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June 19, 2025
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Serbia secures EUR 50 million loan for air quality projects

The Government of Serbia has secured a EUR 50 million loan to fund a series of air quality projects across several cities. The funds will primarily go towards replacing coal- and fuel oil-fired boiler rooms in six cities.

For years, air pollution has been one of the biggest environmental issues in Serbia.

Minister of Environmental Protection Sara Pavkov and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Siniša Mali have signed two agreements with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which will soon lead to significant investments in air protection projects in multiple Serbian cities, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said.

Mali signed a EUR 50 million loan agreement, while Pavkov inked the project agreement. On behalf of the bank, both documents were signed by Matteo Colangeli, EBRD Regional Head of the Western Balkans.

EUR 50 million will be invested in cities with the highest levels of harmful emissions

Pavkov noted that based on these agreements, EUR 50 million would be invested in cities mapped as those with the largest excesses of harmful emissions. This is good news for residents of Belgrade, Niš, Valjevo, Zaječar, Novi Pazar, and Smederevo, where the projects will be implemented, she added.

In these cities, old, outdated boilers running on fuel oil, coal, and other fuels with an adverse impact on air quality will be replaced. Modern and sustainable heat energy sources, such as heat pumps, biomass, and industrial waste heat, will be installed, she stressed.

The projects will also include, where possible, connection to district heating systems or natural gas networks.

An air protection law is in the process of adoption

“These projects are the culmination of years of work. We have entered a phase where we can expect the launch of construction and intensification of the efforts for cleaner air, which remains one of our top priorities,” Pavkov stressed.

She recalled that an EBRD loan had helped replace 50-year-old coal boilers with state-of-the-art gas boilers at the Kragujevac district heating plant. The second phase, the remediation of the ash landfill, has also begun, she added.

From 2021 to 2024, the ministry has implemented projects to replace 169 boiler rooms in public institutions across 76 local authorities, according to Pavkov.

Under a public call, funds have been allocated for projects in 18 municipalities in 2025, with another call currently underway. An air protection bill is now before the National Assembly, intended to provide a new overarching framework and fresh momentum in the fight for better air quality, Pavkov noted.

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June 19, 2025
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Slovenia’s EUR 150 million smart grid leap

The five electricity distribution firms in Slovenia will invest more than EUR 150 million by the end of March 2026 in upgrading the network and the addition of smart grid components.

Elektro Primorska, Elektro Ljubljana, Elektro Gorenjska, Elektro Celje, and Elektro Maribor will build 1,300 kilometers of low-voltage grid and 838 transformer stations with smart grid elements, Naš Stik reported.

Of note, the five firms are essentially performing the duties of the country’s nominal distribution system operator, ELES.

Out of the total investment, EUR 71 million was allocated from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). In the first public call launched by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy, the distribution companies won EUR 37.5 million, and EUR 33.5 million in the second one, for projects planned to be conducted through 2026.

Elektro Primorska received EUR 11.4 million, with total investments estimated at EUR 21 million. The firm will build 204 kilometers of low-voltage network and install 132 transformer stations, according to its website.

Among the five firms, the largest investments are planned by Elektro Maribor

Elektro Ljubljana is eligible for EUR 19 million, to build 373 kilometers of low-voltage network and 240 transformer stations. Its investments are estimated at EUR 40 million in total. The construction of 169 kilometers of low-voltage network and the installation of or reconstruction of 108 transformer stations will cost Elektro Gorenjska EUR 18.9 million. Half of the funds are secured from the NRRP.

Elektro Celje got EUR 15.1 million to build 278 kilometers of low-voltage network and install 179 transformer stations. The projects are estimated at EUR 28.5 million overall.

Elektro Maribor was granted EUR 16 million for total investments of EUR 43.5 million. The company plans to build 278 kilometers of low-voltage network and 179 transformer stations.

Ćatić: Investments to provide greater grid visibility

According to Damir Ćatić, business units and investment sector manager of Elektro Maribor, the investments will make the distribution network more reliable for end users.

The company aims to improve the quality of electricity supply and to enable the connection of solar power plants, battery energy storage systems, and chargers for electric vehicles, he emphasized.

By installing smart grid components, Elektro Maribor will gain greater visibility into the network’s condition, which will enable better management and planning, as well as adapt the network to current energy flows.

Conditions are being created for the efficient use of energy storage

They are the key factors for integrating distributed renewable energy production sources such as solar power plants, as well as e-chargers, into the distribution network, Ćatić explained.

Such an approach, in his words, allows for managing the variability of these sources, meaning it creates conditions for the efficient use of energy storage.

The use of technologies such as databases, artificial intelligence, and the IoT will enable Elektro Maribor to achieve greater efficiency, reliability, and resilience of the distribution system, as well as improved data management, Ćatić stressed.

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June 19, 2025
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Spain’s voltage control was insufficient at time of April blackout

The Government of Spain said the total blackout in the Iberian Peninsula, which occurred on April 28, was caused by overvoltage, with several factors contributing to the crash. Notably, the system run by the country’s TSO Red Eléctrica de España lacked sufficient voltage control. Deputy Prime Minister Sara Aagesen even said the point of no return could have been avoided if voltage control action had been taken earlier.

In a long-awaited document, a government committee that investigated the April 28 collapse of the Iberian electricity network ruled out that a cyberattack caused it. The panel analyzed more than 300 gigabytes of data related to the total blackout, which was one of the worst ever in Europe.

“In 49 days, practically half the timeframe established by the EU, the committee has provided a rigorous and verified diagnosis that will allow us to strengthen the electricity system, a solid foundation on which we can work to design rapid responses to prevent this from happening again. Next week’s Council of Ministers will approve several relevant measures,” said Third Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge Sara Aagesen.

The cybersecurity investigation, the largest ever undertaken in the country, did identify vulnerabilities that could expose networks or systems to future risks, she asserted.

The blame game is continuing as citizens and businesses are demanding accountability for the massive damage. The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) issued a preliminary report two weeks after the incident.

Overvoltage caused the blackout, according to the new analysis. The committee attributed it to multiple factors. The system had insufficient voltage control capacity, there were frequency oscillations, and power plants were disconnected, “in some cases in an apparently improper manner,” the document reads.

Renewables accounted for 82% of power generation mix just before blackout

The Iberian grid crashed at 12:33. Restoration began with energy from France and Morocco and with self-starting hydroelectric plants in the Duero basin and other locations, which formed energy islands. By 22:00, nearly 50% of demand in Spain was met, reaching 99.95% by 7:00 the next day.

At 12:30 on April 28, renewable energy sources accounted for 82% of the electricity generation mix, followed by nuclear power (10%). Gas plants had a 3% share, coal contributed 1%, while cogeneration and waste amounted to a combined 4%.

Data show a drop in solar generation as prices at the power exchange were going negative, and it coincided with a rise in voltages

There was significant voltage volatility in the transmission system in the morning on the day of the blackout, the document’s authors noted, pointing out that such a situation was also registered on April 22 and 24.

The rise in voltages between 10:30 and 11:10 coincided with a drop in solar generation, probably due to the power market signals, as wholesale prices went negative, the report adds. At the same time, the direction of the exchange with France switched from exports to imports.

Voltage control fleet failed to contain chain reaction

At 12:03, there was an atypical frequency oscillation, by 0.6 hertz, causing large voltage fluctuations for 4.42 minutes. Another one, of 0.2 hertz, occurred at 12:16, followed by an equivalent one at 12:19.

Red Eléctrica de España, the transmission system operator (TSO), conducted mitigation measures, which contributed to the rise in voltages, the committee underscored.

Aagesen said the point of no return could have been avoided if voltage control action had been taken earlier. The government controls 20% of the company, which is listed on the Bolsa de Madrid stock exchange.

At 12:32, voltage began to rise rapidly and steadily, and numerous progressive disconnections of generation facilities were recorded. The names of all power plants in the document are blacked out.

A number of units responsible for voltage control produced reactive power, the opposite of what they were supposed to

The chain reaction could not be contained, as each disconnection contributed to further voltage increases, the analysis showed. A drop in frequency resulted in the loss of synchronization with France, tripping the interconnection with the rest of the continent.

The committee stressed that the number of synchronous plants regulating voltage on the day of the incident was the lowest since the beginning of the year. One of the 10 units that Red Eléctrica scheduled the day before experienced an outage on the same afternoon, and the TSO didn’t replace it in time, the analysis reveals.

Moreover, several units in the group did not respond adequately to the TSO’s instructions to reduce the voltage. Some even produced reactive power, the opposite of what was required, contributing to the issue, the committee added.

Some power plants went offline too early

There were disconnections of the generating power plants that occurred before the voltage thresholds in the 400 kV system were exceeded (380 kV and 435 kV), the report finds.

Among the committee’s recommendations is to allow asynchronous installations to apply power electronics solutions to manage voltage fluctuations. The panel proposed boosting demand, flexibility, storage and interconnection capacities.

Photovoltaics with grid-forming inverters, storage can contribute to voltage control

Photovoltaics are already capable of controlling voltage, but regulations did not allow the application of the technology, according to the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF), Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN), SolarPower Europe, Global Solar Council and Global Renewables Alliance.

In a joint statement that they issued as a reaction to the report, they called for accelerated investment in grid resilience and system flexibility – especially through grid-forming inverters and battery storage.

The associations recalled that Spain ranked 14th last year in Europe in new battery capacity. Less than 250 MWh came online and nearly all were smaller-scale batteries, not at a utility level. It compares to 9 GW of solar power capacity that the country added in 2024.

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June 19, 2025
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Just Transition Young Voices Award: Empowering youth champions in the clean energy transition

In a celebration of youth-led climate action, the Energy Community Secretariat, together with Bankwatch, CAN Europe, RYCO, and CLEW, has launched the Just Transition Young Voices Award, spotlighting the importance of young people’s voices in shaping a just, equitable, and sustainable energy future. Balkan Green Energy News is an official media partner of the initiative.

Young people aged 18 to 30 from the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia), Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova are invited to submit original, fact-based articles that explore how their communities are navigating the shift away from fossil fuels. Recognizing that youth are essential agents of change, the award provides a platform for creative and solution-oriented journalism addressing the challenges and opportunities of a just transition.

Applications are open until 28 July 2025. The competition aims to showcase innovative thinking and concrete solutions developed by young people who are actively engaging in climate and energy issues.

Foto: Energy Community Secretariat

The award framework

The Just Transition Young Voices Award aims to inspire and support young people with an interest in energy and climate journalism to explore and report on just transition topics. Submissions should be original, fact-based articles in English, between 700 and 1,100 words. Stories may highlight real people, places, or initiatives that reflect the challenges, opportunities, and solutions involved in just transition, particularly in sectors or regions impacted by the green shift.

Three prizes will be awarded:

  • A one-month paid internship at the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna;
  • A field mission on energy transition in the Western Balkans with Bankwatch;
  • Participation in the Climate Reporting Training with CAN Europe in Ohrid (1–3 September 2025).

Winning pieces will be published on Balkan Green Energy News and other partner platforms, as well as presented at the Energy Community Just Transition Forum. Applications will be evaluated by a jury comprising representatives from Bankwatch, CLEW Network, RYCO, and the Energy Community Secretariat.

The Just Transition Young Voices Award reaffirms a simple truth: meaningful system change requires the leadership of those who will live with its consequences.

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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.
June 18, 2025
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World’s largest sand battery commissioned in Finland

The world’s first industrial-scale sand battery has been commissioned in Pornainen, Finland. It will use surplus renewable energy to generate heat, which will then be supplied to the local district heating network.

The sand battery, which delivers one megawatt of thermal energy and has a storage capacity of 100 megawatt-hours, was installed for the district heating system in the municipality of Pornainen, operated by Loviisan Lämpö.

A sand battery is a high-temperature thermal energy storage system, first developed by the start-up Polar Night Energy.

Finding ways to store energy from variable renewable sources is one of the biggest challenges of the energy transition. In the case of the battery developed by Polar Night Energy, the storage medium is sand or alternative sand-like materials.

The battery uses renewable electricity to power a heater, which then blows hot air into the sand. The sand is heated to between 500 and 600 degrees Celsius and retains that heat. The stored energy can be used for district heating, but also for industrial processes.

A prototype of the battery was installed in 2022 at the Valkeakoski power plant in the town of Kankaanpää, Finland. The new battery in Pornainen is ten times larger than the prototype and represents the first industrial-scale implementation of this technology.

It is 13 meters high and 15 meters wide, filled with 2,000 tons of crushed soapstone, a by-product from the production of fireplaces by Finnish company Tulikivi. During winter, the battery can cover heating needs for about a week.

Emissions in the district heating sector will be reduced by 70% thanks to the battery

“The Sand Battery means a lot to Loviisan Lämpö. It allows us to drastically reduce our emissions and improve the reliability of heat production,” says Mikko Paajanen, CEO of Loviisan Lämpö.

The company aims to become climate-neutral by 2035, and the battery will help it cut emissions by 160 tons of CO₂ equivalent – a reduction of nearly 70% in the district heating sector.

Thanks to the battery, the company will stop using oil for district heating completely, while the consumption of wood chips will be reduced by about 60%. A biomass boiler will be used as a backup during periods of peak demand, the company said.

“This project is a powerful example that effective solutions for mitigating climate change do exist. Loviisan Lämpö is a great example of a company bold enough to invest in new technologies,” says Liisa Naskali, Chief Operating Officer of Polar Night Energy.

Sand battery stabilizes the power grid and contributes to the circular economy

Advancing the circular economy and energy transition requires cross-sectoral cooperation, which the sand battery clearly demonstrates. It is not just a heat storage system – it’s a tool for grid balancing, emissions reduction, smart energy management, and better resource use.

A key factor in the sand battery’s cost-effectiveness lies in optimizing its operation according to electricity prices set by Finnish grid operator Fingrid. In this way, the battery also contributes to the stability of the power grid, which is essential for the further development of wind and solar power.

Thanks to its large storage capacity, the system enables optimization of electricity use over several days, or even weeks.

The thermal storage material in sand batteries can include by-products from industrial or mining processes, avoiding the exploitation of natural resources.

Polar Night Energy is currently in talks with partners in Finland and abroad about new projects. Earlier this year, it announced a pilot project in Valkeakoski to explore the possibility of converting stored heat back into electricity.

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June 18, 2025
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World Environment Day 2025: Beat Plastic Pollution

World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5, was established by the United Nations in 1973. This year’s host country is South Korea and the main messages are focused on fighting plastic pollution.

The theme of this year’s World Environment Day calls for action to address plastic pollution. The hashtag #BeatPlasticPollution is part of the global campaign, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aiming to mobilize communities worldwide to implement solutions. It builds on growing scientific evidence of the impact of plastic pollution and calls for reducing plastic use, reusing it, recycling it, and rethinking our consumption habits.

Plastics are part of everyday life, used in everything from kitchenware to medical devices. It’s estimated that humanity has produced about 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic since the mid-20th century, of which seven billion tonnes have become waste. In addition, plastic production is a major contributor to the climate crisis. It is among the most energy-intensive industrial processes, accounting for approximately 6% of global oil consumption.

Each year, some 11 million tonnes of plastic waste end up in rivers, lakes, seas, and finally, oceans. Plastic breaks down into microplastics—tiny fragments measuring between one nanometer and five millimeters. Such particles have been found in the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench, as well as on the highest point on Earth – Mount Everest.

An individual consumes over 50,000 plastic particles per year on average

Plastic enters the bodies of humans and animals through breathing and ingestion. It is estimated that each person on the planet consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles annually, and much more when inhalation is taken into account. Some studies suggest that nanoplastics smaller than one micrometer can even pass through the skin.

Microplastics also accumulate in soil through sewage, landfills, and the use of plastic in agriculture. One study found that microplastics disrupt photosynthesis, which may threaten food production.

The annual social and environmental cost of plastic pollution is estimated to be between USD 300 billion and USD 600 billion.

Circular economy as a solution

The key to reducing plastic waste lies in shifting to the principles of a circular economy. It involves rethinking how plastic products are designed, produced, and used. Current estimates show that only 21% of plastic is economically recyclable, meaning the value of the recycled material is high enough to cover the cost of collection, sorting, and processing. In reality, only around 9% of the plastic produced is recycled.

Plastic products should be designed to be reusable, and recyclable at the end of their life cycle. Additionally, companies should stop adding unnecessary microplastics to their products.

Strengthening waste collection and recycling systems would help prevent plastic products from entering the environment, where they break down into microplastics.

South Korea is among the trailblazers in tackling plastic waste

This year’s host of World Environment Day is the Jeju province in South Korea, which is among the countries leading the efforts to tackle plastic waste. It relies on decades of its experience engaging businesses through extended producer responsibility.

South Korea’s plastics strategy addresses the entire life cycle – from production and design to use, reuse, and recycling. Through collaboration between the government, industry, and citizens, the country is building a circular economy and reducing waste at the source.

In 2022, Jeju, an island and archipelago, set the goal to become free of plastic pollution by 2040. It is the only province in South Korea where residents are required to dispose of waste at specialized recycling centers, encouraging better waste separation and higher recycling rates. Jeju was also the first to introduce a deposit-refund system for single-use cups.

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