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September 23, 2025
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YESS Power set to commission Western Balkans’ first large battery energy storage system

YESS Power said that in November it plans to commission a 60 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in North Macedonia. The Turkey-based contractor is installing the facility for Mey Energy at the site of the client’s solar power plant in Novaci. It would be the first large BESS and hybrid power plant in the region.

While the Western Balkans still doesn’t host any utility-scale BESS, giant leaps forward are seen in North Macedonia. Fortis Energy intends to expand its Oslomej solar power plant with one such facility, while Zen Energy Group has started the installation of a hybrid energy plant of the same kind. In addition, Turkey-based engineering, procurement, installation, and commissioning contractor YESS Power is spearheading the project for the addition of a BESS to the Novaci photovoltaic plant.

When Mey Energy put the 55 MW solar park into operation two years ago, it was the biggest in the said region. Now YESS Power, in cooperation with battery manufacturer Cubenergy from China, is installing a BESS of 60 MW at the site for the client.

With the commissioning date scheduled for November, it is about to become the first large battery energy storage facility in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans.

Novaci was the biggest PV park in the region when it was built in 2023

YESS Power, Topkapı Endüstri’s new brand, is responsible for engineering, installation, technical services and maintenance of the battery segment of the future hybrid power plant.

Mey Energy’s Novaci solar power plant spans 57 hectares. It generates 85 GWh per year, equivalent to the electricity demands of 30,000 households in the country. Notably, the PV system is next to the open pit coal mines of the REK Bitola energy complex, which includes a thermal power plant.

YESS Power said it specializes in scalable, secure, turnkey energy storage solutions for solar plants, industrial facilities, grid support and microgrids. It revealed that the current project marks the beginning of a “a broader strategic partnership in the Turkish and Eastern European markets” with Cubenergy.

In the wider Southeastern European region, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey are massively adding BESS capacity. The remaining countries remain slow with administrative changes, planning and investment.

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September 23, 2025
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Fortis Energy preparing to build solar-battery hybrid power plant in Serbia

Fortis Energy has obtained a construction permit for a solar park of 270 MW on the territory of the city of Sremska Mitrovica in Serbia, Mayor Branislav Nedimović said. The company plans to include a battery energy storage system (BESS) of 36 MWh.

Turkey-based Fortis Energy bought a solar power project in Serbia last year, which would have a 180 MW grid connection. At the time, the company announced that it also planned a battery energy storage system of 36 MWh. Chief Operational Officer Velimir Gavrilović said in May, at Belgrade Energy Forum (BEF 2025) that the projects Noćaj 1 and Noćaj 2 are nearing a ready-to-build status.

After his recent meeting with the representatives of Fortis Energy, Mayor of Sremska Mitrovica Branislav Nedimović said the company has obtained a construction permit for the solar park. The transmission permit is expected within three months, and the works are beginning in the spring, he revealed. Sremska Mitrovica is a city west of Belgrade.

The location is on private land just south of the river Sava, toward Drenovac village in the Mačva area, Nedimović asserted. He said the solar power plant’s capacity would be 270 MW.

Fortis Energy received a construction permit for a proposed solar park across the river from Sremska Mitrovica

In May, the company signed a contract for the connection of its planned solar park Erdevik in Šid, a municipality bordering Sremska Mitrovica. The plan is to install 110 MW in peak capacity, with a BESS system of 31.2 MWh.

The developer and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor is working on wind power projects Vranje, Gornjak and Juhor.

The company has five biogas facilities in Serbia of 21 MW altogether.

Last year in North Macedonia, Fortis Energy commissioned a photovoltaic plant of 79.9 MW in peak capacity in Oslomej in North Macedonia. The grid capacity is 68.7 MW.

The company said in February that it contracted the construction of a BESS of 62 MW at the same location. It opted for lithium ion batteries of 104 MWh in total capacity, which means that they can run at full power for two hours.

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September 23, 2025
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EU launches EUR 17.5 billion energy efficiency initiative for SMEs

The European Union plans to double its support to small and medium-sized enterprises in the 2025-2027 period for investments in energy efficiency and decarbonization.

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have launched a EUR 17.5 billion financing initiative.

According to the commission, more than 350,000 companies across Europe are set to make energy efficiency and decarbonization gains through the scheme.

The initiative for energy efficiency for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is led by the EIB Group. It aims to help firms utilize proven energy-saving technologies to reduce their energy bills and enhance their resilience and competitiveness, the commission underscored.

The EU expects to mobilize over EUR 65 billion in overall investments

The program will use a combination of existing and new financial products, including debt and equity instruments. The EU expects to mobilize over EUR 65 billion of investments in the segment by 2027.

To streamline access and support for businesses, the initiative will introduce a “one-stop shop for energy efficiency for SMEs,” the update adds. The commission explained that a single-entry point would integrate EIB Group’s intermediated lending offering and added it would simplify engagement and accelerate implementation.

The backing by the commission will include EU budget guarantees

The commission’s backing will include EU budget guarantees offered through the InvestEU mechanism and LIFE environmental program.

EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen pointed out that SMEs invest in energy efficiency at only half the rate of larger companies. “This EIB initiative supported by the commission will be key to closing the investment gap, simplifying access to financing, and accelerating the deployment of energy efficiency solutions,” he added.

According to EIB Group President Nadia Calviño, the initiative represents a significant step up in support to help companies cut energy costs.

“Servitisation” or energy efficiency as a service

The EIB said it is partnering with the Solar Impulse Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to promote a model known as “servitisation” or energy efficiency as a service.

For example, instead of purchasing energy-efficient heating or lighting equipment, SMEs pay for the warmth or light they use. The service provider retains ownership of the equipment and ensures its performance. EIB stressed that the model eliminates upfront investment costs for businesses, making it easier and faster to adopt energy efficiency measures.

“The Solar Impulse Foundation has already identified over 1,600 profitable solutions that prove efficiency is not a cost but a gain. With this initiative, we can now bring these innovations to hundreds of thousands of SMEs across Europe,” said Bertrand Piccard, initiator and chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation.

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September 23, 2025
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Romania risks blackouts if it shuts coal plants as scheduled

Minister of Energy Bogdan Ivan claims that energy poverty or even blackouts could hit Romania if it proceeds with the closure of coal plants. Namely, the gas power projects for replacing them are suffering severe delays.

The European Commission has become flexible for the first time in the last four years, said Romania’s Minister of Energy Bogdan-Gruia Ivan. He has asked for a postponement of the deadline for shutting down a group of coal power plants.

They need to be closed by the end of the year. If the coal plants, run by state-owned Complexul Energetic Oltenia (CE Oltenia) go before gas power plants Iernut and Mintia are commissioned, Romania is jeopardized, according to the minister.

Ivan told Digi24.ro he was negotiating with the European Commission on delaying the closure by “a few months.” Romgaz decided last week to cancel the contract with Duro Felguera, the contractor for the Iernut facility.

Energy poverty risk increasing

A study conducted with Romania’s transmission system operator Transelectrica has shown that Romania can otherwise end up in energy poverty and even risk a blackout, he underscored. “Especially in the winter, when we have no solar, when we have no wind power,” Minister Ivan explained.

Furthermore, Romania would like to keep three large coal units and another two in technical reserve for replacement them in case of damage, Ivan revealed. It would ensure a 1 GW minimum coal power supply, he asserted.

Romania requires at least 1 GW in baseload energy from coal for two more years, according to Minister Bogdan Ivan

Simulations showed that the group would need to operate for two years more, at least, until Iernut and Mintia are completed.

“We are pressed for time. We need to conclude contracts for next year. We need to conclude contracts for energy supply, contracts with suppliers, coal stocks. It is a complex of factors that must be organized very well from now on. It is already late, for Romania and for our energy companies,” Ivan stated.

Gas power projects in constant delay

Additionally, gas power plants Turceni (475 MW) and Ișalnița (850 MW) are supposed to replace some of the capacity in the Oltenia complex. The two projects suffered constant delays. The deadlines in the tenders for construction have been pushed back to September 30 and November 14, respectively.

Romania has received billions of euros from the European Union for gas power plants to substitute coal, the minister noted separately. He acknowledged that the projects are still on paper. That’s why today Romanians have almost the highest electricity price in Europe, Ivan claimed.

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September 22, 2025
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Serbia in talks with Rosatom on nuclear power plant project

Serbian authorities and Rosatom have begun talks on the nuclear power plant construction project, according to the Ambassador of Serbia to Russia Momčilo Babić.

Serbia recently completed the preliminary technical study on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in the country. However, the country is still a long way away from the potential construction of a nuclear power plant, according to Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia Dubravka Đedović Handanović.

So far, Serbia has established contacts or started cooperation on nuclear energy with China, France, Russia, Slovenia, South Korea, and the United States.

Serbia is seriously discussing the issue with Rosatom, the country’s Ambassador to Russia Momčilo Babić told Izvestia.

Babić: There’s no better company than Rosatom

He underlined that there’s no better company in the world to build a nuclear power plant. Babić is confident that there will be progress in the coming years, as he argues that Serbia needs electricity. The country will “do it anyway,” the ambassador added.

According to Igor Yushkov, an expert at the Financial University and the National Energy Security Fund, it is possible that Russia will also provide Belgrade with a preferential loan, in line with its standard practice.

Nuclear energy is experiencing a global renaissance, and the states created after the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia fell apart in the early 1990s are no exception.

US-based nuclear power startup Aalo has begun the construction of an extra-modular reactor, a type of modular reactor, which could introduce big changes in the sector.

Everyone wants to build a nuclear power plant

As for Europe, Germany has changed its mind on nuclear energy in the continent, agreeing with France to work together on shaping a common European energy policy. The strategy would include nuclear power as a low-carbon energy source.

Slovenian authorities are developing the Krško 2 project. A few days ago, news emerged that the country sent an official proposal to Croatia to jointly build the facility. However, Slovenia denied that it has made such an offer.

Croatia, on the other hand, reiterated that it is interested in building a nuclear power plant on its territory.

Serbia has recently signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of nuclear energy with South Korean company Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.

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September 22, 2025
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Slovenia denies sending offer to Croatia for joint construction of Krško 2 nuclear power plant

Slovenian authorities denied a report that they sent Croatia an offer for the joint construction of the Krško 2 nuclear power plant.

Earlier, Croatian Novi List reported that Slovenia has sent Croatia an official proposal to build a new unit in the existing nuclear power plant Krško.

The model is far less favorable for Croatia than the current management model of the Krško nuclear power plant, the media outlet noted.

However, the office of Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob, Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy Bojan Kumer, and GEN Energija, the company in charge of the project, denied proposing such an offer.

Golob has recently informed Plenković about preparations for Krško 2

At the last bilateral meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in Vinica, Prime Minister Golob informed him about activities related to preparations for the decision on the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Krško, the prime minister’s office added.

Minister Kumer stressed that Slovenia hasn’t made any offer to Croatia. He noted that Slovenia has only just begun spatial planning for a potential new nuclear power plant.

Kumer: Slovenia must first do its homework

Slovenia first needs to do its homework and set a business model, and then it could begin talks about a joint venture, Kumer added.

According to Novi List, experts called the proposal inappropriate. The Slovenian side allegedly offered Croatia a 25% stake, compared to the current 50% in the Krško nuclear power plant.

Moreover, Croatia would only receive the profit from the sale of electricity equivalent to its ownership in the power plant, according to the article. The country now gets 50% of the electricity produced in the existing Krško nuclear power plant.

Slovenia’s state-owned power company GEN would control 25% of the project, while the Slovenian government would hold 51%, the news website learned.

​ Šušnjar: The country should build a nuclear power plant on its territory

Of note, Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar repeated last week that his country should build a nuclear power plant on its territory.

He noted that several sites were being considered, and recalled that when Croatia was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which fell apart in the early 1990s, the authorities were examining locations in Ivanić Grad, Erdut, and Vir island.

Also, there is new speculation that the site of the Plomin coal-fired thermal power plant is a potential location for. Šušnjar confirmed that the facility is scheduled to be closed in 2032 or 2033.

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