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July 4, 2025
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Project underway for 99 MW Bokšić solar plant with battery storage

The Croatian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition has initiated a procedure to determine the need for an environmental impact assessment for the planned 99 MW solar power project Bokšić, which includes a battery energy storage system.

The annual electricity production of the Bokšić solar power plant is estimated at just under 120 GWh. The facility, with a planned connection power of 89 MW, would be connected to the grid through a new 110/33 kV transformer station, and then to the existing 110 kV Našice-Slatina transmission line.

The annual electricity output is estimated at just under 120 GWh

The project also includes a battery energy storage system (BESS), according to the environmental impact assessment report prepared in February and updated in June. It would be designed for an operating power of 38 MW and a capacity of 70.8 MWh, with an expected lifespan of 20 years.

Solar power plant Bokšić will have a 70.8 MWh battery system

The assessment procedure is necessary because the developer, Zagreb-based Funicula, intends to build a stand-alone photovoltaic plant, according to the ministry. The project’s site is near Bokšić, in the Đurđenovac municipality in Osijek-Baranja County.

The solar power plant is planned to occupy ​​about 123.8 hectares of land, with photovoltaic panels covering about 46 hectares. The site will be enclosed by a protective masonry fence up to two meters high, raised at least 15 centimeters above the ground to allow small animals to pass underneath, according to the ministry.

Bokšić is among the largest solar projects in Croatia

Few solar projects in Croatia are for a larger capacity than Bokšić. State power utility Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP) is working on the Korlat endeavor, also of 99 MW. At an auction last year, two major solar power projects were awarded market premiums – Promina, with a planned installed capacity of around 189 MW, developed by Spain-based Acciona Energia, and Obrovac Sinjski, for 144 MW, to be built by Aurelis Solis.

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July 4, 2025
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IHA: Turkey’s 2024 hydropower additions highest in Europe again

The world’s hydroelectric capacity increased 1.7% last year to 1.44 TW, the International Hydropower Association said in its annual report. It highlighted the sharp rise in the pumped storage hydropower segment. Turkey doesn’t host any such energy storage facilities, but the country’s additions of conventional capacity were the highest in Europe for the second time in a row.

Hydropower generation rallied 10% to 4.58 PWh in 2024. It rebounded strongly from drought-affected lows the previous year, the International Hydropower Association (IHA) calculated. Data from its 2025 World Hydropower Outlook points to strong global momentum, led by a surge in pumped storage hydropower.

The world’s largest source of renewable electricity accounted for 14.3% of supply.

Scandinavia and Central Asia may see a 5%-15% rise in hydropower output from their current fleet, while Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East could experience declines of up to 40% by the century’s end, the authors warned. The declines are driven by longer dry periods, reduced flows and greater evaporation. IHA expects the strongest impact in countries such as Spain, Italy and Turkey.

Notably, the last of the three achieved the highest growth in Europe in overall capacity last year, for the second time in a row. Turkey added 241 MW, making it 11th in the world, after 399 MW the year before. Then it was three notches higher on a global scale.

More than half of capacity in project pipeline is for pumped storage

Hydropower development pipeline grew 8% to 1.08 TW, including 600 GW of pumped storage.

Growth in global capacity amounted to 24.6 GW, against 22 GW in 2023. In relative terms, it rose 1.7% to 1.44 TW, of which pumped storage jumped 5% or 8.4 GW to 189 GW. The rise was 6.5 GW in the previous year. The rate in the pumped storage segment doubled in the past two years.

China continues to dominate, with 14.4 GW of capacity added in 2024, including 7.75 GW of pumped storage. It translates to shares of 59% and a head-spinning 92%, respectively, on the global scale. China reached 436 GW, which was 30.2% of the world total.

Hydropower plants in Norway generated almost two times more electricity than the ones in Turkey

The country has more than 91 GW of pumped storage capacity under construction, compared to over 105 GW in the whole world! China is planning to add a whopping 136 GW beyond that in the segment.

The overall hydropower sector faces a potential shortfall of 60 GW to 70 GW by 2030 from the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) target in its “tripling renewables” scenario.

A clear business case for pumped storage in Europe is emerging, supported by a project pipeline of 52.9 GW in development, of which 3 GW is under construction, the report reads.

Turkey has strongest conventional hydroelectric fleet in Europe but poor utilization rate

Norway has the most hydropower capacity in Europe, as it reached 33.9 GW last year. Pumped storage hydropower had a share of 1.4 GW.

Turkey remained second in Europe in overall hydropower capacity and ninth in the world, at 32.77 GW. But there are no pumped storage hydroelectric units in the country, so in conventional terms it ranks the highest on the continent.

On the other hand, hydropower production in Norway was almost two times higher than in Turkey in 2024, 140 TWh versus 75 TWh. The latter increased its output from 66 TWh.

Interestingly, while IHA measured an increase of 241 MW in capacity last year in Turkey, IRENA’s earlier annual report showed growth of 424 MW, to 32.39 GW. There is nearly 600 MW currently under construction in the country, according to the update. It compares to 460 MW in the report released a year ago.

France is Europe’s third, with 25.45 GW at the end of 2024, of which 5.1 GW was pumped storage. Output was equivalent to Turkey’s.

Spain was next overall, at 22.75 GW. Portugal came in second-best in added capacity, at 160 MW. Germany is at the top of the chart in operational pumped storage hydropower – 9.45 GW.

As for the other markets that Balkan Green Energy News tracks, Greece had more than 3 GW of pumped storage projects in development at the end of 2024.

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July 4, 2025
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YEO’s Defic Globe buys projects for 219 MW in Romania amid rebranding

Defic Globe, YEO’s Istanbul-based joint venture with Emsolt Investments, acquired 15 project firms developing plans for power plants of 219 MW in total. The portfolio also brings a potential 320 MWh in battery energy storage systems (BESS). Separately, YEO launched its CALL Energy brand, which aims to build 1 GW in capacity by 2030.

Through its subsidiary Defic Globe, YEO Technology (YEO Teknoloji Enerji ve Endüstri) is continuing its expansion in Romania. The Istanbul-based joint venture with Emsolt Investments took over 15 special purpose vehicles (SPVs) or firms for particular investments. They are developing projects for power plants of 218.7 MW in overall peak capacity.

The facilities would be of different sizes and in various locations around Romania, the company said. In addition, the new portfolio brings the possibility for building BESS units with a combined capacity of 320 MWh, according to the update.

YEO, which holds 51% of Defic Globe, estimated the total investment at EUR 220 million. It said the acquisition grows its project portfolio in Romania to 590 MW in peak capacity. Some facilities are operational or under construction, and the others are in the planning phase.

The group comprises direct investments and joint endeavors with Shanghai Electric Power, Scatec and other international companies.

New brand CALL Energy investing up to USD 1 billion

YEO is active in more than 30 countries, delivering turnkey solutions in energy and industrial systems. In the Balkans, in addition to its energy expertise role, it invests in renewable energy projects.

The company carries out projects in areas from advanced energy storage solutions to power grids, high voltage transformer centers, renewable energy plants, industrial, commercial facilities and household energy conversion to hydrogen. YEO was a friend of this year’s edition of Belgrade Energy Forum, organized by Balkan Green Energy News.

Separately, the company launched its CALL Energy brand, formerly YEO Energy (YEO Enerji), and appointed Sacit Akbaş as the subsidiary’s chief executive officer. It aims to invest between USD 750 million and USD 1 billion, of which up to 70% abroad, to build 1 GW in capacity by 2030.

Projects for 1.5 GW in ten countries

Under the slogan CALL to Renewable Energy, the firm intends to develop large-scale projects, especially in Europe. The target growth markets are the eastern part of Europe and the Sub-Saharan regions of Africa, it revealed.

YEO Technology’s renewable energy arm operates 32.6 MW in peak capacity in Romania and Italy. It is about to boost the Romanian part to over 190 MW in peak capacity this year, with two power plants under construction. The project portfolio amounts to 1.5 GW.

YEO Technology’s renewable energy arm counts on growth through EPC services as well

CEO Akbaş came from Enerjisa, where he was the energy solutions director for more than two years. He said more than 30 projects are underway in ten countries on three continents.

CALL Energy also sees growth opportunities in contracting engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services through the said endeavors. It added that it would engage in asset management as well.

The firm highlighted its preliminary licenses for nine battery-backed solar power projects in Turkey, of 346 MW in total connection capacity. It slated two of them for the start of construction next year. Furthermore, permitting is nearly complete for four hydropower projects of 32 MW altogether. The sites are on the Aras river in eastern Turkey.

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July 4, 2025
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HELLENiQ Energy buys ABO Energy Hellas, adding 1.5 GW in renewables projects

With the acquisition of ABO Energy Hellas, HELLENiQ Energy strengthened its project pipeline for renewables and energy storage by a third, to 6 GW.

Amid a consolidation in the renewables sector in Greece, HELLENiQ Energy Holdings said it completed, through its HELLENiQ Renewables subsidiary, the acquisition of ABO Energy Hellas. The transaction includes six affiliated entities with a portfolio of 22 renewable energy project clusters.

Total capacity under development in Greece amounts to 1.5 GW. ABO Energy Hellas, part of Germany-based ABO Energy, also brings its renewable energy project development and construction platform, according to the update. HELLENiQ Energy pointed out that the portfolio comprises all renewables technologies.

It includes 340 MW of photovoltaic projects under development, classified under priority category B, and 550 MW in projects for battery energy storage systems (BESS) eligible for participation in the process of obtaining priority connection terms.

At the end of March, HELLENiQ Energy operated renewable electricity plants of an overall 494 MW

With ABO Energy Hellas, the company expanded its renewables pipeline to more than 6 GW. It accelerates the strategic objective to achieve at least 2 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, it said.

Purchase price to grow if projects reach milestones

The two sides didn’t disclose the purchase price. If projects from the 1.5 gigawatt pipeline achieve certain milestones, additional consideration will become due, ABO Energy revealed.  “The sale of the Greek subsidiary improves our chances of success, reduces complexity of the ABO Energy group, and helps to further focus our business,” said Managing Director Karsten Schlageter.

Between 2019 and 2023, ABO Energy developed and sold five solar parks in Greece with a total capacity of more than 100 MW. The largest one is Margariti in Epirus, of 50 MW. The company connected four of them to the grid on a turnkey basis.

ABO Energy stressed it would remain active in Greece as a service provider and continue to provide commercial and technical management for the solar parks already built.

Photo: Margariti solar park (ABO Energy)

HELLENiQ Energy had almost 500 MW in operation at end of March alongside just as much in mature projects

HELLENiQ Energy, formerly Hellenic Petroleum, produces fossil fuels and petrochemicals and operates service stations. The company is rapidly expanding in the green energy segment as well. Notably, it won state support for its projects at Greece’s BESS auctions.

At the end of March, HELLENiQ Energy operated renewable electricity plants of 494 MW altogether. Photovoltaics made up 59%, while the rest was in wind turbines. At the time, the company had half a gigawatt under construction or in the ready-to-build stage.

It is about to complete the purchase of the remaining 50% of Elpedison, its joint venture in Greece with Italy-based Edison. They operate two gas-fired combined cycle power plants.

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July 3, 2025
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EU outlines measures for 90% emissions cut by 2040

The European Commission proposed an amendment to the European Climate Law, setting a 2040 target of a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions from the 1990 level. The outlined measures would give certainty to investors, promote innovation and business competitiveness and increase energy security, according to the European Union’s executive body.

The EU is closing in on its 2030 goal to slash annual net emissions by 55% from the 1990 baseline, according to the European Commission’s recent report on national energy and climate plans (NECPs). It is part of the efforts to reach climate neutrality by mid-century. Today the EU’s top executive body formally outlined the proposal for the next intermediate target – 90% by 2040.

It is in the form of an amendment to the European Climate Law, which entered into force in July 2021. In the meantime, the 27-member bloc adopted a 2030 legislative package known as Fit for 55.

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU now need to discuss and adopt the amendment.

Nature-based and industrial carbon removals will play an increasingly important role in reaching the targets, the European Commission pointed out. It implies domestic permanent carbon removals within the Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to compensate for residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors. Such systems need to scale up significantly by 2040, the commissioners said.

More pragmatic, flexible trajectory toward 90% reduction in emissions by 2040

The proposal sets out a more pragmatic and flexible way to reach the milestone, the European Commission claimed.

“Aligned with the EU Competitiveness Compass, Clean Industrial Deal and Affordable Energy Action Plan, the proposed 2040 climate target takes fully into account the current economic, security and geopolitical landscape and gives investors and businesses the predictability and stability they need in the EU’s clean energy transition. By staying the course on decarbonisation, the EU will drive investment in innovation, create more jobs, growth, increase our resilience to impacts of climate change and become more energy independent,” the statement adds.

Von der Leyen said industry and investors require a predictable direction on the path to the climate goal

“As European citizens increasingly feel the impact of climate change, they expect Europe to act. Industry and investors look to us to set a predictable direction of travel,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Today’s proposal is based on an impact assessment and advice from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. The adoption follows engagement with member states, the European Parliament, stakeholders, civil society and citizens since the commission’s recommendation in February 2024.

EU eyeing international carbon credits

The commission vowed to consider a limited role for high-quality international carbon credits, starting in 2036, and greater flexibility across sectors to help achieve targets in a cost-effective and socially fair way. For instance, a member state would have the possibility to compensate for a struggling land use sector with an overachievement in reducing emissions from waste and transportation.

Emphasis is also on the competitiveness of the European industry and a level playing field with international partners. Among the guidelines is technological neutrality.

Fiscal incentives are under consideration for clean tech and industrial decarbonization projects.

The commission highlighted its Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework, adopted last week, and the simplification of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). It also issued a recommendation on tax incentives for investments in clean technologies and industrial decarbonization.

Measures on affordable energy to scale up manufacturing of grid components and support power purchase agreements, the pilot for the upcoming Industrial Decarbonisation Bank, the forthcoming Chemicals Industry Action Plan and the sectorial dialogues with stakeholders are among the actions that will help deliver the Clean Industrial Deal, the commissioners explained. Their draft seven-year budget, officially called Multiannual Financial Framework, is due to be unveiled next month.

WindEurope urges for annual targets for renewables

Reacting to the announcement, WindEurope said EU member states would need to translate the 90% ambition into clear annual goals for the deployment of wind and other renewables for the period 2031-40.

“Otherwise the 2040 target will remain academic,” the organization underscored.

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July 3, 2025
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SolarPower Europe: EU needs ten times more battery storage by 2030 to meet renewables targets

SolarPower Europe believes that the European Union needs ten times more battery storage by 2030 to support the growth of solar and other renewable energy capacities and maintain the pace of the energy transition. To promote battery growth across the EU, SolarPower Europe has launched an initiative called the Battery Storage Europe Platform.

“Battery storage is no longer optional – it is essential. Without urgent action, the EU risks stalling its energy transition,” stated Juhi Dion Sud, the newly appointed Head of the Battery Storage Europe Platform. She added that a tenfold increase in battery storage by 2030 is vital to sustain the rapid growth of solar and other renewables, and to ensure the EU’s energy security, resilience and competitiveness.

Dion Sud: The EU needs to boost BESS capacities from 50 GWh to at least 500 GWh

The EU currently has just over 50 GWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS), but to stay on track for the 2030 renewables targets, the level must increase to between 500 GWh and 780 GWh, explained Dion Sud.

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, described solar and storage as “the perfect pair,” adding that battery storage must grow at the same pace as solar installations across Europe.

The platform’s founding partners include REIB, Statkraft and Sunotec

The Battery Storage Europe Platform was launched with support from founding strategic partners, including Renewable Energy Insurance Broker (REIB), Statkraft, and Sunotec. Over 50 representatives from leading battery storage companies joined the kick-off day in Brussels.

The platform will represent the interests of the sector at the EU level, facilitating engagement with policymakers and delivering constructive legislative trade and investment frameworks for battery storage manufacturing and deployment, according to a press release from SolarPower Europe.

Participation in the platform is open to members of SolarPower Europe, with strategic partnership opportunities available for organizations interested in taking a leading role in the work of the platform, it added.

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