Power utility Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine aborted a waste co-incineration test at its Tuzla coal power plant. It halted the pilot project upon a request from the city authorities.
Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH) announced it would comply with the resolutions that the City Council of Tuzla adopted, and halt the development project for trial co-incineration of alternative SRF and RDF fuel with coal at its Tuzla thermal power plant. RDF – refuse-derived fuel, and SRF – solid recovered fuel, are made from waste, and SRF is of higher quality.
The company claimed that, being socially responsible, it bases its operations on consistent compliance with laws, regulations, and local community views, continuous improvement of environmental standards, and a commitment to transparent dialogue and cooperation with all relevant stakeholders.
The plan was to incinerate 100 tons of waste
The trial waste co-incineration was scheduled for yesterday, but the day before, the Tuzla City Council demanded its cancellation at an emergency session.
The first reports about waste incineration at the Tuzla thermal power plant emerged in 2022. EPBiH said at the time that it planned to convert unit 3 of the Tuzla thermal power plant into a cogeneration unit, using wood biomass. However, Bankwatch and the Aarhus Center accused the company of intending to mix waste in, as well.
The idea to incinerate waste in coal power plants has been widely discussed in the region for several years. In 2021, Slovenian state-owned power utility Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE) abandoned a project to burn waste in its Termoelektrarna Šoštanj (TEŠ) facility, citing opposition from local authorities and citizens.
Another BiH power utility, ERS, also plans waste incineration
In May 2023, Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS), another government-controlled power utility in BiH, revealed a plan for a trial incineration of waste.
Serbia’s Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) has such plans, too. The company has initiated several studies and pilot projects to analyze the use of alternative fuels in coal-fired power plants.
Its last move was to ask the Ministry of Environmental Protection to determine the scope and content of the environmental impact assessment study required for the project.
Tuzla City Council: We won’t allow experiments on Tuzla’s citizens
TPP Tuzla (photo: EPBiH)
The day before the planned waste incineration, the Tuzla city parliament adopted several conclusions. Among other things, it demanded urgent action from the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism and EPBiH regarding the lack of consultations with local authorities.
The assembly demanded that the management of TPP Tuzla immediately suspend all activities related to the incineration of RDF waste until an urgent public discussion is held with the participation of citizens, experts, and political representatives.
The local council stressed its opposition to all plans for co-incineration and incineration of waste, specifically RDF, until it is assured that the plan complies with legal, environmental, and health requirements.
The City of Tuzla and the City Council clearly and firmly declared that they won’t permit any experiments on Tuzla’s citizens, especially ones with potentially harmful or severe or even fatal consequences for human health, as well as environmental risks, the local parliament said.
Ministry: Everything was done to ensure testing was conducted under controlled and transparent conditions
The Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism noted that EPBiH has requested permission for a trial co-incineration of a mix of coal and alternative SRF and RDF fuel at TPP Tuzla. However, according to the current Environmental Protection Law, there is no legal obligation to obtain either an environmental permit or an environmental impact assessment for trial co-incineration, it explained.
The ministry said that for the purpose of transparency it has issued an expert opinion to ensure the testing is implemented under controlled and transparent conditions, taking into account the interests of the local community.
EPBiH informed the entity ministry that, following the local assembly’s intervention, a federal environmental protection inspector conducted an inspection at TPP Tuzla on July 7 and confirmed that all the conditions were met for testing.
The Energy Community Ministerial Council held its annual informal meeting in Athens, where the organization was founded twenty years ago. No contracting party is expected to meet the criteria for exemption from the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in the electricity sector – the European Union is due to start charging the CO2 tax on January 1 – but the European Commission could propose amendments.
The Energy Community promotes integration, reforms and investments across the region, top officials stressed.
Ministers from the Energy Community contracting parties convened today at the Informal Ministerial Council in Athens to mark the organization’s 20th anniversary. The Energy Community Treaty, establishing the Energy Community, was also signed in the Greek capital. The purpose of the organization is to create a more integrated market, help attract investment and speed up decarbonization by aligning with the European Union’s rules on energy, environment and competitiveness.
In recent years, close cooperation has enabled the contracting parties to strengthen the security of supply, particularly against the backdrop of the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine, the Energy Community Secretariat said. During the annual gathering, hosted by the Greek Ministry of the Environment and Energy, the ministers underlined the need for an accelerated integration with the EU, grounded in delivering a secure, resilient energy transition.
Ministers agreed to revise capacity calculation regions
Many contracting parties are close to completing the reforms needed to launch the 18-month countdown to electricity market coupling – including full legal alignment under the Energy Community’s Electricity Integration Package and the appointment of nominated electricity market operators (NEMOs). If transposition is verified as compliant by the European Commission and the Energy Community Secretariat, integration will be initiated with the EU’s Single Day-Ahead Coupling (SDAC) and Single Intraday Market Coupling (SIDC).
Ministers made a breakthrough in regional coordination, backing a proposal by EU transmission system operators to revise capacity calculation regions (CCRs), now under review by the EU energy regulator ACER – Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. Recognizing the proposal’s importance for an effective operation of the interconnected grid, they called for swift follow-up, including the operationalization of regional coordination centers (RCCs) and system operation regions (SORs).
The aim is to boost electricity flows and grid security, especially along the north-south corridor of the Balkans, while laying the groundwork for full EU market coupling.
Decarbonization must accelerate ahead of CBAM implementation in 2026
To avoid disruptions to regional electricity trade, clarifying CBAM rules for electricity is a priority for the ministers, the secretariat pointed out. The EU is set to begin charging the carbon border tax on January 1.
Lorkowski: Electricity market integration and decarbonisation are two sides of the same coin
As no contracting party is expected to meet the exemption criteria by then, a proportionate and context-sensitive application of the mechanism is essential, as supported by active engagement in the European Commission’s ongoing call for evidence that precedes the future amendments of the CBAM regulation to be possibly proposed by the European Commission, in the secretariat’s view.
“Electricity market integration and decarbonisation are two sides of the same coin. The green energy transition unlocks meaningful integration with the EU market – and vice versa. Only by aligning policy, infrastructure, and pricing can contracting parties fully realise the benefits of clean, secure, and affordable energy,” said Energy Community Secretariat Director Artur Lorkowski.
The ministers called for carbon revenues to support vulnerable communities and mobilize investment in clean energy, stressing that just transition financing must go hand in hand with policy reforms.
Energy Community Treaty is now cornerstone of Europe’s energy architecture
Born out of crisis and shaped by cooperation, the Energy Community Treaty has become a cornerstone of Europe’s energy architecture, Lorkowski stressed. What began as an unlikely experiment in regional integration has grown into a dynamic framework – extending the EU’s internal energy market, strengthening energy security, and advancing the clean energy transition across South-Eastern and Eastern Europe, he asserted.
Energy Community contracting parties can fully integrate their electricity markets with the EU before joining it
“Our contracting parties are now on the cusp of a major breakthrough: full electricity market integration with the EU – even ahead of accession. This is the product of two decades of reform, dialogue, and trust-building. With the right political will, we can move from transposition to transformation,” Lorkowski stated.
In his view, Greece is the window for the Energy Community contracting parties to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market and the access point to the European electricity system. Close cooperation with the Western Balkans has economic benefits for Greece – but beyond the economy, it is also about security and stability, Lorkowski said at the event.
Energy Community pioneered extension of EU energy market
Over the past two decades, the Energy Community has brought the EU closer to its neighbours, pioneering the extension of the trade bloc’s energy market across its borders, promoting integration, reforms and investments across the region, according to European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen.
“Now it is time to look ahead at our shared future based on a greener, sustainable and resilient system which will bring cheaper energy and more security to all,” he said.
Separately, in an interview with Kathimerini, Jørgensen noted that Southeastern Europe experienced electricity price spikes last summer, mainly in the evening hours, due to a lack of cross-border capacity and sufficient flexibility. The only solution is further infrastructure and market integration, as costs are separated and benefits are multiplied, he opined.
For every EUR 2 billion invested annually in cross-border infrastructure, the potential benefits reach up to EUR 5 billion, the commissioner added.
Papastavrou: Southeastern Europe’s is at disadvantage as its electricity market is not fully integrated with EU
Southeastern Europe is still not fully integrated with the EU, which is a structural disadvantage for citizens, said Minister of Environment and Energy of Greece Stavros Papastavrou.
“I am very optimistic after the first session of the meeting, because all the contracting parties expressed commitment, a strong commitment, to market coupling,” he stated. Papastavrou said a lot of work is required in the electricity sphere to bridge the gap for the prosperity of citizens and the entire region.
Energy integration is one of the pillars of EU accession
Energy integration is not just a technical issue – it is one of the fundamental pillars of the EU accession process, the minister told his counterparts from the Energy Community.
“Greece, too, has faced the same challenges that many of you are experiencing today. Back in 2005, our energy system was almost entirely dependent on lignite, by more than 60%. Today, we have reduced lignite use by an impressive 91% – a clear demonstration of our strong commitment to a clean, sustainable, and resilient energy future,” he stated.
Serbia’s Đedović Handanović sees possibility for market coupling with Hungary already next year
Serbia was the first in the region to fulfill the conditions for market coupling with the EU, the country’s Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović said. She urged for the verification process to be accelerated, so that Serbia can connect with the Hungarian market in 2026 and, through it, with the other EU member states.
The minister acknowledged the challenge of the upcoming full implementation of CBAM.
Photo: Minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović (Nenad Kostić / Ministry of Mining and Energy)
Serbian institutions analyzed the available options from the study that the European Commission published. “We think that carbon pricing should be introduced gradually, in phases and fairly, with support from funds from the European Union,” she said.
The minister stressed that revenues from carbon taxes would be directed, like in the EU, to decarbonization, renewables, energy efficiency, just transition and support to companies.
“Without an adequate period of time for the transition from coal to renewable energy sources, without modernizing the network, increasing RES capacities and adjusting the industry, higher carbon costs can only increase the financial pressure on our industry and consumers, which is already happening in the EU, instead of resulting in a significant emissions reduction in the short term. Solving these issues requires careful planning, a phasein and the EU’s targeted financial support, so that climate goals would be aligned with the economic reality,” Đedović Handanović said.
She recalled that EU member states had more than two decades to gradually adjust to carbon emission levies. Đedović Handanović affirmed that Serbia is willing to continue its alignment with the EU’s energy and climate policy.
“All the reform measures that we are conducting are primarily for the benefit of our citizens and companies, and we won’t make decisions overnight that would jeopardize our energy stability,” she said.
Hungarian state-owned energy company MVM has become the majority owner of Serbia-based firms Energotehnika – Južna Bačka from Novi Sad and Elektromontaža from Kraljevo.
Energotehnika – Južna Bačka and Elektromontaža, which were privately owned, provide a wide range of services and goods in the energy sector, primarily in Serbia.
MVM is the dominant producer, distributor, and supplier of electricity and gas in Hungary.
According to local media, MVM has signed a contract with Maneks Group from Serbia to acquire stakes of 60% in its subsidiaries Energotehnika – Južna Bačka and Elektromontaža.
The Hungarian company already owned 33.4% of the two firms.
Zbiljić: Maneks Group’s vision is to operate in the European Union market
Dragoljub Zbiljić, owner of Maneks Group, expressed his satisfaction with the continuation of the merger with MVM. The company’s vision is to operate in the European Union market, he added.
MVM CEO Károly Tamás Mátrai pointed out that the transaction is very important for the company from a strategic perspective.
It has switched from a minority to majority owner, implying a much higher level of cooperation with Serbia, he stressed.
Matrai: The two firms are crucial for energy infrastructure
According to Matrai, the two firms are important for energy infrastructure, and very reliable. Together with them and their management, MVM will be able to contribute to Serbia’s further success, in his view.
The Hungarian company purchased the 33.4% stakes in the two Serbian firms in March 2022. Earlier it said that it saw Serbia as a gateway to the markets of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria.
In June 2023, MVM signed a contract with Serbia’s state-owned gas firm Srbijagas to set up a gas trading joint venture called SERBHUNGAS, based in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Serbia and Hungary are working on a new power line between the two countries, as well as on their first joint oil pipeline.
Global investment firm Brookfield and tech giant Google signed an agreement to deliver up to 3,000 MW of carbon-free hydropower capacity in the United States.
Brookfield said the Hydro Framework Agreement (HFA) is the first of its kind and “the world’s largest corporate clean power deal for hydroelectricity.”
Brookfield Asset Management, together with Brookfield Renewable, and Google said the deal is for 3,000 MW of carbon-free hydroelectric capacity across the US.
Fast development of AI and digitalization is making power supply crucial for tech companies. Goldman Sachs Research forecasted that global power demand from data centers would increase 165% by 2030 from the 2023 level.
The first contracts include Brookfield’s Holtwood and Safe Harbor hydropower plants in Pennsylvania
Google has recently signed similar first-of-kind agreements for advanced nuclear and next-generation geothermal energy as well as for fusion energy.
Under HFA, the first contracts are for Brookfield’s Holtwood and Safe Harbor hydropower plants in Pennsylvania, representing more than USD 3 billion of power and 670 MW of capacity.
The 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) for the two facilities will support Google’s operations across PJM. The transaction structure allows Brookfield to maintain existing commitments to power consumers, such as Amtrak, from the Safe Harbor facility.
Brookfield said HFA is a significant step forward in its strategy to deliver flexible, dispatchable clean energy solutions to the technology sector and that the deal supports Google’s ambition to power its operations with 24/7 carbon-free energy.
Google can procure carbon-free electricity from up to 3,000 MW of HPPs
According to Brookfield, under the HFA, Google can procure electricity from up to 3,000 MW of hydropower assets that will be relicensed, overhauled, or upgraded to extend their useful life and continue adding power to the grid.
Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s Head of Data Center Energy, said the collaboration with Brookfield is a significant step forward, ensuring clean energy supply in the PJM region (parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia) where her company operates. Hydropower is a proven low-cost technology, offering dependable, homegrown, carbon-free electricity that creates jobs and builds a stronger grid for all, she added.
According to Connor Teskey, President of Brookfield Asset Management, the partnership with Google demonstrates the critical role that hydropower can play in helping hyperscale customers meet their energy goals.
Delivering power at scale and from a range of sources will be required to meet the growing electricity demands from digitalization and artificial intelligence, he pointed out.
Of note, Brookfield owns power plants with a combined capacity of almost 46,000 MW.
Google to invest over USD 25 billion in data center and AI infrastructure
The deal is part of Google’s planned investments in the area in data center and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. At the Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh, the company revealed that it earmarked more than USD 25 billion for the next two years.
President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google Ruth Porat joined President Donald Trump, Senator Dave McCormick and government and business leaders at the summit.
To support the investment, Google is expanding energy capacity and innovation in three ways, the company said.
Within the European Union’s proposed budget for the period from 2028 to 2034, the EUR 409 billion European Competitiveness Fund is for investments in strategic technologies, including for the clean transition and decarbonization. The new Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), worth EUR 81.4 billion, would finance the completion of Trans-European Networks and foster the EU’s green and clean transition in energy and transportation.
The European Commission proposed the next long-term budget of almost EUR 2 trillion, of which 35% would be earmarked for climate and environment. Energy infrastructure spending in the so-called Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034 will be EUR 29.5 billion, five times higher than in the previous seven-year period, it said, arguing it would reinforce energy independence and accelerate the clean transition.
The entire proposed sum amounts to 1.26% of the expected gross national income, on average. The framework is aimed at an independent, prosperous, secure, and thriving society and economy, the update adds.
“Europe faces an increasing number of challenges in numerous areas such as security, defence, competitiveness, migration, energy and climate resilience. These are not temporary but reflect systemic geopolitical and economic shifts that require a strong and forward-looking response,” the EU’s top executive body said.
Adapting to local needs
The European Commission pointed out that the budget would be tailored to local needs. National and regional partnership plans based on investments and reforms would be introduced, for targeted impact where it matters most and ensuring a faster and more flexible support for more economic, social and territorial cohesion across the union, according to the outlined measures.
“Our new long-term budget will help protect European citizens, strengthen Europe’s social model and make our European industry thrive,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated.
For the first time, the spending plan would enable member states to invest more in the EU objectives, with loans of up to 150 billion EUR altogether. “We will call it Catalyst Europe. The loans are backed by the EU budget. It targets common European priorities. You can invest it – for example in defence industry or energy infrastructure or strategic technologies,” Von der Leyen said.
The budget plan includes a European Competitiveness Fund, worth EUR 409 billion, for investment in strategic technologies. Operating under one rulebook, and offering a single gateway to funding applicants, it aims to simplify and accelerate EU funding and catalyse private and public investment. The focus is on four areas:
clean transition and decarbonization,
digital transition,
health, biotech, agriculture and bioeconomy,
defense and space.
In close connection with the European Competitiveness Fund, the EU research framework, with its flagship Horizon Europe worth EUR 175 billion, will continue to finance world-class innovation, the commissioners revealed.
Commissioners line up EUR 81.4 billion in budget for next Connecting Europe Facility
The next Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), worth EUR 81.4 billion, would finance the completion of Trans-European Networks and foster the EU’s green and clean transition in energy and transportation. It covers cross-border projects for energy, transportation and military mobility that are essential for competitiveness and security and reducing strategic dependencies.
To simplify external action financing, the EU’s top executive body envisaged an item called Global Europe, of EUR 200 billion, to maximise impact on the ground and improve visibility of EU external action in partner countries. It would allow the EU budget to step up support to candidate countries and prepare for their accession.
Among other segments, the European Commission said it plans to direct 75% of revenues from the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to the EU budget. It expects the resource to generate EUR 1.4 billion per year.
With the ambition to build several hydroelectric plants on pontoons on the Danube river in Bulgaria, a local company intends to install a 20 kW pilot facility in Vidin.
An initiative is underway for the deployment of an environmentally friendly energy production technology on Europe’s second-largest river. Vidin-based company Tyfun intends to build a pontoon hydroelectric plant near the Telegraph kapia (Telegraph Gate) of the town’s Kaleto (Baba Vida) fortress.
It is the first phase of its ambition to install several such facilities in the Bulgarian section of the Danube river, according to an investment proposal that it submitted to the Regional Inspectorate for Environmental Protection of Montana.
The firm said the 20 kW micro hydropower plant would not affect any area of the Danube in Bulgaria or its coast.
The construction of the prototype will allow testing of the new source of renewable energy, using a significantly more efficient technology and ensuring a continuous supply of clean energy, Tyfun added. In addition, it will demonstrate the viability of hydrokinetic technology as a reliable renewable energy source from the Danube river, with significant benefits, due to the low cost of energy and minimal adverse environmental impacts, the company said.
The facility would be operational 24 hours a day, all year round. During the first month after commissioning, the efficiency of the technology will be analyzed, as well as its volume, productivity and scope, the project shows.
The machine would be three meters long and 1.5 meters wide, placed on a pontoon of 20 times ten meters.
