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August 27, 2025
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Montenegro’s power utility gets EUR 25 million loan to expand Gvozd wind farm

Montenegrin state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) said it signed a EUR 25 million loan contract with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for expanding the Gvozd wind farm to 75.6 MW. Once fully operational, it will be the largest wind farm in Montenegro.

The Gvozd 2 project involves the installation of three additional wind turbines, with a combined capacity of 21 MW. It will increase the wind farm’s total projected annual production to over 210 GWh, enough to cover the needs of about 36,000 households and reduce CO2 emissions by almost 137,000 tons a year, EPCG said following the signing of the loan agreement.

The expansion project involves three additional wind turbines with a combined capacity of 21 MW

An EUR 82 million loan for the first, 54.6 MW phase of the wind farm, including the grid connection infrastructure, was signed with the EBRD in June 2023. Gvozd will be EPCG’s first large-scale power generation facility built in more than 40 years.

Construction on the first phase, featuring eight turbines, began in November 2024. EPCG expects the power plant to enter trial operation by the end of this year, with a projected annual electricity output of 150 GWh.

Construction on the first, 54.6 MW phase of wind farm Gvozd was launched in late 2024

Commissioning of the full 75 MW capacity is expected by the end of 2026, according to a press release from the EBRD.

A key step in Montenegro’s energy transition

Milutin Đukanović, President of EPCG’s Board of Directors, described the expansion of Gvozd as a key step in Montenegro’s energy transition. In the press release, EPCG stated that the wind park would significantly contribute to achieving the European goal to produce electricity exclusively from clean sources by 2050 at the latest.

Minister of Energy and Mining Admir Šahmanović noted that the Gvozd project would strengthen Montenegro’s energy security, reduce CO2 emissions, and pave the way for sustainable development.

Francesco Corbo, the EBRD’s Regional Head of Energy for the Western Balkans and Croatia, recalled that the bank, through its Renewable Energy Market Accelerator (REMA) program, helped the Montenegrin authorities organize the country’s first renewable energy auction, for solar projects totaling 250 MW.

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August 27, 2025
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Enerjisa Enerji to rebuild grid, install solar in earthquake-hit region in Turkey

Turkish electricity distribution company Enerjisa Enerji has secured a USD 150 million loan to rebuild and modernize the power grid in the earthquake-hit Toroslar region in the country’s south, as well as to install solar power plants to supply corporate customers. The loan was provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The Toroslar region accounts for about one-third of Enerjisa Enerji’s total operations. It was heavily affected by the earthquakes of February 2023, which caused widespread damage and more than 55,000 fatalities, the EBRD noted.

The 2023 earthquake caused heavy damage and killed more than 55,000 people

Enerjisa Enerji will use the EBRD loan to finance the reconstruction and modernization of the electricity distribution network, contributing to the overall reconstruction efforts in the region. The company will also install solar power plants offering sustainable energy solutions to its corporate customers, the bank said.

The company said in a press release that the five-year loan would be utilized to improve the quality of its electricity distribution services and expand its customer-focused renewable energy solutions.

The solar power plants will offer sustainable energy to Enerjisa’s corporate customers

Enerjisa Enerji is a subsidiary of Enerjisa Üretim, a joint venture between German E.ON and Turkey-based Sabanci.

Early this year, Enerjisa Enerji won the right to build and operate two wind farms totaling 750 MW, the largest projects available in Turkey’s auction for a total of 1.2 GW of wind.

The EBRD also stated that the project demonstrates its commitment to Turkey’s green agenda by helping to prevent distribution losses in the electricity network, as well as supporting the construction of renewable energy infrastructure, leading to significant reductions in carbon emissions.

Philipp Ulbrich, the CFO of Enerjisa Enerji, said that support from the EBRD strengthens the company’s strategic steps toward sustainable growth, reflecting investor interest in the energy transition in Turkey.

Turkey has secured over EUR 650 million in World Bank financing to support renewables integration

Earlier this month, the World Bank approved a financing package for Turkey’s transmission system upgrade project, aimed at enabling the integration of increased renewable energy capacity. The package includes a EUR 625 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a EUR 32.8 million loan from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), and a USD 2 million CTF grant.

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August 27, 2025
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Dozens of airports in Southeastern Europe invest in solar power, energy efficiency

Airports in Istanbul and Athens are becoming completely self-reliant with their large solar power projects. Many other airports in Southeastern Europe are investing in photovoltaics as well. Together with energy efficiency, electric mobility and waste and wastewater management projects, they aim to decarbonize their operations and reduce their environmental impact.

Surfaces around infrastructure such as railways and motorways are convenient for solar power as there are few alternatives for their use and the technology can directly provide them with electricity. Airports, too, have embraced the global trend of introducing photovoltaics and electrifying operations, and Southeastern Europe is no exception, with several notable investments.

The largest ones in Istanbul and Athens are about to switch 100% to solar power, which would make them some of the first in the world. In addition, airports in the region are increasing energy efficiency and rolling out electric vehicle fleets. They are introducing resource, waste and wastewater management systems to decarbonize their operations and reduce their environmental impact.

Airport operator in Albania expanding to solar power market

In other recent news, the operator of Kukës International Airport Zayed in Albania’s northeast is in the process of obtaining a license to generate and trade electricity. Namely, the company, Global Technical Mechanics, received a concession five months ago in consortium with local construction firm Bami to build and operate a 12 MW solar power plant.

The location at the village of Shtiqen is in the municipality of Kukës. The airport, built with investments by Emaar Properties from the United Arab Emirates, was inaugurated in 2021. However, it ceased operations in the meantime as Wizz Air withdrew from the facility.

The entire Vlora International Airport, which is under construction, will be covered with solar panels, Albanian officials said earlier. The PV project is for 5.2 MW. A consortium led by Swiss-based Mabco Constructions is building and financing the construction. The firm is part of Mabetex Group, controlled by Behgjet Pacolli, Kosovar businessman and former president, deputy prime minister and foreign minister.

Zagreb Airport starts with small PV unit

Zagreb Airport, which installed a 250 kW photovoltaic unit this year, said it plans to expand it soon. In addition, it switched to 100% renewable energy supply.

Like other airports in the region, the main one in Croatia replaced conventional, halogen lighting with LED. The operator has committed to cutting its emissions in accordance with the recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Zagreb Airport is renovating its buildings and increasingly using solar energy for heating water. Interestingly, it plans to switch from diesel-fueled generators to hydrogen-ready systems.

Athens to integrate strong battery with its arrays

Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos commissioned an 8.05 MW solar park in 2011, followed by another one in 2023, with 15.8 MW in peak capacity.

This year two more units with a combined peak capacity of 35.5 MW are coming online, together with a battery energy storage system (BESS) of 82 MWh.

The operator of Turkey’s largest airport is completing a photovoltaic park of nearly 200 MW and aiming to cover almost all its energy needs from renewable sources by the end of the decade

IGA Istanbul Airport reported that its greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 were 10.5% lower than its goal. Moreover, its operator increased its 2030 renewable energy target from 50% to 90%.

Namely, it expects its Eskişehir solar farm of a whopping 199.3 MW to begin operations before the end of the year. The location spans 300 hectares and the investment amounts to EUR 212 million. The PV park will generate an estimated 340 GWh per year.

Dalaman Airport hosts world’s largest rooftop solar power plant among airport terminals

Several other airports in Turkey are also decarbonizing their electricity systems. TAV Airports Holding (TAV Havalimanları Holding), part of Groupe ADP, completed a solar power plant 6.7 MW in peak capacity at its Milas-Bodrum Airport in the country’s southwest. Within the same project for setting up PV systems at parking areas, the Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is getting a 5.9 MW unit.

The Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is getting a 5.9 MW solar power system at parking areas

Dalaman Airport, near Bodrum, operates a solar power plant of 8.3 MW in peak capacity. It is the world’s largest on the roof of an airport terminal building.

The facility now covers more than 55% of its consumption from solar energy. The investment was worth EUR 5.4 million. The operator, YDA Airport Investment and Management, has vowed to reach 100% in phase two. The airport has completely switched to electric vehicles.

In 2023, airports Milas-Bodrum, Gaziantep, Erzurum and Ordu-Giresun all commissioned smaller PV systems.

Romanian operators leaning on EU funds

Iași International Airport is about to expand its 1 MW solar power plant, installed in 2023. It was the first in Romania in the sector. The management intends to add 5 MW and a 2 MW energy storage unit.

The investment will reportedly be supported with a grant from the European Union’s Modernisation Fund. The hybrid power plant is supposed to cover a fifth of the electricity consumption of the facility in Romania’s far northeast.

Maramureş International Airport (AIM) is also seeking funding, for a system of 2.6 MW in peak capacity on parking canopies. It would include battery storage.

The PV unit would feature 25 inverters of 100 kW each. The project, worth EUR 12.1 million, should be complete by the end of next year, the management said. The facility is in Romania’s northwest, near the border with Ukraine and Hungary.

Cluj International Airport Avram Iancu said in December that it would install a PV system with batteries. It claimed it would make it energy independent in 2026. According to the facility’s website, the solar power project is for 2 MW.

Bacau International Airport George Enescu is another one that applied for funds. The management envisages a 1.25 MW solar power unit and a BESS of 2.1 MWh in capacity, to fully cover electricity consumption.

Sibiu International Airport is developing a project for a ground-mounted unit of 1.7 MW in peak capacity. The site is two kilometers from the terminal.

The management is expecting to cover the costs mainly with a grant via the Modernisation Fund. It said the PV park would be completed within a year and a half and suggested that it would introduce electric cars and buses and charging stations.

Notably, National Company Bucharest Airports (CNAB) has a geotermal energy project.

Hermes Airports equipped its two facilities with PV systems in 2023

Hermes Airports commissioned two solar power plants in Cyprus two years ago. The unit at Larnaka International Airport has 3.5 MW in peak capacity and the one at Pafos International Airport has 1.1 MW. They cover 25% and 30%, respectively, of the facilities’ electricity needs.

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport in Serbia commissioned a PV system of 1 MW in peak capacity in 2022. The facility’s concessionaire, Vinci Airports, has also set up solar-powered LED lighting.

International airports in Sarajevo and Tuzla in Bosnia and Herzegovina unveiled plans for PV systems a few years ago.

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August 27, 2025
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Deanovec PV project near Zagreb conditionally passes environmental assessment

Croatia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition has decided that no environmental impact assessment study is required for the 65.7 MW Deanovec solar power plant project. The investment was initiated by Statkraft, which recently sold its entire business in the country to Resalta.

The project is planned on the territory of Ivanić-Grad in Zagreb county, with a peak capacity of 65.7 MW. The Deanovec site covers 73.2 hectares, of which photovoltaic modules would occupy around 28 hectares.

In May, Statkraft OIE, the project firm, submitted a request to the ministry to determine whether a full environmental impact assessment is necessary. It submitted the environmental study, produced by Zagreb-based Eko Invest, revealing that the plant would have a 59 MW grid connection.

The ministry concluded that a full environmental impact assessment is not necessary, but the investor must prevent potential harm.

The prescribed measures include coordination with the local hunting rights holder. Protection of watercourses involves preventing precipitation runoff from access roads into nearby streams. Wherever possible, cable lines must be placed within existing infrastructure corridors. The solar park needs to be divided into four fenced sections, with fencing designed to allow the passage of small animals.

Deanovec solar power project deemed environmentally acceptable

According to the decision, the investor must use anti-reflective PV modules, ensure sufficient spacing between them, and install eco-friendly lighting. Vegetation within the solar park must be mechanically maintained, without herbicides or chemicals, while the removal of invasive plant species is mandatory.

The ministry stated that the project is not expected to have significant negative impacts on biodiversity, soil, watercourses, agricultural land, landscape, or air quality, and that the defined mitigation measures are sufficient to avoid potential harm. All relevant authorities provided positive opinions, and the public consultation process did not result in major objections.

Furthermore, the ministry ruled that a comprehensive assessment under the procedure for the network of nature protection areas is not required. Its purpose is to determine whether a planned project could have a significant negative impact on protected areas, including those within the Natura 2000 network. It was concluded that the Deanovec solar power project does not affect or directly threaten these areas.

Norwegian energy giant Statkraft recently announced it was selling all its operations in Croatia to Resalta. However, it is still listed as the owner of the Deanovec project.

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August 27, 2025
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Investors in standalone batteries in Greece request extension as deadline looms

September 30 marks a crucial deadline for standalone battery projects selected through Greece’s first two auctions.

Investors in battery projects of about 700 MW in total are rushing to submit their so-called declarations of readiness to the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO or ADMIE) by the end of September. After that point, the projects must become operational by the end of the year.

Investors claim that a lengthy licensing process, combined with a one year equipment procurement span, means many will be unable to reach the finish line in time. Licensing delays also caused problems with financing.

If a project breaches the deadlines, it will be subject to the loss of the letter of guarantee, resulting in losses that can even reach several million euros, depending on the capacity of the battery.

The deadline for commissioning for projects selected through the third auction, which amount to 200 MW, is April 30.

Market warns of insufficient time for batteries

The Hellenic Association of Energy Storage Systems (HAESS) has asked for more time and a new final declarations deadline, end-July 2026, for the projects selected through all three auctions. It added that the investors of the first two rounds only managed to acquire connection terms by mid-year.

The deadlines are binding to secure funding from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the organization explained. It means that if the timeframe is breached, selected projects will not receive support.

So far there has been no official statement about the possibility of extending the deadlines. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether the Ministry of Environment and Energy will maintain a strict stance, as Greece urgently needs storage to address ever higher curtailments.

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August 27, 2025
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Turkish firm Astor Enerji to install 2 GWh of battery capacity at its solar projects in Romania

Swiss energy storage provider Energy Vault has signed an agreement to supply up to 2 GWh of battery capacity for the solar power projects of Turkey-based Astor Enerji in Romania. Astor Enerji, for its part, will provide transformers and high-voltage equipment for more than 1 GW of Energy Vault’s battery projects worldwide.

Astor Enerji recently entered the Romanian market through the acquisition of four photovoltaic projects with a total capacity of 279 MW, according to reports. The transactions, which require regulatory approval, were carried out in April through Astor Enerji’s Romanian subsidiary Astor RO Energy.

Astor Enerji has acquired 279 MW of solar projects in Romania

Under the global partnership agreement, Astor will receive battery energy storage systems (BESS) for the four grid-connected photovoltaic projects in Romania, with a total storage capacity of up to 2 GWh, according to a press release from Energy Vault.

Astor Enerji, for its part, will supply transformers and high-voltage equipment for Energy Vault’s BESS projects of over 1 GW overall, planned in the United States, Australia, and Europe.

Olcay Doğan, CFO of Astor Enerji, stated that Energy Vault’s innovative approach to energy storage makes it an ideal partner to support the Turkish company’s expansion into the battery sector.

According to Energy Vault’s chief revenue officer, Marco Terruzzin, the collaboration with Astor Enerji will help build the technology and supply chain capacity to meet surging power demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and the rapid adoption of renewable energy.

Energy Vault has secured USD 300 million for BESS projects around the world

Energy Vault develops and deploys utility-scale energy storage solutions, including proprietary gravity-based storage, battery storage, and green hydrogen energy storage technologies. It recently announced a USD 300 million deal with an investment fund to finance the launch of a subsidiary that will develop, build, own, and operate energy storage assets, standalone or paired with generation facilities, around the world.

Astor Enerji supplies power transformers, distribution transformers, and high-voltage to medium-voltage switchgear to markets in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the United States.

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