energy sources switched to a cleaner energy source – natural gas – greatly contributing to lower emissions, better air quality, and improved efficiency in the heating systems of public buildings in these municipalities.

The collaboration with the consortium of Negawatt Solutions and B&S Immobilien (members of the EnergyNet group) resulted in the implementation of a major project to improve energy efficiency and decarbonize heating systems at public buildings in the municipalities of Apatin, Odžaci, and Šid.

Over just 14 months, as many as 64 boiler rooms that were using fuel oil, heating oil, or coal were shut down, and new heating systems fueled by a much cleaner energy source – natural gas – were introduced at 29 elementary and high schools, 8 kindergartens, as well as other important public institutions, such as libraries, cultural centers, sports halls, and local community centers.

In just 14 months, 64 boiler rooms that used fuel oil, heating oil, and coal were shut down

Representatives of Negawatt Solutions and EnergyNet, the companies that implemented the project in partnership with the three municipalities, stated: “Thanks to the synergy we achieved by recognizing the importance of this project, obtaining more than 450 permits for connecting all these facilities to the gas distribution network and installing gas boilers was not an impossible mission. On the contrary, through our joint efforts, we accomplished it in just 14 months, sending 64 heating oil and coal boilers into history and making both society and the environment a better place.”

The project to boost energy efficiency and decarbonization was implemented through three separate public-private partnership projects with each of these municipalities. As the private partner in the projects, the Negawatt Solutions – Energy Net consortium undertook the financing, design, and construction of the infrastructure, including installing the gas generators and connecting the facilities to the gas network.

The private partner is responsible for implementing all agreed energy efficiency measures

Ankica Barbulov, co-founder and director of Negawatt Solutions, explains that in addition to financing and performing the works, the private partner also had the obligation to prepare all project and technical documentation, as well as to carry out all the procedures for obtaining the necessary permits and approvals, which numbered in the hundreds given the nature and scope of the project.

Barbulov stated: “That is one of the advantages of a public-private partnership. While the private partner assumes full responsibility for the implementation of all agreed energy efficiency measures, municipalities, as the public partner, can more easily focus on their other strategic goals.”

The private partner will be responsible for the long-term management of the project

After the first phase of the project’s implementation, the private partner will be responsible for the long-term management of the project. This includes handling fuel procurement, producing thermal energy, and supplying public buildings with thermal energy based on the public partner’s needs over the next 15 years, which is the duration of the contract. During this period, the private partner will also be fully responsible for the proper functioning of the gas generators and related equipment.

Vladimir Nikolić, co-founder and technical director at Negawatt Solutions, described the undertaking as “a project to improve energy efficiency and conserve energy, which has helped save as much as 20% of energy in each of these three municipalities. This is particularly significant in terms of conserving natural resources. However, what is perhaps even more important for the local community is its contribution to environmental protection and cleaner air.”

Local contribution to national goals

One of the key benefits of this project is its contribution to achieving both local and national climate goals. According to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – targets for reducing harmful emissions submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) every five years – Serbia aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33.33% compared to the 1990 levels. Undoubtedly, the results of this project support the UN Sustainable Development Goals within the 2030 Agenda and serve as a good example to be followed.

The shutdown of heating oil boilers reduces emissions of CO2 and other harmful gases

Thanks to this project, CO2 emissions have been reduced by about 15% (116 tons per year) in public facilities in the municipality of Apatin, by about 36% (540 tons per year) in facilities in the municipality of Odžaci, and by about 13% (83 tons per year) in facilities in the municipality of Šid. In addition to cutting CO2 emissions, the shutdown of heating oil boilers has also led to reduced emissions of other harmful gases (NOx by 27% and SOx by 100%), as well as lower emissions of PM10 particles, by 85%, and PM2.5 particles, by 85%, in all three municipalities.

Negawatt Solutions supports efficient energy production for clients

Negawatt Solutions is an energy service company (ESCO) established in 2021, which aims to utilize its expertise and commitment to contribute to more efficient and sustainable energy generation and consumption for its clients. By applying innovative ESCO and PPP financing models, the company stands out as a leader in the development of energy efficiency projects. To date, Negawatt Solutions has helped numerous clients cut their energy costs, decarbonize operations, deploy renewable energy sources, and significantly reduce their environmental footprint, while offering a full range of consulting and engineering services.

EnergyNet provides the market with top-quality equipment

EnergyNet is a company with more than 30 years of experience, boasting a line of top-quality, energy-efficient equipment for heating, cooling, ventilation, electric charging, and energy storage. With reliable products and comprehensive solutions, the company offers tailor-made systems for heating, cooling, ventilation, and energy generation from renewable sources, catering to both homes and businesses. In addition to offering consulting and installation services, EnergyNet handles the commissioning of equipment and provides support through preventive maintenance and repairs, ensuring maximum efficiency and long-term customer satisfaction.

Benefits of public-private partnerships

A public-private partnership is an exceptional opportunity for municipalities to mobilize private capital for the development of public infrastructure and investments of public interest. In addition to private capital, this model brings valuable know-how and experience of private-sector employees, making them available to the public sector. While preventing additional public debt, this concept also addresses the shortage of sufficiently qualified professional staff by facilitating continuous education for the involved parties and the exchange of know-how.

This project confirms that good teamwork is key to success: public-private partnerships and companies like EnergyNet and Negawatt Solutions offer an innovative financing model, where the private partner finances the entire investment, which is then repaid over the contractual period from savings on the cost of the new energy source compared to the previous, more expensive one. This financing model is therefore not treated as public debt, making it a particularly attractive way of addressing financing challenges, with all debt to the private partner repaid from achieved savings.

The third Belgrade Energy Forum will take place on May 14 and 15, bringing together key players in Southeast Europe’s energy transition. Organized by Balkan Green Energy News, the region’s leading energy news portal, this conference will serve as a hub for representatives from regional and international institutions, organizations, and the business community from the region, Europe, and beyond.

Given the current geopolitical landscape, engaging in dialogue and networking with those who have a deep understanding of the markets and trends is more important than ever. To achieve the region’s energy and climate goals, it is essential to exchange information, knowledge, and experiences. Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to connect with industry leaders and collectively shape the energy landscape!

The Belgrade Energy Forum is a regional energy conference organized by Balkan Green Energy News, the leading energy portal in Southeast Europe and one of the top 50 energy news websites in 2025.

In 2023 and 2024, the Belgrade Energy Forum attracted nearly 1,000 participants from over 30 countries. This included five energy ministers from the Southeast Europe region and more than 120 prominent speakers on energy transition from Europe and beyond

Petar Đokić, Minister of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia, and Saša Mujović, Minister of Energy of Montenegro, at the opening of Belgrade Energy Forum 2024

The diverse conference agenda includes eight panel discussions, keynote speeches, and presentations. The conference, taking place at Belgrade’s Crowne Plaza Hotel (special accommodation rates are available at the hotel by April 1 and the nearby Hyatt Regency), will feature an exhibition floor with stands.

At the end of day one, European wind turbine manufacturer Nordex, the silver sponsor of Belgrade Energy Forum 2025 (BEF 2025), will host a large party for conference participants to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

This year’s conference will introduce a networking and meeting-scheduling app, which will be launched soon. The conference director, Branislava Jovičić, stated:

“In addition to our well-recognized quality program, the Belgrade Energy Forum also acts as an excellent networking platform for individuals already conducting business in the region, as well as those planning to enter the market. To achieve your business goals more effectively, it’s essential to understand your stakeholders, and that’s exactly what we offer as a news portal and conference organizer. We provide our partners from the region and around the world the opportunity to connect with key stakeholders in one place. Furthermore, Balkan Green Energy News is available year-round to our clients and partners, supporting their business and helping them share news about their achievements. This is our competitive advantage over other events.”

The list of confirmed speakers includes a number of key players in the region’s energy transition, with several important names standing out.

Keynote speeches by energy transition leaders

Borislav Kostadinov, Fund Director for the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) at Finance in Motion, will talk about the importance of the energy transition and the financing of green projects. The GGF is one of the world’s most significant climate action funds in developing markets, including 19 markets in the European Union (EU) neighborhood, with a significant role in the Western Balkans.

Borislav Kostadinov, Fund Director for the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) at Finance in Motion, addresses BEF 2024

Christian Zinglersen, Director of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), will address the conference on May 14. His participation in BEF 2025 comes at a critical time for the Energy Community contracting parties, the transposition of EU energy regulations into national laws, and the integration into the EU’s single market.

Traditional support from institutional partners

The traditional institutional partners of BEF 2025 are the Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, and Confindustria Serbia.

Petar Đokić, Minister of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska, has stated that the ministry’s role as an institutional partner reflects its commitment to promoting energy sustainability, improving regional cooperation, and attracting investments in the energy sector.

“The Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska, along with my personal involvement, has been actively engaged in the Belgrade Energy Forum since its inception. This Forum brings together key stakeholders in the energy sector, serving as a platform that encourages the exchange of ideas and experiences. The insights gained from these discussions help identify practical solutions to the energy industry’s challenges,” Đokić stressed.

He is convinced that through our collective efforts, we can build an energy future that is economically stable, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible.

Last year’s panel titled Accelerating battery storage in South Eastern Europe: Challenges, Solutions, Outlook

Golden support for BEF from Serbia’s auction winner

A pioneer in renewable energy development in Southeast Europe, the Netherlands-based WV International is the gold sponsor of the conference. Recently, the company ranked second and third in Serbia’s second auction for market premiums for renewables, bidding with wind farm projects Alibunar 1 and Alibunar 2, which SANY Renewable Energy then acquired. This Chinese company, which manufactures wind turbines, is participating in this year’s BEF for the first time and will have an exhibition stand.

Neda Lazendić, WV International’s Country Manager for Serbia, said: “It is our great pleasure to support Belgrade Energy Forum for the third consecutive year as the largest and most important energy conference in our region. Following recent auction wins, WV International continues to work on developing a 571 MW portfolio, and we are also developing a 125 MW hybrid power plant that will combine wind and solar.”

Nordex Group, Adex Group, and the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) are the conference’s silver sponsors. Other sponsors will be announced soon.

Nordex Group, a European manufacturer of wind turbines, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. In 2016, Germany-based Nordex merged with Spain’s Acciona Windpower. In this region, the silver sponsor of the conference shines with a golden glow, recording outstanding results – its current portfolio includes 1,000 MW of wind farms already generating electricity in Serbia and Croatia as well as projects under development in the two countries. Recently, the company signed an agreement on the Gvozd wind farm, which is being developed by Montenegro’s state power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG).

Ibrahim Özarslan: Nordex has a strategic interest in the Balkans

Ibrahim Özarslan, CEO of Nordex Group’s Division Europe, said at the signing of the agreement with EPCG that Nordex had a strategic interest in the Balkans.

Adex – the first regional electricity exchange

Adex Group sponsors the panel titled Integration of Western Balkans electricity markets into internal European market through market coupling. In December last year, Adex Group completed a merger with the Hungarian Power Exchange (HUPX). In this way, HUPX joined the Slovenian BSP exchange and Serbia’s SEEPEX, forming a Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European hub.

The company said at the time that the transaction positioned it as the premier power trading hub for Central and Eastern Europe and Southeastern Europe.

GGF – a key financial link in the Western Balkans

The Green for Growth Fund (GGF) is a financial link without which many regional renewable energy projects would not have been realized. These include the Bogoslovec wind farm in North Macedonia, which was put into operation last year. GGF said at the time that Bogoslovec was its first equity investment and a model for future renewable energy projects.

The fund, also known for cooperating with commercial banks in the region, recently approved additional funds for Montenegro’s Lovćen banka and Serbia’s AIK Banka.

For the first time, Switzerland-based Pexapark, a leading provider of price data, market intelligence, and advisory services for renewable energy, will attend the conference in the capacity of the conference Knowledge partner.

Friends of the conference are Elektroprivreda Srbije and Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar

Friends of the conference are Serbia’s state power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) and Croatia’s Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar, with their respective directors, Dušan Živković and Dražen Jakšić, taking part together in the panel on decarbonizing the region’s electricity sector.

Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP), a leading energy think-tank in the region, continues to provide much-needed logistics for the energy transition across the Balkans and Europe. The institute has developed a biodiversity conflict map for solar and wind power plants in Croatia. The map represents a crucial tool for balancing the energy transition and nature conservation, and it also serves as an example for the innovative application of digital technologies to support sustainable development.

In addition to providing consultancy services, EIHP has also strived to lead by example. In October 2024, it officially opened its National Training Center for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB). This marked the completion of a project of the same name, which included the first phase of renovating EIHP’s office building to meet nearly zero energy standards.

Belgrade Energy Forum provides an excellent networking opportunity. Register and connect with the leaders of the energy transition in Southeast Europe.

Get ready for eight great panel discussions:

• High-level ministerial panel on SEE regional cooperation and energy transition strategies
• Decarbonization strategies for power generation in Southeast Europe 2040/2050
• Addressing carbon pricing in the Western Balkans – Turning decarbonization challenges into opportunities through collaboration, innovation, and competitiveness
• Integration of Western Balkans electricity markets into the internal European market through market coupling
• Transformative power of digitalisation and AI in the energy sector
• Energy storage system market in SEE: trends and forecasts
• PPAs as a key to renewable energy growth in SEE
• Energy system flexibility – vital role in ensuring a stable, efficient, and sustainable power grid

The third Belgrade Energy Forum will take place on May 14 and 15, bringing together key players in Southeast Europe’s energy transition. Organized by Balkan Green Energy News, the region’s leading energy news portal, this conference will serve as a hub for representatives from regional and international institutions, organizations, and the business community from the region, Europe, and beyond.

Given the current geopolitical landscape, engaging in dialogue and networking with those who have a deep understanding of the markets and trends is more important than ever. To achieve the region’s energy and climate goals, it is essential to exchange information, knowledge, and experiences. Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to connect with industry leaders and collectively shape the energy landscape!

The Belgrade Energy Forum is a regional energy conference organized by Balkan Green Energy News, the leading energy portal in Southeast Europe and one of the top 50 energy news websites in 2025.

In 2023 and 2024, the Belgrade Energy Forum attracted nearly 1,000 participants from over 30 countries. This included five energy ministers from the Southeast Europe region and more than 120 prominent speakers on energy transition from Europe and beyond

Petar Đokić, Minister of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia, and Saša Mujović, Minister of Energy of Montenegro, at the opening of Belgrade Energy Forum 2024

The diverse conference agenda includes eight panel discussions, keynote speeches, and presentations. The conference, taking place at Belgrade’s Crowne Plaza Hotel (special accommodation rates are available at the hotel by April 1 and the nearby Hyatt Regency), will feature an exhibition floor with stands.

At the end of day one, European wind turbine manufacturer Nordex, the silver sponsor of Belgrade Energy Forum 2025 (BEF 2025), will host a large party for conference participants to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

This year’s conference will introduce a networking and meeting-scheduling app, which will be launched soon. The conference director, Branislava Jovičić, stated:

“In addition to our well-recognized quality program, the Belgrade Energy Forum also acts as an excellent networking platform for individuals already conducting business in the region, as well as those planning to enter the market. To achieve your business goals more effectively, it’s essential to understand your stakeholders, and that’s exactly what we offer as a news portal and conference organizer. We provide our partners from the region and around the world the opportunity to connect with key stakeholders in one place. Furthermore, Balkan Green Energy News is available year-round to our clients and partners, supporting their business and helping them share news about their achievements. This is our competitive advantage over other events.”

The list of confirmed speakers includes a number of key players in the region’s energy transition, with several important names standing out.

Keynote speeches by energy transition leaders

Borislav Kostadinov, Fund Director for the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) at Finance in Motion, will talk about the importance of the energy transition and the financing of green projects. The GGF is one of the world’s most significant climate action funds in developing markets, including 19 markets in the European Union (EU) neighborhood, with a significant role in the Western Balkans.

Borislav Kostadinov, Fund Director for the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) at Finance in Motion, addresses BEF 2024

Christian Zinglersen, Director of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), will address the conference on May 14. His participation in BEF 2025 comes at a critical time for the Energy Community contracting parties, the transposition of EU energy regulations into national laws, and the integration into the EU’s single market.

Traditional support from institutional partners

The traditional institutional partners of BEF 2025 are the Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, and Confindustria Serbia.

Petar Đokić, Minister of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska, has stated that the ministry’s role as an institutional partner reflects its commitment to promoting energy sustainability, improving regional cooperation, and attracting investments in the energy sector.

“The Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska, along with my personal involvement, has been actively engaged in the Belgrade Energy Forum since its inception. This Forum brings together key stakeholders in the energy sector, serving as a platform that encourages the exchange of ideas and experiences. The insights gained from these discussions help identify practical solutions to the energy industry’s challenges,” Đokić stressed.

He is convinced that through our collective efforts, we can build an energy future that is economically stable, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible.

Last year’s panel titled Accelerating battery storage in South Eastern Europe: Challenges, Solutions, Outlook

Golden support for BEF from Serbia’s auction winner

A pioneer in renewable energy development in Southeast Europe, the Netherlands-based WV International is the gold sponsor of the conference. Recently, the company ranked second and third in Serbia’s second auction for market premiums for renewables, bidding with wind farm projects Alibunar 1 and Alibunar 2, which SANY Renewable Energy then acquired. This Chinese company, which manufactures wind turbines, is participating in this year’s BEF for the first time and will have an exhibition stand.

Neda Lazendić, WV International’s Country Manager for Serbia, said: “It is our great pleasure to support Belgrade Energy Forum for the third consecutive year as the largest and most important energy conference in our region. Following recent auction wins, WV International continues to work on developing a 571 MW portfolio, and we are also developing a 125 MW hybrid power plant that will combine wind and solar.”

Nordex Group, Adex Group, and the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) are the conference’s silver sponsors. Other sponsors will be announced soon.

Nordex Group, a European manufacturer of wind turbines, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. In 2016, Germany-based Nordex merged with Spain’s Acciona Windpower. In this region, the silver sponsor of the conference shines with a golden glow, recording outstanding results – its current portfolio includes 1,000 MW of wind farms already generating electricity in Serbia and Croatia as well as projects under development in the two countries. Recently, the company signed an agreement on the Gvozd wind farm, which is being developed by Montenegro’s state power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG).

Ibrahim Özarslan: Nordex has a strategic interest in the Balkans

Ibrahim Özarslan, CEO of Nordex Group’s Division Europe, said at the signing of the agreement with EPCG that Nordex had a strategic interest in the Balkans.

Adex – the first regional electricity exchange

Adex Group sponsors the panel titled Integration of Western Balkans electricity markets into internal European market through market coupling. In December last year, Adex Group completed a merger with the Hungarian Power Exchange (HUPX). In this way, HUPX joined the Slovenian BSP exchange and Serbia’s SEEPEX, forming a Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European hub.

The company said at the time that the transaction positioned it as the premier power trading hub for Central and Eastern Europe and Southeastern Europe.

GGF – a key financial link in the Western Balkans

The Green for Growth Fund (GGF) is a financial link without which many regional renewable energy projects would not have been realized. These include the Bogoslovec wind farm in North Macedonia, which was put into operation last year. GGF said at the time that Bogoslovec was its first equity investment and a model for future renewable energy projects.

The fund, also known for cooperating with commercial banks in the region, recently approved additional funds for Montenegro’s Lovćen banka and Serbia’s AIK Banka.

For the first time, Switzerland-based Pexapark, a leading provider of price data, market intelligence, and advisory services for renewable energy, will attend the conference in the capacity of the conference Knowledge partner.

Friends of the conference are Elektroprivreda Srbije and Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar

Friends of the conference are Serbia’s state power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) and Croatia’s Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar, with their respective directors, Dušan Živković and Dražen Jakšić, taking part together in the panel on decarbonizing the region’s electricity sector.

Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP), a leading energy think-tank in the region, continues to provide much-needed logistics for the energy transition across the Balkans and Europe. The institute has developed a biodiversity conflict map for solar and wind power plants in Croatia. The map represents a crucial tool for balancing the energy transition and nature conservation, and it also serves as an example for the innovative application of digital technologies to support sustainable development.

In addition to providing consultancy services, EIHP has also strived to lead by example. In October 2024, it officially opened its National Training Center for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB). This marked the completion of a project of the same name, which included the first phase of renovating EIHP’s office building to meet nearly zero energy standards.

Belgrade Energy Forum provides an excellent networking opportunity. Register and connect with the leaders of the energy transition in Southeast Europe.

Get ready for eight great panel discussions:

• High-level ministerial panel on SEE regional cooperation and energy transition strategies
• Decarbonization strategies for power generation in Southeast Europe 2040/2050
• Addressing carbon pricing in the Western Balkans – Turning decarbonization challenges into opportunities through collaboration, innovation, and competitiveness
• Integration of Western Balkans electricity markets into the internal European market through market coupling
• Transformative power of digitalisation and AI in the energy sector
• Energy storage system market in SEE: trends and forecasts
• PPAs as a key to renewable energy growth in SEE
• Energy system flexibility – vital role in ensuring a stable, efficient, and sustainable power grid

State-owned Monteput is preparing a study on installing solar panels along the Bar-Boljare highway. The company has launched a tender for the development of a techno-economic study of the use of solar potential along the Bar-Boljare highway route for the production and use of electricity.

Monteput intends to use the electricity from its solar power plants for self-consumption, to supply facilities along the road such as tunnels, bridges, interchanges and toll stations.

The study aims to analyze the possibility and profitability of using solar potential in the area of ​​the Bar-Boljare highway, according to the tender documentation.

The document should also demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of different models to facilitate the adoption of strategic decisions for the electricity supply of consumers on the highway.

Tunnels are the biggest consumers of electricity on the highway

Monteput recalled that the construction of the Bar-Boljare highway is taking place in stages. So far the 41-kilometer section Smokovac-Mateševo ​​has been put into operation. Activities are underway for the start of work on other sections.

The company wants to assess the potential for the use of solar energy in the existing part as well as the planned sections.

Smokovac-Mateševo ​is a significant consumer of electricity, while the biggest ones are tunnels, which account for over 80% of the total consumption. The ventilation and lighting systems consume the largest part of the power in tunnels, the tender documentation reads.

Many European countries have plans to install solar panels along highways. It is also the intention of some of the countries in the region, for example, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia.

Germany prepared a study

Monteput pointed out that European Union countries have been taking steps to use solar potential along highways. In 2023, the German government created a legal framework and adopted regulations aimed at speeding up and simplifying procedures in the transport sector for the use of solar energy.

According to a study by the Research Institute of Federal Highways, commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport, the country’s 50,000 kilometers of highways have a solar potential of 24 GW to 48 GW altogether.

Noise protection barriers could add an estimated 3.2 GW to 4.2 GW while parking spaces can provide 1.2 GW, and structures at rest areas have a potential of up to 150 MW in total.

Monteput also noted that the public company Motorways of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in neighboring BiH has produced a study on the potential for the construction of photovoltaic plants on the Vc highway corridor.

State-owned Monteput is preparing a study on installing solar panels along the Bar-Boljare highway. The company has launched a tender for the development of a techno-economic study of the use of solar potential along the Bar-Boljare highway route for the production and use of electricity.

Monteput intends to use the electricity from its solar power plants for self-consumption, to supply facilities along the road such as tunnels, bridges, interchanges and toll stations.

The study aims to analyze the possibility and profitability of using solar potential in the area of ​​the Bar-Boljare highway, according to the tender documentation.

The document should also demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of different models to facilitate the adoption of strategic decisions for the electricity supply of consumers on the highway.

Tunnels are the biggest consumers of electricity on the highway

Monteput recalled that the construction of the Bar-Boljare highway is taking place in stages. So far the 41-kilometer section Smokovac-Mateševo ​​has been put into operation. Activities are underway for the start of work on other sections.

The company wants to assess the potential for the use of solar energy in the existing part as well as the planned sections.

Smokovac-Mateševo ​is a significant consumer of electricity, while the biggest ones are tunnels, which account for over 80% of the total consumption. The ventilation and lighting systems consume the largest part of the power in tunnels, the tender documentation reads.

Many European countries have plans to install solar panels along highways. It is also the intention of some of the countries in the region, for example, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia.

Germany prepared a study

Monteput pointed out that European Union countries have been taking steps to use solar potential along highways. In 2023, the German government created a legal framework and adopted regulations aimed at speeding up and simplifying procedures in the transport sector for the use of solar energy.

According to a study by the Research Institute of Federal Highways, commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport, the country’s 50,000 kilometers of highways have a solar potential of 24 GW to 48 GW altogether.

Noise protection barriers could add an estimated 3.2 GW to 4.2 GW while parking spaces can provide 1.2 GW, and structures at rest areas have a potential of up to 150 MW in total.

Monteput also noted that the public company Motorways of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in neighboring BiH has produced a study on the potential for the construction of photovoltaic plants on the Vc highway corridor.

MountMed Institute and the University of Cyprus are establishing the country’s first energy cooperative with partners from Crete. In the pilot phase, they intend to build a small hybrid power plant – photovoltaic facility with energy storage – for one hundred households in the Troodos mountain range.

The communities of the wider Troodos (Trodos) region in Cyprus are getting assistance for access to renewable energy sources. A project is underway for the island country’s first energy cooperative. It is especially aimed to benefit villages where the environment and particular geographical and building characteristics do not provide residents with technical solutions such as the ones in urban areas, for the production of cheaper electricity from photovoltaic systems or other technologies, philenews reported.

The non-profit MountMed Research and Development Institute for the Mountain Regions of the Mediterranean Islands secured EUR 1 million via a European Union program. The University of Cyprus, the project coordinator, is tasked with technical studies and obtaining permits.

They intend to install a pilot energy community solar park with storage for communities and villagers in the Troodos mountain range. In the first phase, the 500 kW facility would supply 100 households in the Solea-Marathasa area.

Minoan Energy Community of Crete to provide knowhow

The initiative is called MoRECo (Mountain Community of Renewable Energy) Troodos. The funding came through Cooperation Programme Interreg VI-A Greece-Cyprus 2021-2027. The endeavor includes assistance from the Crete Region and the Minoan Energy Community as partners.

According to the update, the land for the first solar power plant will be secured in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Cypriot government.

Spreading MoRECo to other villages in Troodos

MountMed plans to expand the initiative to surrounding communities. It has also qualified for technical support from the European Commission’s Rural Energy Community Advisory Hub (RECAH).

The Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) adopted the legal framework for renewable energy communities (RECs) last year. In line with EU regulation, such entities are for individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and municipal authorities.

The primary objective of an REC is to provide environmental, economic and social benefits at a community level to its shareholders or members or the local areas where it operates, but not profits.

MountMed Institute and the University of Cyprus are establishing the country’s first energy cooperative with partners from Crete. In the pilot phase, they intend to build a small hybrid power plant – photovoltaic facility with energy storage – for one hundred households in the Troodos mountain range.

The communities of the wider Troodos (Trodos) region in Cyprus are getting assistance for access to renewable energy sources. A project is underway for the island country’s first energy cooperative. It is especially aimed to benefit villages where the environment and particular geographical and building characteristics do not provide residents with technical solutions such as the ones in urban areas, for the production of cheaper electricity from photovoltaic systems or other technologies, philenews reported.

The non-profit MountMed Research and Development Institute for the Mountain Regions of the Mediterranean Islands secured EUR 1 million via a European Union program. The University of Cyprus, the project coordinator, is tasked with technical studies and obtaining permits.

They intend to install a pilot energy community solar park with storage for communities and villagers in the Troodos mountain range. In the first phase, the 500 kW facility would supply 100 households in the Solea-Marathasa area.

Minoan Energy Community of Crete to provide knowhow

The initiative is called MoRECo (Mountain Community of Renewable Energy) Troodos. The funding came through Cooperation Programme Interreg VI-A Greece-Cyprus 2021-2027. The endeavor includes assistance from the Crete Region and the Minoan Energy Community as partners.

According to the update, the land for the first solar power plant will be secured in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Cypriot government.

Spreading MoRECo to other villages in Troodos

MountMed plans to expand the initiative to surrounding communities. It has also qualified for technical support from the European Commission’s Rural Energy Community Advisory Hub (RECAH).

The Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) adopted the legal framework for renewable energy communities (RECs) last year. In line with EU regulation, such entities are for individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and municipal authorities.

The primary objective of an REC is to provide environmental, economic and social benefits at a community level to its shareholders or members or the local areas where it operates, but not profits.

Global private equity firm Ardian reached an agreement to acquire France-based independent renewable energy producer Akuo.

Akuo, controlled by alternative asset manager ICG, is opening a new chapter under private equity firm Ardian, headquartered in Paris. Founded in 2007 in France, Akuo specializes in wind power, storage and photovoltaics, including agrisolar and floating solar power plants. It has more than 2 GW of assets in operation and under construction or shovel-ready projects across more than 20 countries worldwide.

Ardian agreed to take over Akuo for an undisclosed sum, “subject to the legal information and consultation process towards the relevant employee representative bodies” and pending regulatory clearance, according to the announcement.

“This transaction reflects our commitment to supporting high-potential entrepreneurial infrastructure platforms on their journey to industrialization and growth as part of the energy transition,”​ said Ardian’s Co-Head of Infrastructure Europe Benoît Gaillochet. The company stressed it would capitalize on Akuo’s solid fundamentals to pursue growth ambitions and that it would provide the necessary financial capacity for its projects.

Ardian said it would provide the necessary financial capacity for Akuo’s projects

The acquisition will enable Akuo to streamline its business and expand its international presence, but also to innovate more rapidly to meet tomorrow’s energy challenges, its Co-Founder Éric Scotto asserted. The French company has over 12 GW in its project pipeline. Akuo said it aims to reach 5 GW by 2030 in production and storage capacity.

In the region that Balkan Green Energy News covers, the company is active in North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“We are delighted to have been able to contribute to the success of Akuo and its teams in recent years. Akuo has demonstrated its pioneering position in the development of renewable energy. We are convinced that Ardian will provide the necessary resources to further strengthen the group’s positions and accelerate its growth,” said Managing Director of ICG Infrastructure Strategy Pénélope Dietsch.

Through its infrastructure funds, Ardian manages over 8 GW of thermal and renewable energy capacity in Europe and the Americas and has more than USD 35 billion under management. Overall, it manages or advises USD 177 billion of assets on behalf of more than 1,850 clients globally. It has more than 1,050 employees in 20 offices n Europe, the Americas, Asia and Middle East.

Global private equity firm Ardian reached an agreement to acquire France-based independent renewable energy producer Akuo.

Akuo, controlled by alternative asset manager ICG, is opening a new chapter under private equity firm Ardian, headquartered in Paris. Founded in 2007 in France, Akuo specializes in wind power, storage and photovoltaics, including agrisolar and floating solar power plants. It has more than 2 GW of assets in operation and under construction or shovel-ready projects across more than 20 countries worldwide.

Ardian agreed to take over Akuo for an undisclosed sum, “subject to the legal information and consultation process towards the relevant employee representative bodies” and pending regulatory clearance, according to the announcement.

“This transaction reflects our commitment to supporting high-potential entrepreneurial infrastructure platforms on their journey to industrialization and growth as part of the energy transition,”​ said Ardian’s Co-Head of Infrastructure Europe Benoît Gaillochet. The company stressed it would capitalize on Akuo’s solid fundamentals to pursue growth ambitions and that it would provide the necessary financial capacity for its projects.

Ardian said it would provide the necessary financial capacity for Akuo’s projects

The acquisition will enable Akuo to streamline its business and expand its international presence, but also to innovate more rapidly to meet tomorrow’s energy challenges, its Co-Founder Éric Scotto asserted. The French company has over 12 GW in its project pipeline. Akuo said it aims to reach 5 GW by 2030 in production and storage capacity.

In the region that Balkan Green Energy News covers, the company is active in North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“We are delighted to have been able to contribute to the success of Akuo and its teams in recent years. Akuo has demonstrated its pioneering position in the development of renewable energy. We are convinced that Ardian will provide the necessary resources to further strengthen the group’s positions and accelerate its growth,” said Managing Director of ICG Infrastructure Strategy Pénélope Dietsch.

Through its infrastructure funds, Ardian manages over 8 GW of thermal and renewable energy capacity in Europe and the Americas and has more than USD 35 billion under management. Overall, it manages or advises USD 177 billion of assets on behalf of more than 1,850 clients globally. It has more than 1,050 employees in 20 offices n Europe, the Americas, Asia and Middle East.