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Race against time to secure EU funding for waste-to-energy plants in Greece

Hostile reactions from citizens and the opposition by municipal authorities threaten to derail Greece’s efforts to build six waste-to-energy plants. Moreover, time is running out to secure EUR 800 million in European funding.

The Ministry of Environment and Energy is expected to publish a call for waste-to-energy projects planned in Attica, Western Macedonia, Rodopi, Peloponnese, Boeotia (Viotia) and Crete. Total investment would amount to EUR 1 billion, for 1.19 million tons in capacity. However, time is running out to secure EUR 800 million in European funding set aside for them and the accompanying recycling plants.

Greece has been warned several times by the European Commission and fined for failing to fulfil its obligations in waste management. The country still relies mostly on landfills to handle municipal waste, instead of modern solutions. Ideally, useful materials should be sorted for recycling before the waste gets burned in incinerators to produce energy.

Two of the proposed units, the ones in Rodopi and Western Macedonia, are expected to provide district heating. The Ptolemaida 5 lignite-fired plant supplies district heating in the coal region of Western Macedonia in the country’s north, but it is scheduled to be decommissioned by 2028 at the latest.

Its owner, Public Power Corporation (PPC or DEI) aims to complete a waste-to-energy plant by then. Other prospective investors include GEK Terna, Metlen, Aktor and Motor Oil Hellas, all big players in the country’s energy market.

High fees and pollution worry municipalities

Many local authorities have expressed their objections to hosting these plants, fearing a rise in municipal fees and pollution. A discussion is underway in numerous municipal councils. They could lodge appeals to the Supreme Court and delay the process.

Amanatidis: Cancel all waste-to-energy plans

The regional council of Western Macedonia recently voted overwhelmingly to reject the plan for PPC’s planned unit from the ministry’s strategic environmental assessment (SEA). Governor Giorgos Amanatidis called on the government to withdraw the study and cancel the project. Municipalities in the same region and other institutions are also against an incinerator.

European funding through the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) ends in 2027. The government and investors have until mid-2026 for implementation, Newmoney reported, adding that waste-to-energy projects take two to three years to complete.

Recently, another initiative, the Apollo program, for investments in renewable energy to lower energy costs for vulnerable consumers, lost EUR 100 million from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

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Bulgarian capital Sofia to create its first energy community in Vitosha district

Citizens and businesses in Sofia will be able to invest in a photovoltaic system on a school rooftop as part of the first energy community. It would be a partnership between the city’s Vitosha District, individuals and legal entities.

Following a few early initiatives in Bulgaria, the capital city decided to establish its first energy community. The Sofia Municipal Council voted to call on individuals and firms to invest in the installation of a rooftop solar power plant of 74.8 kW in peak capacity.

The system, expected to become operational within a few months, would be on the Acad. Emilian Stanev secondary school in the district of Vitosha. The plan is to use the electricity for the building’s needs and for other municipal facilities.

Participants can invest EUR 260 to EUR 2,600 each

The project is worth BGN 90,000 (EUR 46,000), including value-added tax, according to the local authority. The Vitosha District has earmarked just over EUR 1,000 for the endeavor. Citizens and businesses in Sofia would be invited to invest between EUR 260 and EUR 2,600 per participant in the energy cooperative.

Dzhambazov: I believe that local government should be the driver for decentralized energy

“I believe that local government should be the driver for decentralized energy,” Deputy District Mayor Krasimir Dzhambazov said. There are 24 districts under the Sofia Municipality, also known as Stolichna (capital) Municipality. It provided the school roof free of charge.

After ten years, the city administration becomes the owner of the PV system. It unveiled the project almost a year ago. Bulgarian-Austrian Consulting Co. (BACC) and the Sofia Energy Agency (SOFENA) are consultants in the endeavor.

Vitosha energy community may integrate planned PV self-consumption systems for kindergartens

As 11 more units are about to be installed in Vitosha for self-consumption for kindergartens, including them in the energy community is under consideration, the update reveals.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Energy, Electricity System Operator (ESO) and the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) agreed to introduce a solar power program for municipalities, schools, kindergartens, hospitals and small businesses, without any upfront costs. Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov said the aim was to create the largest energy community in Europe.

Gabrovo and Burgas have launched the most notable municipal energy community initiatives in Bulgaria. The concept is gaining popularity across the European Union and beyond as an essential segment of the energy transition. In addition, households, small firms and local authorities, utilities and institutions can benefit from energy sharing or becoming prosumers.

Moreover, municipal and regional administrations have the opportunity to strengthen their energy self-sufficiency and achieve savings without burdening their public finances.

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Neptune energy confirms huge lithium carbonate reserves in Germany

Neptune Energy, a German company known for oil and gas exploration and production, obtained the country’s first lithium production license last year, and now it has confirmed resources of 43 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in the Altmark region of Saxony-Anhalt. It could reshape the outlook for battery raw material supply in Germany and Europe.

Primarily engaged in oil and gas exploration and production, Neptune Energy has been investing increasingly in low-carbon and renewable energy projects.

The company was the first in Germany to obtain a production permit for lithium. It also holds three exploration licenses for lithium in the Altmark region of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.

Natural gas has been produced in the Altmark region for more than half a century. Numerous old and active wells still provide access to deep underground layers including saltwater.

In November last year, Neptune Energy started a pilot project for lithium extraction from such brine with French technology partner Geolith. The company uses an environmentally friendly process known as direct lithium extraction (DLE) from brine. It involves no open pit mining, no evaporation ponds, and minimal land requirements.

The company has launched its third pilot project for direct lithium extraction from brine

In June, the company commissioned a second pilot plant, supplied by California-based Lilac Solutions, producing battery-grade lithium using an ion exchange process. The second pilot was completed in August, ahead of its original schedule to run until 2026.

A third pilot project has been underway since mid-September to evaluate an adsorption process. Subject to further mining permits, a demonstration phase with a fully integrated extraction plant will follow as the next step toward commercial production, the company said.

Altmark holds reserves of 43 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent

Neptune Energy’s initial internal estimate was that the Altmark region hosted 70 million tons of lithium carbonate, enough to extract 25,000 tons annually – sufficient for batteries for about 500,000 electric vehicles. An independent evaluation by Sproule ERCE confirmed resources of 43 million tons of LCE. Although lower than the original estimate, northern Saxony-Anhalt still hosts one of the world’s largest project-based lithium resources.

Since lithium is a key raw material for electric-vehicle batteries and energy storage, and Germany, with its strong automotive industry, currently depends on imports, information about lithium reserves in Altmark could have a significant impact on the domestic and European markets.

“This new assessment underscores the great potential of our license areas in Saxony-Anhalt. This enables us to contribute significantly to the German and European supply market for the critical raw material lithium,” said Andreas Scheck, Neptune Energy’s CEO.

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HiTHIUM, Solarpro partner to develop long-duration energy storage in Eastern Europe

China-based HiTHIUM and Solarpro Holding have signed a 2 GWh master supply agreement for battery energy storage systems.

HiTHIUM is a global provider of long-duration energy storage (LDES) technology, while Solarpro Holding is an EPC provider of photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Europe.

The agreement will support multiple utility-scale projects across Eastern Europe, including but not limited to Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and North Macedonia – which are accelerating renewable deployment as part of their energy transition strategies, according to HiTHIUM.

HiTHIUM will supply its bespoke DC block solutions

Under the agreement, HiTHIUM will supply its bespoke direct current (DC) block solutions, applying the ∞Power 6.25 MWh BESS with high-performance batteries of 1,175 Ah and 587 Ah.

The devices will be deployed exclusively in several utility-scale projects across Europe, HiTHIUM stressed.

DC block is the basic unit of a large BESS and a ready-to-deploy solution.

HiTHIUM expressed the opinion that intraday market volatility and cannibalization of photovoltaics can be addressed mostly by LDES solutions.

Li: We will deliver projects that turn renewables generation into dispatchable, flexible, and reliable resources

According to Kelson Li, HiTHIUM Europe Senior Director of Sales, Eastern Europe’s energy transformation requires energy storage solutions that go beyond short-term balancing.

“By combining HiTHIUM’s industry-leading long-duration energy storage technology with Solarpro’s deep regional experience in large-scale renewable energy integration, we will deliver projects that turn renewable generation into dispatchable, flexible, and reliable resources, advancing the region’s clean energy transition,” he underlined.

Nenov: LDES is a next critical technology upgrade of Europe’s electricity generation mix

Konstantin Nenov, Solarpro Chairman, said his company sees LDES as the next critical technology upgrade of Europe’s electricity generation mix.

“Partnering with HiTHIUM allows us to combine their advanced BESS technology with our proven track record in designing, integration and delivering complex renewable and storage projects across the region,” he stated.

HiTHIUM and Solarpro have already collaborated on landmark projects in Bulgaria and Hungary that were commissioned in 2024 and 2025.

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DRI acquires 112 MW battery storage project in Poland from Greenvolt

DRI expanded its activities in Poland with the acquisition of rights to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Kozienice, located in the east-central part of the country. The investment will also strengthen Ukraine’s grid, according to the update.

DRI, DTEK’s renewables arm in the European Union, acquired a BESS project for 112 MW in capability from Greenvolt Group. The battery system would have a four-hour duration, translating to a capacity of 448 MWh. The project is in a ready-to-build (RTB) stage, with all necessary administrative approvals, permits, and grid connection agreements in place for immediate construction, the two companies said.

The site is in Kozienice in the east-central part of Poland. In addition to making the country’s electricity grid more stable, the project will progressively strengthen Ukraine’s grid as the country’s energy network is integrated into a single European system, DRI pointed out.

The ambition is part of DTEK’s broader drive to prioritise energy security for Ukraine and the rest of Europe, the announcement reads.

DRI lifts battery storage project portfolio in Poland to 245 MW

With the new agreement, DRI is consolidating its position in the Polish energy market, and more broadly, in Europe’s energy transition, said DRI’s new Chief Executive Officer Murat Çinar.

Battery energy storage systems will be at the heart of the power grid of the future, DRI’s CEO Murat Çinar underscored

“By adding a second battery storage project to our portfolio, the acquisition of the Kozienice BESS will increase our total storage capacity available to the Polish grid to 245 MW. This technology will play a vital role in Europe’s transition towards a renewables-based system, enhancing grid stability and reducing the risk of outages during periods of system stress. Battery energy storage systems will be at the heart of the power grid of the future,” he stated.

Alongside its two battery storage projects in Poland, Amsterdam-based DRI is advancing fifteen solar and onshore wind projects at various stages of development in Croatia, Italy and Romania. The company said its mission is to work in underserved markets in Europe to achieve their net zero goals.

Its parent DTEK Group is the biggest private investor in Ukraine’s energy sector.

Greenvolt delivers high-impact BESS project

Greenvolt is one of the largest developers of energy storage in Europe, a technology that stands as a key pillar of the energy transition, the group’s CEO João Manso Neto said.

“This agreement fully aligns with our strategic objective to deliver high-impact projects that drive the ongoing transformation of the European energy landscape and attract strong market interest,” he stressed.

Greenvolt Group is a company within KKR’s portfolio. Through Greenvolt Power, it develops utility-scale wind, solar, and energy storage projects across 18 markets in Europe, North America, and Asia.

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Serbia to sign agreement on gas power plant with Azerbaijan

Serbia has completed the negotiations with Azerbaijan on the construction of a natural gas power plant near the city of Niš, according to Ana Brnabić, the Speaker of the National Assembly. She also said an agreement has been reached on additional quantities of gas that would be supplied to Serbia from the Caucasian country.

The negotiations for the construction of a gas power plant in Niš have been completed, Ana Brnabić said. She added that the facility would be a joint project between Azerbaijan and Serbia, RTS reported.

In mid-November last year President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić revealed that the government was starting talks with Azerbaijan on a possible joint construction of a 1 GW gas power plant in Niš, or two smaller units.

The agreement would likely be signed during the first meeting of the strategic cooperation council

Speaking during her visit to Azerbaijan, Ana Brnabić underlined that the signing of the gas power plant agreement would likely occur in the first meeting of the bilateral strategic cooperation council, when it is most convenient for the presidents, Aleksandar Vučić and Ilham Aliyev.

The investment near Niš would serve as an additional, significant stimulus and guarantee for Serbia’s energy security and stability, she stressed. The gas power plant will have a capacity of around 500 MW, which is of huge significance for Serbia, according to Brnabić.

The investment is estimated at EUR 600 million, she added.

An agreement reached on additional quantities of natural gas will be signed in the coming weeks

The country’s draft 2040 energy strategy includes a plan for a gas-fired cogeneration plant in Niš of 150 MW in electricity capacity and another 100 MW for heat. Another one would be built in Novi Sad. It is envisaged at 350 MW and 100 MW, respectively.

Earlier, Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović stressed that the gas power plant project is important for generating baseload energy and providing the security of supply.

Brnabić also said an agreement on additional quantities of gas has been reached and that the plan was to sign it in the coming weeks. Serbia already has quantities contracted with Azerbaijan, but additional amounts have been secured at the request of President Aleksandar Vučić for the winter months, she explained.