The Romanian Ministry of Energy has signed 29 more grants to public entities for investments in solar power plants for self-consumption, bringing the total number of projects under the program to 1,046. The latest round of grants is worth EUR 11.3 million, putting the total sum approved so far at EUR 502 million.
The 29 grants, financed from the European Union’s Modernisation Fund, will help build solar power plants with a total installed capacity of 9.13 MW at schools, hospitals, city halls, and other institutions across Romania. It brings the total installed capacity supported under the program to over 403 MW, according to a press release from the Ministry of Energy.
The latest batch of projects puts the total planned capacity at over 403 MW
In many cases, installed renewable capacities cover up to 70% of the energy needs of public institutions, the ministry noted.
Romania’s outgoing Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja hailed the program as a “paradigm shift,” noting that Romania was already in a new energy era, with local communities no longer just consumers, but active participants.
“Over the past two years, the Ministry of Energy has consistently provided support to local public authorities that understood the importance of investing in energy production for their own consumption. We have made funds available, simplified procedures, and worked side by side with beneficiaries so that the projects move forward quickly,” Burduja stated in a Facebook post.
The latest round of contracts covers public entities in 18 counties across the country: Arad, Argeș, Bacău, Brăila, Călărași, Constanța, Dâmbovița, Galați, Brașov, Gorj, Hunedoara, Maramureș, Mehedinți, Olt, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, and Timiș.
The number of contracts has increased from 633 in March
In March, the ministry said it had signed 633 contracts, worth a combined EUR 339 million, of which EUR 294 million was from the Modernisation Fund. Total planned capacity at the time was 237.4 MW.
Hitachi Energy, a global leader in energy technology, develops system solutions and offers products and services that actively contribute to sustainable energy and a better future, Igor Anđelković, the company’s Country Marketing and Sales Leader in Serbia, said at Belgrade Energy Forum 2025. Game-changing technologies for high-voltage grids and transportation, along with solutions for renewables integration, support decarbonization efforts and deliver added value to both clients and local communities.
Multinational company Hitachi Energy, a silver sponsor of the BEF 2025 conference, is present in the Southeast Europe region through its Balkan Cluster, which covers seven markets – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
Inspiring the next era of sustainable energy
Since 2010, Hitachi Energy has implemented eco-efficient solutions for high-voltage grids of up to 550kV. The company’s innovative and eco-efficient EconiQ® high-voltage portfolio applies revolutionary technology free of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and proven to significantly reduce carbon footprint throughout the life cycle.
The high-voltage EconiQ® roadmap demonstrates the scalability of this technology, which allows customers and industry to quickly transition to eco-efficient solutions.
Photo (Hitachi Energy): Hitachi Energy has implemented eco-efficient solutions for high-voltage grids of up to 550kV
Now more than ever, pioneering technologies like EconiQ are needed to advance a sustainable energy future, says Anđelkovic.
Efficient renewables integration
In the renewable energy segment, Hitachi Energy offers a range of substation solutions that help to efficiently integrate renewable energy into the transmission grid and distribution network. This includes grid connection solutions for all types of renewables power plants.
Hitachi solutions are used in a large number of wind projects in Southeast Europe
The major projects in Southeast Europe, completed or in the implementation phase, which use Hitachi Energy’s technology are wind farms Pupin and Crni Vrh in Serbia, Gvozd in Montenegro, Komanje Brdo and Ivan Sedlo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Pometeno Brdo and Korlat in Croatia.
Photo (Hitachi Energy): Hitachi Energy offers a range of substation solutions that help to efficiently integrate renewable energy into the transmission grid and distribution network
Driving transportation and energy towards carbon neutrality
Hitachi Energy is also committed to decarbonizing the transportation sector. Its revolutionary ‘grid-to-plug’ electric vehicle charging system, called Grid-eMotion® Fleet, is a smart mobility solution that enables operators to efficiently scale up their operations and is expected to contribute to sustainable society for millions living in urban areas.
Grid-eMotion® Fleet marks a game-changing shift from a charger-product based approach to a charging-system based approach, which helps to accelerate the future of smart mobility.
Hitachi Energy has been pioneering EV charging solutions since 2013, when it first introduced innovative flash-charging eBus solutions in Geneva and Nantes.
Advanced technologies for smart airports
With its innovative solutions, Hitachi Energy has made significant advancements in air traffic as well, with the development of smart airports being one of its key innovations. This includes advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), video analytics, and 3D LiDAR to improve the passenger experience and improve airport operational efficiency.
Hitachi Energy also helps airport to decarbonize and become more sustainable with its electrification and digitization solutions.
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* This designation is without prejudice to positions onstatus and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Despite early efforts to develop green hydrogen and its first regulatory framework, Greece finds itself on a steep curve.
The government has presented the first law on hydrogen and renewable gases in parliament. At the same time, refineries and other industries are working on projects that will determine green hydrogen’s cost-effectiveness.
However, a significant obstacle is the government’s unwillingness to support the new technology, either through subsidies or other financial instruments. The Ministry of Environment and Energy has specified that no upcoming technology would benefit from public funds. The goal is to maintain a low cost for the consumer during the energy transition.
According to Professor Pantelis Kapros from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), it means hydrogen will have to rely almost exclusively on the price of carbon. As the European Union’s European Trading System (EU ETS) is about to enter its second phase in 2026, the price of carbon allowances is projected to rise steeply.
Even so, market participants estimate that a ton of carbon dioxide equivalent would need to cost EUR 140, two times more than today, to make green hydrogen competitive against grey hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas.
Exports and power prices added to the equation
Regardless, Greece sees an opportunity to produce and export green hydrogen. The reason is its high renewables potential and production. The ever-increasing photovoltaic capacity has caused an overabundance of energy during the day. More demand is needed to balance the system and hydrogen can provide a way out.
Tsafos: We want to become a supplier
The hope is that the low renewable energy cost, combined with potential interest in shipping hydrogen abroad, will justify long-term investments.
“Our view is that as long as the market is interested, we want to become a supplier,” Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Nikos Tsafos said at the Hydrogen & Green Gases Forum in Athens.
A potential problem is that green hydrogen plants are not expected to be viable if they only produce during the day, when renewable energy prices are usually lower. “Ten hours of operation are not enough to support producers and there are also technical issues to solve,” said Dimitris Kardomateas, head of the Center for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES).
He also pointed to the average daily wholesale power price, as it is higher in Greece than in most other European markets. It should be noted that electricity makes up about 70% of the total operating cost of electrolyzers.
Biomethane considered more mature
On the other hand, biomethane is considered much easier to develop. The technology depends less on power prices and also faces fewer technical hurdles. “Biomethane has a clear role, especially through its ability to enter the gas network, and we want to utilize it”, said Tsafos.
Gas distribution company Enaon EDA emphasized its readiness to include biomethane in its network. Its CEO Barbara Morgante noted that a study is underway to pinpoint the various existing and planned biomethane production plants around the country, as well as their proximity to Enaon’s network.
Biomethane is usually obtained by processing biogas to get methane of the same purity as in fossil gas. The renewable fuel can also be produced from clean hydrogen and CO2.
The first mentorship program of the WISE Serbia women’s network, focusing on sustainable energy, the green economy, and climate action, and implemented with the support of German development cooperation GIZ, was successfully concluded with an event held in Belgrade. Over six months of intensive collaboration, seven mentor-mentee pairs built mutual trust, exchanged knowledge, and developed leadership potential, demonstrating the vital role of support in career development.
The WISE Serbia mentorship program brought together 14 remarkable women. Seven experienced leaders from the energy and environmental sectors shared their extensive knowledge with seven young network members in the early stages of their careers.
The mentorship pairs included:
Maja Adamović, Director of the Transmission System Maintenance Division at Serbia’s electricity transmission system operatorElektromreža Srbije (EMS), and Jelena Perović, ESG Consultant at Deloitte Advisory d.o.o.;
Ivona Milić, Senior ESG Specialist for Corporate Clients at Raiffeisen Bank, and Marija Rošulj, Credit and Environmental Risk Officer at ProCredit Bank;
Maja Turković, Executive Vice President at CWP Europe, and Marina Arsenijević, Project Manager at Voltiza Inc.;
Aleksandra Lukić, Chief Engineer in the thermal energy production department at municipal heating utility JKP Novosadska toplana in Novi Sad, and Bojana Petrović Raičević, Senior Specialist for Energy and Environmental Law at NIS a.d. Novi Sad;
Svetlana Cerović, Head of Specialized Financing at UniCredit Bank, and Ana Minić, Technical Consultant for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at MACS Energy & Water;
Ankica Barbulov, Director of Negawatt Solutions, and Milica Vujošević, Energy Efficiency Manager at Delta Holding;
Nataša Zdravković, Investment Manager at Ezpada Group, and Sara Ostojić, Lawyer at SOG a.o.d. in cooperation with Kinstellar.
The closing event was held in partnership with and under the patronage of Kinstellar, one of the leading law firms in Belgrade, operating across Central and Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, and Central Asia.
Founded in 2008, Kinstellar now operates in 12 countries and employs more than 300 lawyers. In Serbia, it is particularly recognized for its work in the energy and infrastructure sectors, advising on some of the region’s largest energy investments, including wind farms, mining projects, and renewable energy transactions.
Photo (Balkan Green Energy News): Radovan Grbović, Partner at Kinstellar, welcomes program participants
One of the mentees, Sara Ostojić, is an attorney at Kinstellar and Head of the Energy Sector in Serbia. She expressed great satisfaction that her firm was hosting the closing event.
Radovan Grbović, partner and attorney with over 20 years of experience, addressed the participants, emphasizing the importance of mutual support and a stronger role for women in sustainable energy and the green transition.
Mentorship is about sharing life experience
The program’s outcomes were presented by Nataša Vukmirović, professional mentorship coach from the International Institute for Coaching and Mentoring, who highlighted that the program’s goals had been fully achieved. She noted that strong relationships of trust had been built and that most participants had expressed a desire to continue engaging in similar initiatives.
“Through evaluation and facilitation of joint sessions, I had the opportunity to witness meaningful knowledge exchange and feel the power of support, trust, and shared learning. The program demonstrated that developmental mentoring is a valuable approach in the sustainable energy and green economy sectors and can significantly impact participants’ career development,” said Vukmirović.
According to her, the program goes beyond education—it is based on values that empower individuals and protect the common good. This is echoed in the positive experiences of participants.
Marija Rošulj emphasized that her positive experience with Ivona Milić inspired her to become a mentor herself. “Mentorship is not just about work, but about a person’s character and sharing life experience, not just professional experience.”
The pair plans to continue working together and develop a joint project beyond the formal program.
Photo: (Balkan Green Energy News) mentorship pair Marija Rošulj, ProCredit Bank, and Ivona Milić, Raiffeisen Bank
“One of the things I appreciated most was that my mentor helped me achieve a deeper reflection on my career path and supported the development of my emotional intelligence and effective communication,” said Ana Minić, whose mentor was Svetlana Cerović, last year’s recipient of the Female Leader in Sustainable Energy 2024 award.
Photo (Balkan Green Energy News): Ana Minić, MACS Energy & Water
Mutual learning – the heart of the program
Mentors noted the process was reciprocal, and that through working with young women, they carried out a kind of introspection of their career paths. “It was especially interesting to identify what made me successful, which I could share with Milica, who also works in renewables and energy efficiency. I tried, by talking about my career, my development path, my ups and downs, to identify the golden thread that has kept me afloat and thanks to which I can say that I am doing well in business today,” said Ankica Barbulov, co-founder and director of Negawatt Solutions and the first to introduce the ESCO financing model in Serbia.
Mentee Milica Vujošević said that her mentor was an inspiration and that working with her was a great honor.
Photo (Balkan Green Energy News): Mentorship pair Milica Vujošević, Delta Holding, and Ankica Barbulov, Negawatt Solutions
Aleksandra Lukić, Chief Engineer and one of the first women in the thermal energy production department at heating utility JKP Novosadska Toplana, emphasized that she and her mentee, Bojana Petrović Raičević, are very different and that this was a strength in their relationship.
“At first, I wondered how I could help someone from a completely different profession. I’m a mechanical engineer, and Bojana is a lawyer. But our differences allowed for deeper exchange, not only about careers but also life values, work-life balance, and personal development. In the end, I think we both gained more than we expected.”
Bojana added: “Aleksandra helped me clarify my goals and map out a plan for my career, both short-term and long-term steps. I’m grateful she was my mentor.”
Photo (Balkan Green Energy News): Mentorship pair Aleksandra Lukić, JKP Novosadska Toplana, and Bojana Petrović Raičević, NIS
Maja Adamović, Director at Elektromreža Srbije, saw the program as an opportunity to learn and improve future programs. She highlighted progress in strengthening women’s networks in the energy sector, citing the launch of the Women in Energy section within CIGRE Serbia as a great example of women’s growing interest in connection, empowerment, and collective impact.
Photo (Balkan Green Energy News): Maja Adamović, Elektromreža Srbije
Maja Turković, Executive Vice President of CWP Europe and co-founder of WISE Serbia, also served as a mentor. “Marina and I worked on identifying her potential in line with her education, interests, and labor market trends, as well as on shaping her career profile. I think we have defined a direction for her professional development and competencies she can further build on,” said Turković, adding she would gladly be a mentor again.
Marina Arsenijević, her mentee, said the program came at the right time: “After this program, I’m more aware of who I am and what I want to do in the next five or ten years.”
Photo (Balkan Green Energy News): Mentorship pair Maja Turković, CWP Europe, and Marina Arsenijević, UGT Renewables
Throughout the program, mentors generously shared knowledge, experiences, and insights, while mentees showed openness to learning and a willingness to build their leadership capacities. All mentors expressed great satisfaction with participation in the program, highlighting mutual learning as one of its most valuable aspects.
The WISE Serbia program demonstrated how important mentorship is for women’s professional and personal development in green industries. Through experience-sharing, knowledge transfer, and mutual support, participants not only strengthened their capacities but also contributed to creating a strong community of women working on a more sustainable and equitable future.
Building photovoltaic plants on abandoned open-pit coal mines could add nearly 300 GW of new solar worldwide, equivalent to 15% of the current global capacity, according to a survey by Global Energy Monitor (GEM). Greece and three Western Balkan countries are among the global leaders in projects to build solar at abandoned coal mines.
It shows that over 300 open-pit coal mines recently out of commission could house around 103 GW of photovoltaic capacity, while upcoming closures of 127 large operations could host an additional 185 GW of solar. Nearly all abandoned coal mines and upcoming closures covered by the survey are in close proximity to existing grid infrastructure, including substations and transmission lines.
The 15% increase in solar capacity could cover the electricity needs of Germany
GEM estimates that this 15% increase in the global solar capacity would be roughly enough to meet the annual electricity consumption of a country like Germany. The report also notes that coal mine to solar conversion is a practice that aligns land reclamation with clean energy goals and local job creation.
GEM recalls that in 2024, total solar capacity additions in the world reached a record 599 GW, with more than 2 TW of utility-scale projects currently under development.
GEM: China is the global leader in coal-to-solar transition
China is the global leader in coal-to-solar conversion, with 90 projects already operational, totaling 14 GW, and 46 more in the pipeline, with a combined capacity of 9 GW, according to GEM’s survey. Australia has 2.7 GW of announced projects, followed by the United States, with about 1.3 GW of announced projects and as much in the pre-construction phase.
In Europe, Greece leads the way, with 1.44 GW of announced projects and 550 MW in the pre-construction phase, while Germany has a total of 868 MW, of which 20% are already operating and 75% are in the pre-construction phase, according to GEM’s data.
In the Western Balkans, North Macedonia has 100 MW of projects under construction and another 100 MW announced, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 115 MW in the pre-construction phase, and Serbia, with 97 MW of announced projects.
GEM’s survey covered only open-pit coal mines decommissioned in the last five years and those whose closure is expected by the end of 2030.
However, according to announcements from developers and grid operators, several large-scale PV projects on coal land have already been completed in the region tracked by Balkan Green Energy News.
In Greece, the capacity in operation is nearing 1 GW. In North Macedonia, a part of the REK Oslomej coal power complex is now home to three solar power plants, with a total capacity of 140 MW, while in Serbia, the 9.75 MW Petka PV plant is about to go online.
The Moneypoint power plant stopped burning coal, marking the end of Ireland’s coal era. The last such facilities in several other countries in the European Union are operating only barely or occasionally.
Ireland has ended coal power generation. It is the eleventh coal-free country in the European Union and the 15th in Europe overall. Notably, nine countries in total never hosted coal power plants, according to the Beyond Fossil Fuels database.
Slovakia and Spain officially intend to exit coal this year, followed by Greece (2026), France and Hungary (2027) and Denmark (2028). However, the dates could be pushed forward and there is a possibility that more countries will join the group in the meantime. Several of their remaining facilities are active just sporadically – in islands or to cover winter peaks or only until the district heating systems that they supply switch to cleaner sources.
For instance, the share of coal power in Finland is minuscule.
Coal power is already uncompetitive most of the time. Moreover, when such facilities are idle, their costs rise further because of salaries and the complex logistics.
Moneypoint plant switches to backup with heavy fuel oil
The Moneypoint plant in Ireland ceased burning coal last week earlier than planned. Its operator ESB is turning the site into a renewable energy hub.
At the turn of the millennium, wind supplied just 1% of the country’s electricity. Today, it generates more than a third.
“The government’s priority now must be building a power system fit for a renewable future; one with the storage, flexibility, and grid infrastructure needed to run fully on clean, domestic renewable electricity,” said Alexandru Mustață, campaigner on coal and gas at Beyond Fossil Fuels.
Moneypoint will serve a limited backup role until 2029, burning heavy fuel oil under emergency instruction from transmission system operator EirGrid.
Subsea interconnections to enable coal phaseout completion in Spain, Italy
Spain and Italy are set to follow suit, excluding the Balearic Islands and Sardinia, respectively.
Brindisi Sud (2 GW) and Torrevaldaliga Nord (2 GW) are expected to cease regular operations in mid-2025 and are set to be placed into a strategic reserve, pending full decommissioning. Italy’s remaining coal plants, Sulcis (590 MW) and Fiume Santo (640 MW) in Sardinia, are expected to remain online until a second undersea grid cable to the mainland is completed.
Aboño (916 MW) in Spain is being converted from coal to fossil gas. Soto de Ribera (350 MW) and Los Barrios (589 MW), are barely operating. The Alcúdia plant in the island of Mallorca has two coal units of 130 MW each. Its closure depends on the construction of the archipelago’s second interconnection with the mainland.
Slovakia’s coal phaseout was extended for a short while as a smaller unit kept using what it had left in stock
Slovakian energy company Slovenské elektrárne ended production at its combined heat and power (CHP) plant Vojany (220 MW) in March of last year, which was supposed to mark the country’s coal exit. However, the Teko facility of 121 MW continued to operate with its remaining stockpiles to cover the winter season.
The Cordemais coal plant (1.2 GW) in France is designated for closure in 2027. Émile-Huchet (600 MW), the other remaining facility in the country, should be converted to gas by then.
Turkey, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo* have the largest shares of coal in power production in the European Union and Southeastern Europe.
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* This designation is without prejudice to positions onstatus and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
